Hayes used to be the holy grail of MTB brakes, but the brand slowly faded into obscurity in the late 2000s. But, have we been missing out? Hayes have made something of a comeback over the last few years, so we decided to test out the Hayes Dominion T4 against 13 of the best brakes on the market. Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison Hayes Dominion T4 | Four piston | DOT | semi-metallic pads | 530 g (Set without rotor) | € 720 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website Did you know that American manufacturer Hayes Performance Systems is ..read more

The Formula Cura has long been an insider’s tip, delivering excellent braking performance at an affordable price. In our last brake group test, they secured the coveted “Best Buy Tip” badge. In our 2024 comparison test, Formula take on the competition with the revised Cura 4 four piston model, which retails at € 422. Can it still hold its own against the competition? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison Formula Cura 4 | Four pistons | Mineral oil| organic brake pads | 544 g (Set without rotors) | € 422 (Set without rotors) | Manufacturer ..read more

Despite being a major brake manufacturer, TRP aren’t as popular as the industry’s top dogs. We tested the Trail EVO, the second most powerful brake in the Taiwanese manufacturer’s portfolio right after the DH-R EVO, which is also in this test. How does the Trail EVO fare against its bigger sibling, and the 13 other brakes in this test? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison TRP Trail EVO| Four pistons | Mineral oil | organic pads | 638 g (Set without rotor) | € 400 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website TRP is short for TEKTRO Racing ..read more

Despite being a major brake manufacturer, TRP’s brakes aren’t as widespread as you’d expect. The DH-R EVO is the most powerful model in their portfolio and enters this comparison test alongside its little sibling, the Trail EVO. Does it have the potential to become an insider tip? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison TRP DH-R EVO | Four pistons| DOT | organic pads | 638 g (Set without rotor) | € 500 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website TRP stands for TEKTRO Racing Products, which is the performance brand of Taiwanese brake coloss ..read more

€ 1,300 for a set of brakes? Are you serious? Needless to say, the Trickstuff MAXIMA is the most expensive brake in this test. In return for your money, you’ll get a super stylish, elegant brake with a raw alloy finish and a shed-load of power. But is it just just an incredibly expensive anchor, or do Trickstuff have everything under control? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison Trickstuff MAXIMA | Four pistons| Mineral oil | organic pads | 548 g (Set without rotor) | € 1,300 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website Trickstuff are a ..read more

The SRAM MAVEN Ultimate is the newest brake in the entire test field. It looks like a CODE on steroids but uses mineral oil rather than DOT fluid. According to the American manufacturer, it delivers a brutal amount of braking power on the trail. But is it still easy to control? To find out, we pitted the MAVEN against 13 other MTB brakes. Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison SRAM MAVEN Ultimate | Four pistons | Mineral oil | organic pads | 710 g (Set without rotor) | € 720 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website The SRAM MAVEN has l ..read more

The SRAM CODE Ultimate Stealth is the flagship model in the CODE range. After SRAM’s latest brake portfolio overhaul, however, it’s now aimed specifically at trail riding. Technically, it’s very similar to the previous CODE RSC, which secured victory in our last brake group test. How did the Stealth Ultimate fare in this year’s test? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison SRAM CODE Ultimate | Four pistons | DOT | metallic pads | 594 g (Set without rotor) | € 640 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website SRAM CODEs have long been a popul ..read more

The Shimano XTR M9120 is the lightest and priciest Shimano brake in this group test. What sets it apart from the competition, besides the great look and low system weight? Is the € 630 price tag justified for a lightweight, off-the-shelf brake, or does the XTR fall behind the test field? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison Shimano XTR | Four pistons | Mineral oil | organic brake pads | 552 g (Set without rotor) | € 630 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website Shimano are famous for their quality Japanese workmanship and their massiv ..read more

With the Shimano XT M8120 disc brake, the Japanese manufacturer enters our group test with a true classic. Retailing at € 420, the XT is comparatively affordable, but is it good enough to secure victory in our 2024 brake comparison test? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison Shimano XT | Four pistons | Mineral oil | organic pads | 588 g (Set without rotors) | € 420 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website Shimano have long offered a massive range of cycling components, which makes it difficult to stay abreast of their model numbers an ..read more

The Shimano SLX M7120 is the cheapest brake in this comparison test. Retailing at € 350, it’s also the second cheapest model in the entire test field, and takes on the competition with a discreet look and and Japanese build quality. Is that enough to win the test? Learn more about this comparison test: The best MTB disc brakes – 14 MTB brakes in comparison Shimano SLX | Four pistons | Mineral oil | organic brake pads | 600 g (Set without rotor) | € 350 (Set without rotor) | Manufacturer’s website Shimano’s portfolio is truly massive and includes brakes, drivetrains and whole groupsets, which c ..read more