Magura Bicycle Hardware Updates - Hydraulic Brakes, Wireless Seat Post Droppers, Inverted Suspension

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• published: 09 Jul 2017
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While attending a press event in Sedona, Arizona, I got to meetup with some Magura reps to discuss the latest hydraulic brakes, suspension, and seat post dropper hardware they’ve been working on. I learned that the even numbered brakes (such as the MT2, MT4, MT6, and MT8) are dual-piston while the odd numbered brakes (Such as the MT5 and MT7) are quad-piston which spread out heat but can also weigh more. The Magura reps that I spoke with included Stephen from Germany and Jude from the US. I learned that the piston surface on the quad piston models is about 30% larger than the dual piston models. This generates more braking power and dissipates heat faster, also the higher weight translates to higher head dissipation. They use a special material called Carbotexture in their master cylinders (at the brake levers) to save weight so that they can add weight in the caliper for improved braking. There is even a Carbotexture SL which is extra light that is used in the MT7 brake lever master cylinder. The actual brake levers that you pull can be Aluminum alloy or Carbon fiber to reduce weight. Magura also has a specially designed lever blades (brake levers) with integrated switches that can be used to activate ebike brake lights or send a motor cutoff signal (which is rarely used on high-end mid-drive motors now because they are so responsive). The cable that comes out is a two-poll or “two wire” cable. The levers with the switches can be retrofitted to MT4 and MT5 models which converts them to MT4e and MT5e. Also, the brake levers are symmetrical so they can flip-flop and work on both the left and right side of a handle bar. Magura introduced their first hydraulic brake for mountain bikes in 1987. They have a strong background in the braking space for BMW motorcycles (controls, brakes, master cylinders, handle bars, and grips). The MT8 Carbon fiber cross country brake setup from Magura is just 299 grams including the rotor, caliper, brake lever setup, and mounting hardware. I asked Jude for some general tips about dealing with bicycle disc brakes and he said it’s best not to touch the rotors because they get hot and the oil from your skin can damage the brake pads (also keep chain lubes and cleaning supplies off of the disc brake rotors). He said you can use rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) to clean the rotors. Also, if you take the wheel and disc brake rotor off of your bike, it’s good to have a spacer so the pads don’t connect and get stuck together. Magura uses a mineral based fluid for their hydraulic disc brakes that does not absorb moisture and thus deteriorate, freeze, or boil as easily. Jude explained that you can bleed your brakes every year or two depending on use and the hardware setup. He said that mineral fluid is longer lasted than DOT fluid. Magura uses a radial configured master piston path which delivers better braking sensitivity input (it moves perpendicular to the grip vs. parallel). Most Magura brake levers have adjustable reach with a 3 mm Allen key but others are tool-free where you just twist a finger adjust. Magura also recently introduced a Trail brake, the Trail Sport gives you quad piston up front and dual piston in the rear. Magura introduced a new remote controlled wireless seat post dropper that’s good for retrofitting and running wire-free on mountain bikes. It’s called the Vyron dropper post and it is battery powered but also has an automatic sleep mode that listens for movement (so you have to shake the bike to “wake it up”). You can get the post in 30.9 mm and 31.6 mm and they offer 150 mm travel. You can mount the control pad wherever you want on the handlebar of the bike and you can recharge the post and use the on-post button pad to use it if the wireless button pad runs out of batteries. They said you get ~400 actuations per charge, and it takes 3 hours to charge. It retails for $399 MSRP and is super easy and fast to swap between bikes because it is wireless vs. being wired through the frame. The same wireless button pad that is used for the Vyron dropper post can also be used to lockout the suspension fork and rear shock that Magura offers. It’s called the elect system. The up arrow does the suspension fork, the middle button does the seat post, and the down arrow does the rear suspension if you have it. If you just have the seat post suspension, there is a plastic cover for the button pad that makes it just one large button. The suspension fork we looked at was an upside-down model with a form fit octagon 20 mm thru axle and magnetic tool built in. These inverted forks tend to flex and twist less at the top because of increased thickness and offer the strength that powerful and heavy e-mountain bikes benefit from. I liked that it had stanchion shielding as well. Magura partnered with WP (owned by KTM) for their upside down fork. The fork shown in this video is not yet available aftermarket but you can find it on the Haibike AllMtn 8.0 and some other KTM models.