Sram is taking its Maven disc brake family to the next evolutionary stage. At the centre of the update is a more sensitive power delivery. According to Sram, the maximum braking power remains unchanged. This is the American company's targeted response to feedback from the press and professional athletes. Almost two years ago, the Maven A1 stormed onto the mountain bike stage with a veritable braking explosion: pure enthusiasm about the unprecedented power, but there was still room for improvement in terms of modulation. The update - the new Maven B1 - now aims to deliver the best of both worlds: uncompromising power and perfect modulation.
Thanks to the noticeably lower breakaway torque of the lever, the pads approach the disc much more sensitively. If you pull harder, the brake still delivers the usual, incorruptible Maven power. Now that Sram has tamed its brake monster, the Maven acts much more intuitively and the braking power can finally be utilised effectively. Bravo! - Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
In terms of design language, the successor to the throne remains true to its predecessor. The grip width adjustment and free travel setting have also remained the same. The SwingLink lever technology is also still on board, but now with a higher transmission ratio. At the beginning of the lever travel, you only need half as much finger force to overcome the breakaway torque of the lever. This makes it easier to control the initial bite and the pads are no longer applied as abruptly as on the predecessor.
In the video: The new Sram Maven
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Smaller pistons for Sram Maven B1
In addition to fine-tuning the SwingLink, Sram has also revised the four-piston brake calliper. While the Maven A1 still relied on pistons with 19.5 and 18 millimetres, the piston diameter of the B2 version has been reduced to a uniform 18 millimetres. This means that the new SwingLink transmission harmonises perfectly with the hydraulic transmission ratio.
Model overview
| Model name | Sram Maven Ultimate B1 | Sram Maven Silver B1 | Sram Maven Bronze B1 |
| Brake lever material | Carbon | Aluminium - forged, CNC-milled | Aluminium - forged |
| Handle body material | Forged aluminium | Forged aluminium | Forged aluminium |
| Brake caliper material | Forged aluminium | Forged aluminium | Forged aluminium |
| Venting | Bleeding Edge | Bleeding Edge | Bleeding Edge |
| Screw material | Titanium | Stainless steel (black) | Stainless steel |
| Colour | Clear anodised | Glossy black anodised | Matt black anodised |
| Contact point setting | Yes | Yes | No |
| Grip width adjustment | Without tools | Without tools | Tool-free |
| Hydraulic fluid | SRAM mineral oil | SRAM mineral oil | SRAM mineral oil |
| Lever joint | Warehouse | Ball bearing | Plain bearing |
| Brake pad type | Organic on steel carrier plate | Organic on steel carrier plate | Sintered metal on steel carrier plate |
| Piston material | Phenolic plastic | Phenolic plastic | Phenolic plastic |
| Number of pistons | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Weight | 363 g | 379 g | 381 g |
New levers and fresh finish
Improved modulation is just one of the new features of the Maven update - Ultimate, Silver and Bronze models have also all been given new brake levers and a fresh finish. The top-of-the-range Maven Ultimate model replaces the aluminium lever of its predecessor with a lighter carbon counterpart. The Maven Silver continues to rely on forged levers. New are the small cut-outs to save weight. The Maven Bronze shares the forged lever architecture of the Silver, but dispenses with the weight-saving measures and swaps the stealth grey of its predecessor for a black anodised finish. The unit price for the Maven Ultimate is 325 euros, while the Silver model costs 290 euros. The Maven Bronze is still only specified on complete bikes and is not sold individually.
Maven B1 lever tuning kits
Also good: The latest Maven generation is not the only one to benefit from the optimised B1-SwingLink architecture and the new lever materials. The B1-SwingLink kit is fully backwards-compatible, meaning that riders of the first-generation Maven Ultimate, Silver or Bronze can significantly improve the modulation of their brakes. Depending on the design and material of the brake lever, the retrofit kit costs between 75 and 120 euros.
Caution: If you combine the B2 tuning kit with the brake calliper of an A1 model, the slightly larger piston volume can lead to a longer lever travel. In return, the maximum braking force increases due to the higher mechanical lever ratio of the new SiwngLink.
Test and conclusion: The Maven Ultimate B1 in practice
I remember my maiden ride on Sram's debut Maven like it was yesterday. The lift took me uphill, then slightly downhill on a gravel path to the trail entrance. A gentle left-hand bend loomed ahead of me. I pulled gently on the lever - and bang: the front wheel locked up and I almost crashed on the Pipfax transfer section.
Over time, I got used to the almost supernatural braking power. On long descents, when my fingers get tired, the power surplus even developed into a real game changer. On loose and slippery surfaces, however, I still preferred models that didn't release so much braking power so early, even if this meant less power was available overall. I no longer have to make this compromise with the new Maven.
Thanks to the noticeably lower breakaway torque of the lever, the pads approach the disc much more sensitively. If you pull harder, the brake still delivers the usual, incorruptible Maven power. Now that Sram has tamed its brake monster, the Maven acts much more intuitively and the braking power can finally be utilised effectively. Bravo!
Max Fuchs
Editor
