Printable View
Or, do any of you have Maven brakes all on their own?
My hands are kinda fuct, and I need some reeeally strong stoppers for an upcoming Perú trip.
I am already running 220/203 2.3mm rotors, and do lever bleeds every few rides.
I would prefer Shimano levers, but if Mavens don’t feel like classic SRAM brakes, I could be motivated.
I will likely get whatever the new Shimano's are going to be, but that’s not likely until ‘25…
And yes, Maven’s are mineral oil.
I too have thought that the maven's bite point was just a little too consistent.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
I rode Mavens for about a month this spring. They are comically powerful.
They were great for a trip to Asheville with a bunch of big descents and a day at Windrock.
Then I stripped that bike and sold it, and sold the Mavens to my buddy.
If I had a a big enduro bike right now, they’d be on it; but I’m just riding a Rascal this summer and Code Stealths are good on that.
Mavens do feel different at the lever than other SRAM brakes.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
I know its just crazy talk but what happens if bleed the whole brake ?Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
That’s not the issue here, more power is.
Full bleed usually gets done once a month/two months, depending on riding frequency and conditions. That is implied.
The air tends not to get trapped in the caliper, lever bleed usually is sufficient IMO unless you have contaminated oil or some other issue.
Seriously doubt anyone needs more power than the mavens! The only people I know on 223/203 setups w/ mavens are built like nfl linebackers and racing pro.
Honestly this thread sounds more like something wrong with your brake’s seals and decidedly NOT like a feature worth bringing to your new brakes! :)
Edit - that said, I’m always happy to let others beta test new sram products, and the maven certainly seems to be a product with hit or miss results in the real world so far.
I have this setup on three different bikes currently (Enduro, Trail, and Ebike), and they all feel about the same.
XT or XTR levers, XTR 8120 calipers. Metal pads, Galfer rotors.
Generally amazing and more than enough. But on true skidder trails, REALLY steep fall line, (double blacks,), loooong descents (6k+) I am always looking for just a bit more. And since last year, severe arthritis has creeped in, causing a LOT of pain and loss of strength. I got one thumb basal reconstruction last year, and I have one more to go.
Hopefully this is not permanent, but for this year’s trip, I have ‘special needs’, lol. :yourock:
From what I've read people half bleed the Shimano brake , you also mentioned lever bleed which is why I asked
TRP DH-R Evo brakes with 203mm rotors, problem solved.
You might be riding different trails, but there was nothing we rode in Peru that had me wishing for more braking power.
Quick q - are you using full steel-backed brake pads (not the full alloy or alloy/steel hybrid ones), 2.0mm thick rotors (not 1.8mm thick ones), and 223 rotors?Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
If not, those changes would REALLY help your current setup handle the conditions you describe, since the brakes overall are working for you, and switching to an entirely new setup could introduce new variables that don’t work as well for you, at least potentially.
But I also hear you, may not be wise dumping money into a setup you want to change anyway!
EDIT: I'm an idiot, sorry. Just re-read OP and realized you are on big/thick rotors. Sorry. Nvm.
You're on Galfer rotors, but have you tried their pro pads? For super long descents they are a huge step up from stock sintered pads. Major downside is they don't last long at all, but should last you for a Peru trip and is probably the easiest swap to do.
I’m on dominions with 220/203 rotors and mtx gold pads, last person who spun my bike around remarked it was the most powerful setup he had ever felt and it has a lot more power than the code r on my last bike. The mtx pads are a noticeable power bump. Per enduro MTB mag testing the big hopes, mavens, maximas and dominions are all in the same league.
What are you on now?
Maven Silvers, MTX Gold, 220/200 HSR2.
You’ll be laughing.
Note: If I was traveling internationally to ride massive descents r/n I’d bring Maven bleed kit or at least fittings. Bleed with other mineral oils in a dire pinch.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
Yeah, mavens are on a different level than anything else on the market in terms of power. Even in stock form without any special pads or rotors.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
I guess it’s not so much about the actual peak power, but the ease of maintaining that power safely with my fucked up hands. To put it another way, I am looking for hydraulically (pump) assisted brakes, like on cars!Quote:
Originally Posted by smmokan
I am looking for whatever crutches are available, if that makes sense.
I would love to not need a better solution.
Cascade makes a caliper, which they claim adds 13% more power.
Well, at $530 a caliper, they sure as fuck better be!
$80. Sounds like a better gamble.
its $530 a set, but yeahQuote:
Originally Posted by rideit
Oh, I’ll just pretend it’s 2-Fer-1 now, how could I resist? :fmicon:
maybe not the best answer but how about saint calipers?
If you did add shimano levers to a maven, I wonder if it'd be better to use SRAM mineral oil or shimano mineral oil. The SRAM oil acts quite a bit different from the bleeds I've done on them, almost acts like it's just green dot fluid haha
I just got a set of Dominions on my enduro bike and the lever feel is insanely light. That includes both the free stroke, and the amount that you have to squeeze to get a given stopping power once the pads engage. I am still running the semi-metallic pads as well, haven't felt the need to try the sintered quite yet.
I haven't ridden Mavens, but most of the reviews mention a heavy lever feel. That would be a negative if you are looking for the most power for a given amount of "squeeze".
This is precisely the type of feedback that I am looking for, thanks. I would love to truly field-test some Dominions on Teton Pass or Dirty Harry at JHMR something, but putting that together is not so simple.Quote:
Originally Posted by meepmoop24
Still thinking that an experiment of Maven calipers with XTR levers (and Shimano oil) will be a fairly inexpensive and worthwhile endeavor.
“You don’t know if you don’t go”, right?
Lol
Dominion absolutely wins a lightest-lever-action to power ratio contest over every other brake on the market.
Dominions have the lightest lever action of any brake I've tried (which includes various shimanos, srams, trps, hopes, maguras, and a few other odd ones). For power, they're at the powerful end of the spectrum, but not clearly more powerful than some of the other popular options. I love my dominions, and will put them on future bikes unless/until something better comes along.
Mavens probably have the heaviest lever pull of any of the popular brakes. Definitely the most power though. Arguably too much power for mellower riding.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Hmmm. Interdasting. But I REALLY want to keep all 9 (disc) bikes mineral oil based for ease of fleet maintenance.
(.05 world problems, right?)