MARTA SL MAGNESIUM.
BENCHMARK!
Available in February 2009!
The completely new developed Marta generation comes with a new flagship, the Marta SL Magnesium. The name speak volumes. By using highstrength, forged magnesium the spearhead of the Marta line features a weight of just 312 grams/0.69 lbs!
Designed and manufactured in Germany!
Submitted by
mtbnozpikr
a Cross Country Rider
from Logan, Utah Date Reviewed: May 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Moab slickrock is pretty good stuff
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$276.00
Purchased At:
Tree Fort Bikes
Strengths:
Stopping power, reliability, light weight (when compared with brakes of equal stopping power, they look good...
Weaknesses:
They were supposed to be all magnesium but the calipers are the same as just a normal marta sl with white paint. They sure were hyped up a lot and it took forever for them to be released.
Similar Products Used:
Hayes Stroker Trail (160/160)
Bike Setup:
Litespeed Sewanee, full XTR, Fox F100 RLC...
Bottom Line:
These brakes work very well considering how light they are. As mentioned in the previous review, you can get a lighter brake, but these do not sacrifice reliability to shave any grams. I am slightly annoyed by the lack of a magnesium caliper to top off the package, but will be on board when they are available (hopefully soon). I am running 160/160 rotors, and at 160 lbs, I find that I have plenty of power for the kind of riding I do. Modulation is also very pleasing with these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
culturesponge
a Cross Country Rider
from santa monica Date Reviewed: April 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
humboldt county is really great
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
better design, more of a coming together of the best aspects other brakes in Magura's line up: cleaner looks, bigger+ better brake pads, easier to bleed, better carbon levers with considered intelligent design.
5 year warranty, excellent customer service, good availability of spare parts + aftermarket parts.
Weaknesses:
the first production run (which had been a very long time coming) has only a magnesium master cylinder, alas the calipers are the usual Marta SL alloy jobbies due to some unprecidented forging issues that will apparently be resolved sometime in the near future.
this is not a weight weenie product, unlike many manufacturers Magura refuse to compromise braking quality with a flimsy fragile + unreliable brakeset. if you want to impress your mates with your (weight) weenie (bike) there are lighter brakes to be had, but if you want the best XC brakes you must make the sacrifice!
Similar Products Used:
Hayes, XTR, 07 Marta, 08 Marta SL
Bike Setup:
S-Works, KMC X9 SL, Schmolke, Syntace, Marta Magnesium, Race King Supersonic, SLR Carbonio Flow, 4Ti, XTR, SRAM X.O
Bottom Line:
Magura don't like to mess about with their products, they have such high standards other mtn bike brake manufacturers can only hope to aspire to.
09 Marta's are at the very pinacle, you simply wont find a better brakeset for XC/XC Racing, they are certainly not the lightest on the market - but the best really is better.
...shop around there are some amazing prices to be had, about the same as the standard 09 Marta SL if your lucky.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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