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Magura MT Sport vs Shimano M500/501

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chiefsilverback

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My son wants to upgrade the brakes on his bike. It came with Tektro M291s but he's always complained that they don't stop him as much as slow him down gradually. I've bled them tried switching between resin and metallic pads but still the same problem.

I was planning to upgrade to some Shimano M500/501 but he's a Danny Mac/Fabio Wimber fan so he's got designs on a set of Maguras and the MT Sports appear to be the equivalent level, so any experiences with either?
 
#2 ·
Never owned the 501s but have bled them for friends and they feel decent. I run magura MT trail on my fat bike and they are awesome. Beware magura masters are easier to break, if so replace with shimano masters! And I’d recommend at least 180 rotors if not 203 depending on how much power he needs.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Monty219 said:
Never owned the 501s but have bled them for friends and they feel decent. I run magura MT trail on my fat bike and they are awesome. Beware magura masters are easier to break, if so replace with shimano masters! And I’d recommend at least 180 rotors if not 203 depending on how much power he needs.
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I've got M6100s on two bikes and the 501 appears to be very similar. I have no complaints about the M6100.
 
#6 ·
chiefsilverback said:
The MT Sports are their entry level 2 pots, using the same "Carbotecture" material for the lever as the MT4/5 and the Trail Sports. If we go the Magura route would I need to replace his rotors for the thicker Maguras?
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Yes you would need the maguras. I have fudged thinner rotors in various setups and it has been fine but you risk over extending slave pistons if the rotor gets too thin so its a little risky. And to correct myself, i have the mt trail sport: 4 pot front, 2 pot rear. I just got these because i like magura and they were cheap. Front compared to rear power honestly doesnt feel much different than regularly matched caliper setups. I ride trials and pedal kick and whatnot so i am sensitive to brake feel but probably not as picky as some folks.

overall i would say we are nitpicking here, which is fun to do. Either brake will bea great upgrade IMO.
 
#7 ·
chiefsilverback said:
I was planning to upgrade to some Shimano M500/501 but he's a Danny Mac/Fabio Wimber fan so he's got designs on a set of Maguras and the MT Sports appear to be the equivalent level, so any experiences with either?
Click to expand...
I have some MT Thirty. Great brakes. Over 900 trouble free miles the first year. Just the right Amount of bite without being too grabby. Been using thin Shimano rotors and have not died or exploded yet.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Monty219 said:
i have the mt trail sport: 4 pot front, 2 pot rear.

overall i would say we are nitpicking here, which is fun to do. Either brake will bea great upgrade IMO.
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If I go for the MT Sports then I know at some point he'll want the 1 finger HC levers which at $50+ each, so at $75 x 2 + $50 x 2 I'm at $250 so I should probably just go for the MT Trail Sport at $270 and they can be his 'heirloom' brakes.
 
#9 ·
chiefsilverback said:
If I go for the MT Sports then I know at some point he'll want the 1 finger HC levers which at $50+ each, so at $75 x 2 + $50 x 2 I'm at $250 so I should probably just go for the MT Trail Sport at $270 and they can be his 'heirloom' brakes.
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The trail sports do come with more of a 1 finger shape compared to the MT5 (my only other point of comparison for modern maguras) and i really like that trail sport shape. It hooks your index finger nicely and is easy to get into & out of.
 
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