SRAM describes their new Motive disc brakes as gravity-ready power at XC race weights. Powered by the same new mineral oil architecture that fuels SRAM’s most-powerful-ever Maven brakes, these new Motives are still strong 4-piston stoppers, just slimmed down to make them suitable for everything from lightweight World Cup XCO race bikes to your everyday big mountain trail bike.
Code and Level are out. Motives are in!
SRAM Motive light, powerful 4-piston mountain bike brakes
Put simply, SRAM goes all-in on mineral oil, 4-pistons, and Stealth hose routing for all mountain bike braking needs. Their all-new Motive brakes take everything the brand learned from developing their most-powerful-ever Maven brakes, and made them lighter to serve mountain bikers from all disciplines. You get Code-like power, but Level-like weight.
SRAM figures that trail and all-mountain riders that would have picked Codes in the past will benefit from a bit more power, lighter weight, and easier maintenance. Since XC keeps getting more and more technical, they too will benefit from a significant braking power boost, and just a small weight compromise over the previous Level series. In reality, those weight weenies can still tune their setup with smaller & lighter rotors than before while still being able to go faster and brake later thanks to more brake power..
What’s new?
SRAM sculpted away a lot of the mass that makes Mavens so beefy while retaining the power of 4-piston braking.
These new brakes all feature the same DirectLink actuation from Level & Guide braking to keep weight to a minimum and deliver a linear braking feel. Now, with all-new seal designs, they run exclusively on mineral oil, which means they won’t absorb water like DOT fluid does. As a result, SRAM now recommends bleeding only every other year. Of course, you’ll need all-new bleed kits if you maintain your own bikes, though.
The new Motive calipers take on a more angular, all-new aesthetic, kind of reshaping the long-running Code caliper. But their lever bodies look almost exactly like the most recent Level Stealth brakes.
Motives at 3 spec levels
Much like the Levels before them, these new SRAM Motive brakes come in three spec levels – Ultimate, Silver, and Bronze. The differences between them amount to more premium materials and lighter weights from the top down.
- Motive Ultimate features titanium hardware, a carbon lever blade, lever pivot bearing, and an adjustable banjo fitting on the caliper.
- Motive Silver has an alloy lever blade, lever pivot bearing, and a banjo fitting on the caliper.
- Motive Bronze includes an alloy lever blade, lever bushing pivot, and a caliper with hose compression fitting.
All three still get tool-free reach adjust for their levers. All are MMX Matchmaker compatible. And all three share the new standard SRAM Large brake pads, coming stock with organic pads.
SRAM Motive brakes – Pricing, availability & options
SRAM’s all-new lightweight 4-piston Motive brakes are available now in 3 spec levels – Ultimate, Silver & Bronze. Plus, there’s the limited edition Motive Ultimate Expert Kit that comes in the special teal green splatter finish.
A set of the top-tier SRAM Motive Ultimate retails one brake at a time in standard silver with the MMX clamp but no rotors for $275 / 300€ / £270 – front or rear.
Or you can pick up the limited edition Motive Ultimate Expert Kit for $600 / 655€ / £585 for a more premium setup, which actually looks like a pretty solid value in 2-tone black & teal splatter ano (while supplies last). The Expert Kit includes both front & rear brakes plus Matchmaker clamps, 4x Centerline-X rotors (both 160mm & 180mm sets) with a rotor travel bag, mounting adapters & bolts. Plus, the kit also comes with both organic AND sintered brake pads, a bleed kit with oil, and a multi-tool for trackside brake swaps. Get it direct, exclusively at SRAMnation.com!
The second-tier Motive Silver brakes retail for $225 / 245€ / £220 per front or rear set (no rotors). And the most affordable out of the group, Motive Bronze sells for $175 / 190€ / £170 per brake.
If you are looking for something even more affordable or more powerful, you can check out the newly expanded SRAM Maven & DB brake range. They all stop on mineral oil now and are all available now at a much wider range of prices.
