Magura's Four Piston Brake - Sea Otter 2014

Apr 10, 2014
by Mike Levy  
Magura four piston brake

Four Pistons, Four Pads

These days, Magura is known for offering some of the lightest two piston brakes on the market, with designs that feature master cylinders manufactured out of carbon fiber and come in at well under 300 grams for a single brake. Riders who have been around the block will know that hasn't always been the case, though, as the German company was once lionized for their no-holds-barred downhill brake named Gustav that employed four separate pistons. The neon yellow Gustavs had enough power to slow down a runaway train but they were portly and not exactly sleek by anyone's standards, and it's fair to say that while they were the ticket at the time, they would be considered quite unrefined by today's standards. Enter this new and yet to be named four piston offering from Magura that looks to channel and even improve on the Gustav's incredible power, but offer it in a much lighter and polished package.

While the old Gustav depended on one long brake pad that spanned both pistons on each side, this new brake uses four separate pads and asymmetrical clamping forces that Magura says offers more opportunity for heat to escape by allowing the rotor to actually cool down slightly better than if the forces were more even and only two pads were employed. The pistons themselves are the same size throughout - 17mm across - and Magura is sticking to their guns when it comes to using organic brake pads from the factory. Want to go sintered? You'll likely have to look to the aftermarket to do so.

Magura four piston brake


Magura also pointed out how the new brake mimics their high-end motorbike offering (pictured below) in design, and it's fair to say that the mountain bike version looks like a downsized model of the massive blue caliper they had on display for comparison. The important similarity between the two, they told Pinkbike, is the bar of material that runs over the top of the caliper between the leading and trailing brake pads. While this bit of aluminum would usually be machined away, and it is on most other four piston designs, Magura says that it helps to increase the rigidity of their caliper. Claimed weight sits at 350 grams for a front brake with a 160mm rotor and all of its hardware, and Magura says that consumers can expect to see it in their local shops by July. Pricing is still being decided upon.

Magura four piston brake

www.magura.com

Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

97 Comments
  • 69 5
 Cool idea, I can put them on my super monster fork.
  • 5 21
flag lsmillie (Apr 10, 2014 at 23:12) (Below Threshold)
 Honestly like the older xtr 2 piston brake IMO
  • 21 1
 You mean XT 4-piston brake? All XTR brakes have been 2 pistons.
  • 17 2
 I sense cheap pad replacement x 8. No thanks.
  • 18 0
 Why are so many people just assuming shit about the brake and pad replacements having only read the above. I don't think they would be selling each pad individually of even in sets of 2 for that matter. The braking force is dispensed pretty evenly across the pads so it would only be logical for the pads to come in sets of 4. DURP. I sense they might be a wee bit more pricey for the sets though. Until superstar start doing them.
  • 5 11
flag minty1 (Apr 11, 2014 at 6:18) (Below Threshold)
 Over engineered IMO, current crop of brakes have more than enough power and cooling properties.
  • 5 0
 Plus that much pad surface area means they wear slower. I used to run the old Gustavs on my dh bike. Could go seasons without a pad change. Favorite brakes I ever had
  • 9 0
 ...Why would you quote DH brake weight with a 160mm rotor?
  • 8 1
 ..." named Gustav that employed four separate pistons"...

Actually Gustav was a 2 piston brake. The two pistons where at the one side of the calliper which was floating giving the filling of a four piston. Heavy as hell but there was a reason they where called "the anchor".
  • 6 0
 "Why would you quote DH brake weight with a 160mm rotor?"

If it's got power like the Gustav did then a 160mm is all you going to need in the rear, I never ran anything larger than that with them on the back.
  • 1 0
 Gustav with 160mm rotors could be enough for some (not me) but with 210 front, 190 rear and Julie levers they surely looked better Smile
  • 5 0
 The weight is quoted with 160mm rotor, becouse everybody else (avid formula shimano...) do the same... so this way you have a good base for comparison
  • 1 0
 @alonalgr That makes sense, but irritates me with it's missleading-ness. If you're not going to quote it with the size rotor most people will use, give us separate caliper and disc weights.
  • 48 2
 Pad per piston?? Give me a brake.
  • 6 2
 Ha
  • 2 0
 I have a feeling Magura us gonna milk this for a while and have rediculous prices
  • 20 5
 So you get to pay for 8 brake pads instead of 4. Seems legit. If they scale the prices so it's not much different than other brands, sweet, but otherwise, mate...
  • 5 1
 don't forget that with 4 brake pads instead of two, it will increase their life, so you won't be replacing them that ofen...
  • 3 1
 But they're so tiny, I would hazard a guess that if they are bigger than a normal 4 pot pad, it'd be a tiny difference. This is taking into account the brake itself doesn't look to be bigger than a Saint, and there is a huge gap in between the pads in the Magura. Saint pads are pretty wide, have to see them side by side to be sure, but I don't think there's much in it.
  • 2 1
 Clarkeh, i was thinking the same thing. The actual breaking surface may even be less the shimano 4 piston brakeswith long pads... maybe since the pads are far apart from eachother they are stronger since they are covering a latger portion of the rotor... i know nothing about mmechanical engineering. ..
  • 3 0
 I wouldn't bet against having to replace the leading pair of pads more often, either...
  • 12 1
 the old gustavs were that powerful that they broke the arch on the fork leg on my mozo pros at the time i ended up putting them on my z1's ....
  • 27 1
 Back in the days when you put Gustav brake on Shiver fork and pulled the lever the bicycle would turn.
  • 6 1
 The wind blows on a shiver and it turns
  • 5 0
 I love Magura products. Its a shame they are heavily under rated over here. My 2010 Magura Menja's were the Best 100mm XC fork I have ever ridden. Expensive but great. My 2009 Magura Wotan's were the plushest forks I have ever ridden full stop! The old Louise and Gustavs were fantastic anchors. Would love to give these a shot.
  • 4 2
 Wotans were as reliable as the russian police
  • 2 0
 My wotans were perfect thanks
  • 2 1
 Well and my ellsworth joker still isn't cracked but that doesn't mean those frames were strong
  • 4 0
 Well I'm used to hearing crap comments about what I ride. I am a Kona rider through and through and have ridden Kona exclusivly for 8 years and have owned 9 different Kona's ranging across litrally all diciplines. I have never had one issue with them and will continue to ride Kona for the forseable future. I been through the crap era "eurrgh Kona's snap" all bikes can snap! Luckily now Chris Mandell and Aggy are turning the brand around and alot of people are realising this. But Wotans were the same. Yes the very first Wotan was sketchy but I had the 09 and it was fantastic with no issues. Most keyboard warriors who slag off stuff have never even rode what the are slagging off in my experience Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Kona has been making great bikes for a few years already. The wotan on the other hand - I'm yet to see one that is not leaking.
  • 1 0
 Off topic but as above, I came across two pairs of Magura forks. First one lasts 10 mins on my bike before the seals blown out, the other pair I did not even bother to fit on as it was leaking simply by compressing them by hand. Talking about brakes... just get the T1 and forget the whole 4-pot bullcrap.
  • 8 1
 Hope did this 15 years ago.....
  • 1 0
 My hardtail is still running Hope Enduros ! They are a fucking nightmare when you inevitably get pistons that stick.
  • 1 0
 Yeah I was going to mention that... ran m4's for a long time. Replacing pads was a B though
  • 2 0
 (shameless plug) Got a set of pads for M4's , New in Box for sale....make me an offer.
  • 1 0
 haha sorry man, got rid of that bike. but the kid still hasn't paid me for it yet!! #sellingbikestofriendsproblems
  • 3 0
 "This is the voice of the MYSTERONS....", takes me back a bit that top picture, nice looking caliper though.

It makes sense to have four separate pads. Most 4 piston designs have different diameter pistons to give good modulation, so the pistons are not applying applying equal pressure and having split pads allows the pistons to work individually to their full potential.

I guess the downside is though if the front pair of pads wears down first, you won't be able to just change them out because then the rear pads will have worn and will be too thin. It would seem logical for them to make 4 smaller pads a similar cost so traditional 4 pot brake pad pairs but who knows.
  • 2 0
 exactly what i thought when i looked at the pic, they did say it was still unnamed, I think going by that pic then mysteron is a good name.
  • 1 1
 Actually what you want is four pistons and two pads. More even pad wear, and you still get the modulation advantage. 4 piston / 4 pad designs don't make a whole lot of sense... Other than selling more ridiculously priced brake pads. Seriously, our tiny mountain bike brake pads cost about as much as those for a car!
  • 1 0
 Yeah would be cool to take credit for coming up with the name. Magura Mysteron sounds pretty good to me Smile
  • 7 1
 Four pistons with four separate pads, I like!
  • 3 1
 I really like the idea of these, will definitely be very interested if they are reasonably priced, subject to a test ride/lever feel, hope levers are one of the main thing that keeps me coming back to them.
I owned the old Gustavs back in the day, the power was awesome, I really loved mine but they were old tech and were limited by design, the floating caliper with 2 large pistons as apposed to all the newer competitors with opposing pistons.
  • 3 0
 Yes, correct, The Gustav had two pistons not for like mentioned a couple of times in the article.
  • 6 0
 It says motorbike brae pictures below.
  • 1 0
 Yeah it had me for a second and then I read it is like the motor brake pictured below.
  • 2 0
 I had a pair of DH04s back in the day with four independent pads. There's no way I'd buy anything similar. They howled incessantly, had minimal power, and leaked constantly. Magura will certainly figure out how to fix the leaks and power issues, but four pads means four ways to squeal, four pads to align, and a lot more problems. The wider backing plate unifies the pads to toe-in better, and that thick metal is a great heat sink to pull heat away from the pad material. That's what shimano does with their ice-tech pads, which are well regarded for good reason. Finally, more pad-rotor contact area means more power. Two pistons with a nice long pad face gives a shedload of friction material in contact with the rotor. I just can't see how this is a good idea.
  • 1 0
 Magura needs a new dh fork to go with them. My wotan is pretty awesome. I just wish they'd fix the sealldesign and stop using stupid propriatery 40w oil that you can't get in smaller quantities and yet you need a 10ml per service.
  • 1 0
 I have a set of old julies on my early 2000's rockhopper the brakes are still awesome as hell for being so old the stopping power in them are comparable to the new codes on my downhill rig and I've never bled them in the years I've owned the bike
  • 4 0
 Where can I get a mount adapter for the blue ones?
  • 1 0
 Why four pistons instead of a floating caliper adapter? Incompatible with postmount ? It made the Gustav a power champ, why not a lighter brake? Yellow rings on a black brake are pimp !
  • 2 0
 Hope did this YEEEEAAAARRRS ago, with the dh4! still have one and its 100% working and only had one service, had the original seals and pistons too!
  • 4 0
 Gustav's were absolutely astonishingly good dh brakes.. Welcome back!
  • 2 0
 those look great. Love my MT8/MartaSL caliper on AM and Louise BAT on my DH bike, but wouldn't mind having those for the DH bike... never have too much power Smile
  • 3 0
 Im just here to complain about obscene an non existant costs because its new and i wont be biying it!
  • 3 1
 I don't like 4 pads instead of two. Interesting how much it will cost to replace all of them Wink
  • 4 0
 *Puts rear brake on* OTB
  • 1 0
 Anyone remember 6 piston hopes? The mono mini 4's or whatever from hope had 4 seperate pads.
  • 1 0
 ooops I'm still running magura hs22 brakes on my other bike! still can't fault them even after 16 years...
  • 1 0
 "With this new product, you are 5x more likely to go over your handle bars get a face full of dirt"
  • 2 0
 they look awesome but they will also probably be extremely expensive.
  • 1 0
 These look slick! Nice design Magura! Wonder what lever design they'll be paired up with?
  • 2 1
 That is B....E.....A.....youtifull!!!
  • 1 0
 good god, I'd be happy with these on my car...
  • 1 0
 Want, I love their brakes
  • 2 0
 Less is more.
  • 2 1
 Theyr a tad on the large side those blue ones...I like em!!
  • 1 1
 The blue one is for motorbikes. The article says they look like downsised versions of their motorbike brakes pictured below Big Grin
  • 1 0
 No, that's just their 4 year old brake modeller, Toby.
  • 2 1
 Oh sorry,i know its difficult to convey sarcasm on here lol
  • 1 0
 Seems legit. Look forward to some unbiased reviews.
  • 1 0
 When can I buy the blue one, and will they have an adapter for my fox 34?
  • 1 0
 Doesn't anyone else wonder what the other end of the system has to offer?
  • 1 0
 ill stick with my .....ZEE's!!!!!!!! Lovin them.
  • 1 0
 Run saint levers and gustav calipers for maximum brake performance!!
  • 1 1
 never had any trouble downhilling on avid elixir 1's...
  • 11 1
 One does not simply put 'never had any trouble' and 'avid' in the same sentence...
  • 2 0
 Never mentioned BLEEDING the things, that's a different story...
  • 4 0
 Even riding.
  • 1 0
 what about the weight?
  • 1 0
 like 10 tons per caliper
  • 1 0
 ok
  • 6 5
 man those are huge!
  • 5 7
 That's what he said

(o)(o)
  • 1 1
 A toy car from the future.
  • 1 1
 well that looks like a pain in the ass to service
  • 2 2
 I'm not sure if that will fit on my enduro fork...
  • 1 0
 I want the blue one.
  • 3 1
 The blue one is for motorbike bro Big Grin
  • 1 0
 FAP FAP FAP FAP Need Smile
  • 1 0
 Stop it .
  • 4 5
 Not sure if late april fools... *squinty eyes*
  • 6 8
 Lots of rich noobs gonna buy these and I can see how many of them flying over the bars at the bike park can't wait.
  • 3 0
 Obviously you don't know what you're talking about my man. Magura is a german company and I trust them to release a good product, like usual. For years I was waiting for the successor of the Gustav and here it is ... I hope so. And it's made in Germany Smile
  • 2 1
 Never said they sucked lol I made myself sound like a d-bag never ment to do that but all I was saying looks like a nice brake and must have really nice power for an 4 pad 4 piston brake...I could see them sending someone over the bars if they don't know how to brake properly.
  • 1 0
 The new Magura MTs are quite easy to modulate. I'm pretty sure it will be the same ... otherwise no one will buy Big Grin
  • 2 3
 Dank.







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