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Editorial view: Performance rather than price-dumping
Jagwire doesn’t intend to outdo its established competitors with a particularly cheap product, but rather with high-performance rotors and pads at a fair price. It remains to be seen how well this works. We’ve already fitted the rotors and will report back in due course. - Adrian Kaether, Test & Technology Editor
Anyone who has ever pulled the lever after a long descent in the Alps and suddenly found themselves faced with a spongy braking feel that’s almost impossible to modulate will recognise the problem from personal experience: Brake fade caused by heat build-up is not a minor issue, but an everyday reality for many mountain bikers – and even more so for e-MTB riders. Jagwire, previously known primarily as a manufacturer of high-quality cables and hydraulic lines, is now tackling this problem head-on with two new products: the Pro LR3 Brake disc and the Elite brake pad range.
A new take on the windscreen: Pro LR3
The Pro LR3 is a classic two-piece brake disc, as is common in the performance segment – a steel brake ring and an aluminium carrier. The discs have the standard thickness of 1.8 millimetres used by SRAM and Shimano. However, what Jagwire emphasises is the revised geometry of the braking zone and a newly designed connection between the carrier and the brake ring, which is intended to reduce heat-induced deformation under continuous load. According to the manufacturer, this results in up to a ten per cent increase in braking performance compared with the previous generation.
A practical feature is the wear indicator stamped into the friction surface. The ‘J’ for Jagwire shows at a glance when the disc is reaching the end of its service life. The Pro LR3 is available in 6-bolt and Centre Lock versions, with sizes ranging from 140 to 220 millimetres – which should also cover downhill use and heavy e-MTBs.
Graphene in brake pads: marketing ploy or genuine progress?
In its Elite brake pad range, Jagwire utilises a graphene-based thermal conduction layer between the friction material and the pad backing. The reasoning behind this is clear: graphene has exceptionally high thermal conductivity and can distribute thermal energy quickly and evenly. In combination with the patented Aero-Fin architecture – structured cooling fins on the back of the backing plate – the aim is to actively dissipate the heat generated via the airflow. This is similar to what we’ve already seen, for example, in Shimano’s Ice Tech pads.
The internal test figures reported by Jagwire sound impressive: disc temperatures up to 27 per cent lower and brake fluid temperatures reduced by up to 13 per cent compared with conventional pads. The latter is particularly relevant, as heated brake fluid tends to form vapour bubbles – and that is precisely what leads to that dreaded sensation of the brake lever going soft.
The friction material itself is a semi-metallic compound, which, on paper, promises a good balance between braking power, durability and all-weather performance. The Elite pads are available for Shimano, SRAM and Magura systems, thereby covering the relevant market leaders.
Not a bargain alert: a premium product in the mid-price range
Like many cycling companies, Jagwire is based in Taiwan. However, anyone expecting bargain prices here is likely to be rather disappointed by the Pro LR3 rotors and the Elite pads. The rotors cost between 57 euros (160 mm) and 87 euros (220 mm), the Elite Pads cost around 23 euros. In terms of price, the Jagwire Parts are roughly on a par with the two-piece Ice-Tech discs and Shimano’s brake pads with cooling fins, but they are not significantly cheaper.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
