SRAM’s new Maven brakes are here, and they’re wild.

We haven’t had a proper brake update from SRAM in a while. The Stealth lever additions last year were nice because it puts Swinglink at every price point, but the fundamental architecture of the brakes didn’t change. The Maven though is set to blow everything else out of the water. SRAM are promising braking performance like we’ve never seen before, and at a similar price point to what we’re already used to with the code (Maven Silver costs the same as a Code RSC). Sign us up.

As bikes have gotten longer, slacker, better damped and generally faster, brakes haven’t gotten a ton more powerful, in the last little while anyways. We’ve seen incremental improvements such as larger diameter rotors, thicker rotors etc. that bring a little more power, but the brakes themselves haven’t changed a lot. Take SRAM’s Codes for example, they haven’t changed since 2017, and while they were a little more powerful than their predecessor, it wasn’t leaps and bounds. SRAM’s new Maven brakes however promise a whopping 50% more power than the Codes.

How Do They Do It?

SRAM have managed to pull a ton more power from the Maven brakes in a few different ways, the first and most obvious being that massive new caliper, although power isn’t the only thing that helps with. It starts with the pistons though - using 18mm and 19.5mm pistons instead of the 15mm and 16mm pistons the Code uses, this massively increases surface area and therefore power. If we want to get nerdy about it, that’s 1,105mm^2 of piston surface area on the Maven vs 755mm^2 on the Codes. More surface area means more friction, means more power.

The Maven's got some serious power then, so much that it might be a bit much for your average rider. But here's the cool part: SRAM's changing the game on brake tuning. We find here that most riders max out their Codes with the biggest rotors and metallic pads, thinking that's as good as it gets.

But with the Maven, cranking up the power opens up a whole world of tuning options. Want better modulation? Try smaller rotors or organic pads. Want more grab for precision braking? Go big with larger rotors and metallic pads. Maven is compatible with both the old Centerline rotors and the new HS2 ones, the HS2 giving a 7% power bump over Centerlines. Each jump in rotor size—from 180 to 200 to 220mm—gives a massive 14% boost in performance.

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Heat Isn’t Bad

So, a lot of folks think heat spells trouble for brakes. But with the Maven, SRAM's flipping that script. Sure, managing heat matters, but heat's not the bad guy here. Fact is, brakes need a bit of heat to do their thing— their main job of your brakes is to turn movement into heat. So, let's help them out. First up, the seals were updated for mineral oil's instead ofo DOT fluid. Plus, that beefy caliper has more thermal mass, keeping things steady and reliable without big temperature swings resulting in inconsistent brake performance. Finally, the caliper body features new heat ducts; they're like vents on a hot day, channeling excess heat away from the braking surface, so your brakes stay cool even on the longest downhill stretches.

In Summary

In simple terms, all this translates to the ultimate braking experience. With the Maven, riders get a brake system that's incredibly powerful, catering to those who push their bikes to the limit. It's a step up from the already high-performing Codes, offering genuine flexibility in tuning for different terrains and weather conditions. For instance, you can opt for organic pads for quieter braking in wet conditions without sacrificing performance.

Despite the increased power, SRAM ensured that the Maven maintains the familiar feel of their brakes, ensuring that riders accustomed to SRAM brakes will feel right at home. The added power means you need less effort at the lever, reducing fatigue during long descents. Plus, with plenty of adjustments available, you can fine-tune your brakes to suit your preferences, whether you prefer a smooth, gradual feel or a more aggressive bite.

Initial Ride Impressions

Adam has spent some time getting to know the new Mavens, and the hype is real.

These brakes pack an immense amount of power, more than necessary, which means you won't have to worry about whether you can slow down for corners or features. With this surplus of power, you'll spend less time braking, though it does come with a bit of a learning curve and may require adjustments to your riding style. One of the standout features of the Maven brakes is their ability to allow precise selection of braking points.

Unlike previous setups where you might need an entire trail section to scrub speed before a turn, now you can precisely modulate your braking to navigate tight corners and technical terrain with ease. Other things Adam noted that he’s had to adapt to is that the huge increase in power means his tires break traction more easily, which is something to look out for. He also has had to increase the low speed compression on his fork to compensate for extra brake dive.

With the massive power on tap, Adam has gone down a rotor size on the rear, and now is running 200/180mm, and could likely go smaller still - a trail bike could easily get away with 180/160mm rotors and still have plenty of braking power. Even heating up a 180mm rotor on trail to the point where he could smell the brake however, this still didn’t result in any noticeable loss in braking power.

The latest lever design offers a broader range of adjustments to accommodate a wider variety of riders compared to the previous Code lever. However, it's worth noting that the lever modulation doesn't replicate the firmness of older Code models. Despite this difference, the overall feel on the trail is excellent.

Spec Options

As usual, there are three spec level options: Bronze, Silver and Ultimate, from bottom to top.

Bronze is the base level, still with Swinglink and a reach adjust. Silver moves up and upgrades to bearings in the lever pivot, pad contact adjust and an adjustable angle banjo hose from the caliper end. Finally Ultimate features all these things but upgrades to titanium hardware.

Limited time offer - the first person to buy a pair of Maven brakes gets a free install on us!