The second-tier brake in Magura’s new MT family has a distinctive broad lever that applies plentiful, mountain-proof control. The composite Carbotecture SL master cylinder body is the same as the £299 MT8, but with an alloy lever and bar clamp.
The calliper has heat-shedding fins and steel, rather than alloy, fixtures, but is still light. Take the time to bed it in properly and there’s plenty of easily-squeezed power through the big broad lever. The skinny Storm SL rotor gives very consistent, pulse-free control too.
Strangely, you don’t get the bite point adjust of the cheaper MT4. The brake kit costs the same whether you go for 140mm, 160mm, 180mm or 203mm rotors. Mineral oil bleeding is easy, which is lucky as all MT brakes come with a rear length hose.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
