[dulyebr]

Is there any down side to these brakes? I know they're sort of expensive, but they seem so damn light! Are they strong enough for a 185 # trail rider?

I ordered some Juicy 7 brakes, but now I starting to wonder if maybe I should just get the Maguras asn save some weight.

Why don't any of the major bike makers use these?

 

[redrock_z71]

downfalls

Depends on what you intend to use them for. I have them on my Titus Switchblade and havent had a moments problem with them. As long as you use them for their purpose (XC riding and maybe light trail use) you will be fine.

 

[Spidermonkey]

I just picked up a pair which I haven't mounted yet, they are advertised at 324 g, I weighed mine at 742 g. for the set. Not exactly 371 g. a piece since the hose is longer on the rear than the front, but that's almost a 1/4 pound heavier for the set than advertised.

For what it's worth.

 

[dulyebr]

thanks

That's good to know.

I guess I'll go ahead with the Juicy 7s. Man, I hope I don't run into the howling and/or stuttering problems!

 

[redrock_z71]

Mine out of the box weighed in at 702g total for the front and back. I still havent shortened the hoses though. Either way, they are still one of the lightest available and I am very happy with the performance.

 

[RiderInTraining]

I guess I'll go ahead with the Juicy 7s. Man, I hope I don't run into the howling and/or stuttering problems!

I bought the Juicy 7 last week to replace my Hayes X-9. I left the Hayes mud-cutter rotors on the bike and have no problem what so ever. They are easy to install and offer great adjustability. I'm sure you'll like them.

 

[dulyebr]

Juicy 7s actual weight

Does anybody know what the Avid Juicy 7s weigh? Speedgoat has them at 395, Jenson at 410 and weightweenies at 424.

Also, are XT hydros heavier or lighter than the Avids?

Thanks

 

[Mtbric]

My SLs were at 709gm for set uncut lines

I've never heard of any manufacturers weight claims being true except maybe tires where the weights vary so much some tires come under claimed (Kenda XC tire for example). I'd bet your Juicys will be over their claimed weight as well. As for your weight, I'm 200lbs and the Sls work great for my XC and trail riding. One piece of advise is to get them installed at a shop that can check your alignment on your fork and frame. I installed my own and were dead on center, but the front disk warped a slight amount. After I took it to a shop they said My Fox 80RLT was off alignment from top mounting tab to the bottom. A cheap option would be to do the install and have a bike shop check the alignment. My shop only charged $12 each end to check and ream with the Magura or similar tool.

Oh I paid $332 including shipping on Ebay for a new fr & rr set.

 

[1speed_Mike]

I just picked up a pair which I haven't mounted yet, they are advertised at 324 g, I weighed mine at 742 g. for the set. Not exactly 371 g. a piece since the hose is longer on the rear than the front, but that's almost a 1/4 pound heavier for the set than advertised.

For what it's worth.

My two pairs of Marta SLs came in at 704g/set and 706g/set, uncut, fully bled, all hardware, rotors, etc.

To answer the original posters question, I'd say "Yes!". FWIW, I'm 140lbs and do endurance-style races (24 hr solos, TransRockies, etc.). I also ride and train on some very technical, rocky and rooty singletrack and my Marta SLs are phenomenal. Powerful, amazing, 1-finger modulation, excellent pad wear, quiet, reliable, durable, easy-to-bleed, excellent customer service, etc.

Some bike builders do spec Martas and Marta SLs, however, as you pointed-out, they are more expensive than the competition. So, when it comes time to spec a bike, price is definitely a consideration for companies. Most companies opt to go with cheaper brakes.

 

[dulyebr]

Expense doesn't explain it

Besides the bike manufactures, expert bike builders that sell pre-built bikes don't use Martas on anything other than race bikes. For example when I look at Hammerheadbikes.com I couldn't find a single trail (all-mountain) bike using martas, and that's the owners favorite brake. Looking at $5000+ bikes that obviously spared no expense, I couldn't find pro bike builder building anything other than a race bike up with these brakes. There must be a reason, and that reason must be performance.

My two pairs of Marta SLs came in at 704g/set and 706g/set, uncut, fully bled, all hardware, rotors, etc.

To answer the original posters question, I'd say "Yes!". FWIW, I'm 140lbs and do endurance-style races (24 hr solos, TransRockies, etc.). I also ride and train on some very technical, rocky and rooty singletrack and my Marta SLs are phenomenal. Powerful, amazing, 1-finger modulation, excellent pad wear, quiet, reliable, durable, easy-to-bleed, excellent customer service, etc.

Some bike builders do spec Martas and Marta SLs, however, as you pointed-out, they are more expensive than the competition. So, when it comes time to spec a bike, price is definitely a consideration for companies. Most companies opt to go with cheaper brakes.

 

[mtb_biker]

I had some marta sl's that i just recently got rid of. I did get a good amount of riding on them however there was a decent amount of incompatabily with my frame/fork/hubs with marta's. I'm not sure if its King's fault, or magura's but i've had just about every other disc brake and well marta's just didn't work..

The problem was the rear would rub a considerable amount. I have a merlin, the tabs were checked and they were within spec. I guess i could've sent it in to have the TI faced a little bit to make the marta's fit but it wasn't worth it. Also one of the torx screw's stripped out even with the proper tools (but magura sent a replacement one fast).

Got rid of them and went back to the Hope Mono mini's w/2 piece rotor (which saves a good amount of weight over the std. rotors). Its almost as light as my marta setup and is more trouble free.

The only reason i tried out the marta sl's over my mono mini setup was for teh weight savings but thinking back on it i'm glad i moved back b/c my mono mini's never had to be tinkered with, or ridden gingerly (those carbon levers never look/felt as sturdy).

 

[Jaybo]

I agree with you on the Marta's....

I had some marta sl's that i just recently got rid of. I did get a good amount of riding on them however there was a decent amount of incompatabily with my frame/fork/hubs with marta's. I'm not sure if its King's fault, or magura's but i've had just about every other disc brake and well marta's just didn't work..

The problem was the rear would rub a considerable amount. I have a merlin, the tabs were checked and they were within spec. I guess i could've sent it in to have the TI faced a little bit to make the marta's fit but it wasn't worth it. Also one of the torx screw's stripped out even with the proper tools (but magura sent a replacement one fast).

Got rid of them and went back to the Hope Mono mini's w/2 piece rotor (which saves a good amount of weight over the std. rotors). Its almost as light as my marta setup and is more trouble free.

The only reason i tried out the marta sl's over my mono mini setup was for teh weight savings but thinking back on it i'm glad i moved back b/c my mono mini's never had to be tinkered with, or ridden gingerly (those carbon levers never look/felt as sturdy).

Guys on here just hammered me because I didn't like the Marta brakes much. I really wanted to a lot! However, they were just a nightmare since day one.

I will say that Magura is an awesome customer service company. They traded out my rear Marta's because they were defective. I got an SL upgrade.

I just found the Marta's to be a touch too lightweight and fragile for hard riding--besides the rubbing, bleeding, etc. issues I had with them. However, some guys have never had to touch 'em hardly. Maybe I got a bad set.

I'm riding Hayes Mag's now and like 'em a lot. Go figure.

Jaybo

 

[1speed_Mike]

Guys on here just hammered me because I didn't like the Marta brakes much. I really wanted to a lot! However, they were just a nightmare since day one.

I will say that Magura is an awesome customer service company. They traded out my rear Marta's because they were defective. I got an SL upgrade.

I just found the Marta's to be a touch too lightweight and fragile for hard riding--besides the rubbing, bleeding, etc. issues I had with them. However, some guys have never had to touch 'em hardly. Maybe I got a bad set.

I'm riding Hayes Mag's now and like 'em a lot. Go figure.

Jaybo

Different strokes for different folks. Nothing wrong with that. You like Hayes. mtb_biker likes Hopes. I love my Marta SLs. Someone else likes Juicys and yet another rider likes Shimano. As long as we are all happy with our brakes and riding, that's all that matters.

Personally, I've ridden and owned a lot of discs and I've personally found that I like the Marta SLs the best when compared directly against: Hope Mono Minis, Shimano XTR/XTs, Formula B4 SLs, etc. Just my opinion....yours may vary (and it likely will).

 

[Homebrew]

Depends. They are lightweight XC brakes. If that describes the kind of riding you do, then they are appropriate. But if you're a heavier rider or have more demanding conditions, then maybe look elsewhere. I thought my Martas were a solid upgrade from the Avid Mechanicals I was riding before. I have since moved on to the Magura Louise. They aren't that much heavier than the Martas but still lighter than the Juicy or Hayes. The Louise are more stout and much less expensive.

The Avid brakes are easier to setup for sure. The CPS system is dead simple. Most other brakes need a bit more setup. This weighs more though. Then there's the DOT vs. mineral oil issue. It all depends on the factors that matter to you the most.

 

[MrAnderson]

I just purchased a set of Marta SL's yesterday from www.BeyondBikes.com. After shipping the final price tag was still under $400.00. I am flipping excited about these brakes. Currently I'm using the Hayes HFX9's so it's going to be a significant upgrade.

This is my first time purchasing anything from Beyond Bikes so I hope it goes well.

Mr. A

 

[redrock_z71]

However, some guys have never had to touch 'em hardly. Maybe I got a bad set.

Perhaps you did run into a bad set or something...... once I got the alignment down on mine I have never had to touch them since.

 

[mtb_biker]

Here's my mono's. how can you turn these down

No weight modifications done at all just some different levers/caliper plugs

 

[MD Bullit]

I use a front Marta SL on my trials bike. Best brake I've ever used. SO much power and modulation, plus the lever shape is incredibly comfortable. The 1 piece caliper doesn't hurt it either.

 

[MINImtnbiker]

What about Marta's?

To save almost $100 per side (at full retail) try the regular Marta's, the silver ones. They are exactly the same, including the SL rotor, just no carbon lever. They say the carbon lever is as strong as the aluminum, but remember in a crash it is over $75 to replace. The weight difference is about 10g per wheel.

I have had them on my Maverick frame with Maverick fork for 2 years. It's built as a lightweight all-mountain bike that I can still race. I am using two pairs of wheels (bought an extra set of SL rotors) and old school King DiscoTech hubs circa 2000. Haven't bled or messed with them in 2 years, other than I go through the performance pads about 3 sets/season. Tried the endurance pads and just didn't have enough stopping power.

 

[MrAnderson]

I just bought a set of Magura Marta SL's and the best price I could find was from Beyond Bikes. Out the door they cost me 389.97. That includes shipping. My front set has the Manitou post which saved me a few bucks.