Almost 50 percent stronger: Sram throws a new brake anchor

Sram Maven

With the Maven, Sram presents its most powerful brake. Compared to Sram's snappy "Code", this brake anchor is now said to deliver almost 50 percent more braking power. That's quite an announcement! This powerful four-piston brake should also score points with significantly less manual force, greater stability and better modulation.

Sram's new Maven is said to deliver almost 50 percent more braking force than the Code gravity brake. But the Maven is capable of more than just brute force.

Less effort, higher efficiency

The Maven requires 32 percent less manual force on the lever to generate the same braking power as the Code. This reduces fatigue and improves control on hard and long descents.

The four brake pistons are responsible for this excess power. These are larger and have different dimensions - two pistons with a diameter of 19.5 millimetres and two with a diameter of 18 millimetres. As a result, more pressure is applied to the pads, which reduces the amount of force required.

The swing link optimized in the lever of the Maven provides a leverage effect that changes over the entire lever travel. The further you pull the lever, the more force Maven sends to the pistons. In contrast to the binary characteristic of an "on/off" feeling of conventional brakes, this progressive power development is intended to offer unsurpassed control.

If the brake is too strong for you, Sram actually offers options to reduce the braking power of the Maven.

No deco

As a rule, brake callipers bend under load. The four screws on the brake caliper housing of the Maven are not just there for decoration, but reduce the power loss at the brake caliper and thus ensure a secure feel at the lever.

The feel at the lever should not be an alien one, by the way. The position of the pivot point, the length and shape of the lever and the pressure point setting have been adopted from the code, so that the proven ergonomics of the lever are retained.

Less is more

Sram recommends starting with the smallest brake rotor that the frame and suspension fork can accommodate. Every 20 millimetre increase in brake rotor size rides to a mechanical advantage of 14 percent. If you upgrade from a 180 mm brake disc to a 220 mm brake disc, the system performance increases by 28 percent.

However, a brake disc that is too large can also mean that not enough heat is generated. A smaller brake rotor, which generates the optimum temperature, can even have more bite on the trail. The thermal discoloration of the spokes of the brake discs can be an indication of the performance of the brake discs.

Brownish or bronze discoloration means that the size is optimal.
Purple or rainbow-colored discoloration means that the brake discs are running too hot, i.e. they are too small.
No clear discoloration means that the brake discs are not getting hot enough. A reduction in size would lead to optimum performance.

Heat, the brake helper

For a brake to be powerful and consistent, it must retain sufficient heat in the system while avoiding rapid fluctuations between hot and cold. The Maven should also shine with a constant temperature.

The massive brake calipers ensure more consistent performance by maintaining the optimum operating temperature over a longer period of time. Their greater thermal mass means they take longer to heat up, keeping excess heat at bay while still retaining optimum heat so they don't cool down too quickly.

The Maven piston seals in the caliper are made of a material specially developed at Sram that retains its properties and provides an airtight seal even in extreme braking heat or low outside temperatures. These heat-resistant seals also enable the Maven to eliminate the previous weakness of mineral oil, while at the same time utilizing its advantages. On the longest descents, the braking feel should always remain the same.

Three versions plus a limited edition

The limited edition Maven Ultimate Expert Kit contains everything you need to optimally tune the Maven Ultimate brakes. The Edition 1 has exclusive, red speckled and anodized brake calipers, which make the brakes stand out from the rest of the collection.

Included in the Expert Kit are:

two organic and two sintered XL brake pads
four HS2 brake rotors (1x 220 mm, 2x 200 mm, 1x 180 mm)
two 20p adapters
two MMX clamps
Maven Ultimate brake set with limited-edition, red speckled and anodized brake calipers
Mineral oil bleed kit
Brake rotor bag

The Maven Ultimate pairs a sleek, highly polished brake lever body with a caliper with machined edges and titanium hardware for a finish that would do credit to any modern superbike. The tool-free grip width and pressure point adjustment should make customization very easy.

18- and 19.5-millimeter pistons for first-class performance
Swinglink for the typical Sram lever feel
Stiff 4-piston brake caliper with the best heat management and easy access to the screws
Organic pads as standard for the best modulation and low-noise braking performance
Stealth lever architecture for a slimmer, modern feel
Mineral oil for low maintenance and high performance (only when used with Maxima mineral brake oil)
Polished lever body and titanium hardware
Pressure point adjustment and tool-free reach adjustment

The Maven Silver has a black anodized finish and stainless steel hardware. The tool-free grip width and pressure point adjustment makes customization easier than ever before. It has virtually the same technical features as the Ultimate, but comes in a black anodized finish and without titanium hardware.

The Maven Bronze has a Dark Polar anodized finish. It has a tool-free grip width adjustment to facilitate customization. It comes in a Dark Polar Eloxal finish.

Adapters and pads

The XL pads of the Maven are available in two compounds, each with their own characteristics.

Organic brake pads are ideal if you want a quick response and less noise. They offer the best performance in dry conditions.
Sintered brake pads offer high heat resistance and better performance in wet or muddy conditions.

To ensure optimum alignment of the brake disc to the brake caliper, there are two size-specific adapters that cover the four common combinations of brake disc sizes.