SRAM levels out with new Flat Mount hydraulic disc brakes for RED, Force & Rival

Why do I need these over the non flat mount brakes?

I don’t really get the advantage of flat mount. I don’t really see any disadvantages either. Why are people spending time on this?

This is a stiffer, lower-profile mount that’s optimized for smaller rotors. Not only will roadies like it because it’s clean, but it also reduces frame weight by not having to have posts or disc tabs on frames. Also, potentially more aero. And roadies like aero, integrated and “Stiffness”.

This is not a “standard”. It irritates me when the cycling press talks about new “standards”. For bicycles there are very few standards – just lots of different “platforms”.

Despite the pushback, there is a driving factor besides marketing. With post mount brakes, the heat buildup on 140mm rotors could potentially be high enough to delaminate the frame, separating the bonded threaded aluminum inserts from the frame. The flat platform integrates the threaded section into the brake caliper.

You could go with the IS standard, but you are limited to using 140mm front/160mm rear rotor by default. So if you want 140/140, its not possible with IS.

There is merit to this the flat platform for road cycling.

@Derek
It looks less ugly. It probably weighs less. Maybe. The only people complaining are people with sour grapes syndrome because they bought a premature road disc bike and will forever have that ugly disc brake bike with the posts.

How likely is it that you’re going to transfer your MTB brakes to your road frame? Not very. Even if you do, there’s an adapter for it, just like there are adapters for all other disc mounts.

@Antipodean_G
You’ve clearly been under a rock, many many many motorcycles, especially high end ones use post mount disc brakes. The fact they have suspension makes flat mount not really an option. There is no drawback to frames being flat mount compatible. You can put an adapter and have it look like every other bike with an ugly adapter. There are very few people being inconvenienced by switching standards, because there are very few people with road discs.

For most people, they’re not trying to sell you a new and improved disc brake and make you switch standards. They’re trying to sell people on their first road disc brake. Not being hideously ugly carry over technology helps a bit with that.

@Mike Bechanic
Agreed. Platforms are a type of pedal. Platform has a very specific usage as a substitute for standard in computers. It need not apply in every other industry where standard is the applicable word.

Can anyone point us would be frame designers to the tech measurements? I’d like to incorporate this into my rear dropout.

It has nothing to do with CF rims, Dave, and everything to do with better brake modulation and better brake consistency, especially with variable weather conditions. You can relax, though, because no one is going to make you buy a road bike with disc brakes.

Darryn, please leave your conspiracy theories at home.

After a couple of years of road/CX/MTB converging on the same technology and standards, it’s just a coincidence that they’re coming apart with stuff like 1x, Boost, 27.5″, flat mount, etc. We probably NEED nanodrive again, too…

I’m sure someone, somewhere will be starting a kickstarter for a flat-mount to IS adapter. Then you can run 203s on your cyclocross bike, haha.

Shimano already makes flat mount to IS adapters.

Remember when Hayes and Gary Fisher basically did the same thing with 22mm brake mounts? Maybe I can retrofit some old hfx mags to work on a new road frame…