German brake company Magura has rolled out the new Gustav Ultra brake lever. A big performance upgrade for both the Gustav Elite and Gustav Pro brake systems, the new brake levers have three independent adjustments, a first for Magura. You can adjust the new lever’s reach, power, and bite point. That’s three more things to obsess over at the trailhead. You’re welcome.
With Help from Danny!
Magura’s thinking is simple: no two hands, trails, or riders are alike. To help with development, the brand brought in trials legend Danny MacAskill for input. Danny is a worthy test pilot if you want a lever that holds up to things gravity isn’t supposed to allow. But the new Ultra also builds on Magura’s adjustable-lever lineage, including the two-way adjustable HC3 lever from the MT family of brakes.
Danny gives us some insight on adjustment; he says, “After developing the adjustable MT7 HC3 brake lever, this one takes it to the next level! With the additional Bite Point Adjust feature, I can now fine-tune the brake even better to different riding challenges. Most of the time, I start with a ‘2/3 power’ and ‘half bite point’ setting.”
Let’s go over the adjustment points.
Reach Adjust:
This covers a wide range to suit different hand sizes and preferences. The lever end is a one-finger-only design, so you can set the tip closer to the bar than on the Pro or Elite levers. You just turn toward the “+” to move the lever farther from the bar. Simple and effective.
Power Adjust:
The Power Adjustment of the new Ultra lever takes its cue from the HC3 lever developed for the MT7. It uses an adjustable leverage ratio to shift the brake’s character from maximum power to more controlled, precise modulation. You get a 15% adjustment range with satisfyingly defined clicks, and depending on the setting, the Ultra lever can deliver up to 10% more braking power than the Gustav Pro lever. And again, turn toward “+” for more power.
Bite Point Adjust:
This adjustment offers four positions and works by changing the piston preload. Changing the piston preload alters free stroke, the lever movement before the brake starts to engage. The range covers up to 25% of lever travel, so you can go relaxed or quick and direct. And turn toward “+” for more bite and less free stroke.
Magura Ultra Lever Retail & Detail
Retail: $199 (two levers)
- Material: Aluminum, forged and CNC machined
- Color: Silver, polished, anodized
- Compatibility: GUSTAV ELITE, GUSTAV PRO
- Reach Adjust: 3 mm hex socket
- Power Adjust: 3 mm hex socket
- Bite Point Adjust: 3 mm hex socket
- Weight: 48g (that’s only 4g more than PRO lever)
European customers get a little something special at launch: To kick things off in Europe, the levers are available as a set in a Limited Edition with a high-quality metal lunch box, included free of charge.
I think the thing that sounds interesting to me isn’t the number of adjustments; it’s that they’re independent. That’s the cool part. It seems that on some adjustable levers, changing one setting means chasing the other two back into place.
I feel like separating reach, leverage, and free stroke should make dialing in your brake feel much more straightforward. If you’re already running Gustav brakes and love to tinker, this looks like an upgrade that gives you some real adjustment power. Hit the link below for more details.
