If you are looking for MTB brakes that are produced in Europe, you only have a limited choice. Our BIKE Project:Europe has shown that the braking system is one of the and most complex components of a mountain bike include. It takes milled parts, seals, screws and much more to create a brake. Some people may also consider the brake to be the most important component on the bike - not least because it is relevant to safety.
Recently presented Intend mastermind Cornelius Kapfinger the new MTB brake Trinity, "made in Germany". In addition to the brakes from Formula, there has long been a brake option from Italy in the form of Braking. Until now, however, Braking Incas have rarely been seen in the wild. This made the trade fair presentation at the BIKE Festival in Riva.
Braking Incas - stylish brakes from Italy
Like many European manufacturers of hydraulic bicycle components, Braking originally came from the motorbike industry. It's clear that they don't mess around, but go big. Although the Braking Incas only come with two pistons each at the front and rear, these are huge with a diameter of 26 millimetres.
Braking promises a high braking force from the large pistons, which should be transferred well to the brake disc thanks to the rigid brake calliper. The price for the set of brakes, which weigh around 635 grams according to the company, is around 750 euros, depending on the configuration.
A special feature of the Braking Incas brakes is their free configurability. By replacing the inner workings of the brake lever, the handling characteristics of the brakes can be customised. The power and transmission ratio can be fine-tuned in the transmitter thanks to the separate design of the hydraulics and mechanics.
In addition, the brakes can be customised to the rider's needs using three different cable types. Two steel flex lines with different diameters and a Kevlar line are available to customise the pressure point and weight of the Braking brakes. Braking relies on DOT for the brake fluid.
Also new from Braking: the revised S3 Batfly brake discs, which are primarily intended for heavy and downhill (e-)mountain bikes from enduro to freeride to downhill. The discs are available in diameters ranging from 160 to a huge 220 millimetres. Despite all the promises of braking power, they remain pleasingly light: a 203 millimetre disc is said to weigh 164 grams. Braking also offers its own brake pads.
Intend Trinity - powerful brakes from Germany
After we reported on the new launch from Freiburg, visitors to the BIKE Festival Riva were able to try out the new Trinity for themselves at the Intend stand. In the BIKE interview with Cornelius Kapfingerwho was also responsible for the development of the legendary Trickstuff Piccola and Diretissima brakes, explains how convinced he is of his new development. The new Intend Trinity should be nothing less than the best MTB disc brakes in the world. The set should cost between 950 and 955 euros.
So far, the Intend Trinity MTB brakes hand-assembled in Freiburg are still sold out. However, the small team of bike enthusiasts plans to complete the next batch in just a few weeks. According to Intend, the weight of a brake including pads should be a light 244 to 257 grams. Kapfinger chose Putoline 2.5W mineral oil as the brake fluid. Intend has already had its own brake discs in its range for some time.
The new MTB brakes from Intend were also presented at the BIKE Festival in Riva on an eye-catching show bike: a Norco Optic trail bike with Intend suspension. In addition to the Intend Hover shock and the Intend Upsidedown fork, the new the Rocksteady crank with integrated freewheel makes the trade fair bike an absolute eye-catcher.
More about the BIKE Festival Garda Trentino 2023
Jan Timmermann
Editor
