dastone

To confirm I wasn't crazy, I just installed my set of Maven Base brakes around an XT mechanical ring-clamp shifter. Here is an annotated photo that explains the interference that I believe deserves a mention: https://i.imgur.com/TDKL1Re.jpeg

@Dario-DiGiulio: I appreciate the setup photos from both of you. I'm just disappointed that this potential interference hasn't been mentioned in any of Pinkbike's articles tagged "review", when it is a unique design decision that can impact a rider's ability to find a usable setup. Shimano also deserves to be called out if the opposite is true with their M9220 levers, though it looks like they might have a bit more clearance.

@Dario-DiGiulio: the third photo in this article shows a SRAM shifter, no photos show a Shimano one? https://imgur.com/a/FWobtEl Motives pictured since I had a clearer image, but I encountered the exact same interference with the stealth lever design of the Maven A1, with a stock mechanical XT ring clamp shifter.

Hey Dario, the Mavens are the only brake in this test that prevent Shimano shifters from being mounted in a usable position (without a third party adapter). Is there a reason that this was not mentioned? Calling out anti-consumer practices like SRAM’s walled-garden approach to “stealth lever design” - which serves no performance benefit - seems more important than protecting the feelings of one of your largest advertisers, no?

@wolftwenty1: if none of my complaints were bleed related, how were they bled incorrectly? If you're talking about the piston massage, SRAM's website currently claims that's to address "brakes [that] feel a bit spongy or [...] levers moving too far before the brakes engage". Neither of which I had an issue with, and neither of which affect initial dead stroke force.

@jaydawg69: That's also not true. SRAM called the local shop I collaborated with to confirm whether or not I was an employee of the shop, prior to reaching out to me directly by email and Instagram. I responded with: "Thank you for reaching out. [...] I understand that SRAM is likely not thrilled by my review, and that's fair. I’m happy to discuss anything about my experiences, the review or the product over email!" This was met with a friendly invitation to get out for a ride and chat. I felt that I had made it clear that I was open to discussing anything in writing (though maybe I should have been more explicit), so nothing further happened and neither of us asked any follow-up questions. No hard feelings from my side. For what it’s worth: Hayes, Magura, Hope, Trickstuff, Intend, Lewis, HEL and 612 were all happy to discuss things in writing from the start. I may not be the fastest at responding (and I do apologize for that!), but my inbox is always open to discuss things on or off the record… in writing, because that's important.

@jaydawg69: hi! 1) I did 100% of my ride testing with HS2 rotors after noting that XTR rotors were incompatible, something I think deserves to be noted because it's atypical. 2) None of my complaints were related to the bleed or bleeding process (wandering, inconsistency, pulling to bar, etc); and bleeding doesn't reduce dead stroke force. 3) Gonna need a citation for the Intend claim, haha. I am excited about these new B1s!

Lower viscosity oil sounds like a win, but it's a bummer that is isn't reverse-compatible with the older generation models.

@watchtower: depends if I had asparagus for dinner