Magura MTS brakes

MAGURA’S MTS IS the odd one out in an otherwise numerical brake line-up. For 30$ more than the MT4, you get a composite master cylinder and lightweight Storm SL rotor, producing a race-weight brake at a reasonable price.

While the composite body gives a soft rather than sharp lever feel, there’s good, consistent modulation for messy conditions. Power is lower than average, but as the rotors are light, upsizing won’t weigh you down. Super-long hoses mean that cutting and bleeding is inevitable but it’s doable without needing a bleed kit. Reliability of recent Maguras has been good, though they need extensive and patient bedding-in.

Overall, a usefully light, reliable and communicative brake, but with relatively weak stopping power.

WEIGHT 414g

POWER 92Nm

PRICE: 265$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

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