Mick & Wil review the SRAM Motive brakes

Alongside the new mechanical Eagle 70 & 90 Transmissions, SRAM is expanding its range of mineral oil disc brakes for this year and beyond.

At the budget end the existing DB8 will be joined by a new DB4 and DB6. For gravity riders there’s a new base-level Maven that aims to bring the same brutish stopping force down to a cheaper price point.

On top of that, SRAM is launching an entirely new model called the Motive. This 4-piston brake is effectively an amalgamation of the previous Level and Code brakes that, along with their DOT fluid, have been officially retired from the lineup.

We’ve had the chance to ride two sets of Motive brakes over the past month. Here we’ll be discussing what’s new, what they’re like to install and work with, and how they’ve performed on the trail so far.

An overview of the new SRAM Motive brakes

The SRAM Motive is a brand spanking new disc brake that’s designed to be light enough for XC racing, yet powerful enough for proper trail riding. It replaces both the Level and Code, and that sees it occupying the space alongside the bigger Maven brake as a lighter and less aggressive option.

Development of the Motive began a number of years ago with prototypes that combined a Level lever with a Code calliper. The production brakes have evolved considerably since then, though there are some notable attributes that have been carried through.

The Motive’s four-piston calliper incorporates the same 15mm & 16mm diameter phenolic pistons as the Code, and the brake pads are also identical. Up at the lever you’ll find the same DirectLink architecture that featured in the Level, which provides smooth actuation and a more linear feel to power delivery.

The end result is a brake that offers nearly as much power as the Code, with the light action of the Level, at a weight that sits right between the two. SRAM describes it as a brake that’s suited to bikes fitted with a SID or Pike, or perhaps even a lightweight Lyrik build.

SRAM Motive brake price & specs

There will be three spec levels in the SRAM Motive brake lineup, with prices starting at $300 AUD per end for the Bronze model. This brake features identical hydraulics to the more expensive options, though the use of a bushing in the lever pivot and fixed hose entry for the calliper helps to reduce the cost.

Stepping up to the Motive Silver gets you a sealed cartridge bearing in the lever pivot to reduce friction, and an adjustable banjo at the calliper for neater hose routing. At the top of the pile is the Ultimate model, which comes with titanium hardware and a carbon lever blade to save a few more grams.

SRAM will also offer an Expert kit that includes front and rear Motive Ultimate brakes, a pair of 160mm and 180mm CenterLine X rotors, organic and metallic brake pads, adapters and the Pro mineral oil bleed kit. It’s not a small purchase at just over a grand, but it actually represents great value once you factor in all of the included parts. The Expert kit also sees the callipers treated to a limited edition teal splatter finish.

• SRAM Motive Ultimate Expert Kit – $1,030 AUD
• SRAM Motive Ultimate – $475 AUD (per end)
• SRAM Motive Silver – $385 AUD (per end)
• SRAM Motive Bronze – $300 AUD (per end)

SRAM Motive brake weight

Confirmed weight for our front SRAM Motive Ultimate brake is 269g. That’s with the bar clamp and the hose cut to length, but without any other hardware. It’s heavier than the old Level 4P brake by 30g per end, so true weight weenies are unlikely to be that impressed by the new Motive.

For context, here’s how the Motive compares to the confirmed weights of the Level, Code and Maven brakes we’ve tested previously;

• SRAM Level 4P Ultimate – 238g
• SRAM Motive Ultimate – 269g
• SRAM Code Ultimate – 302g
• SRAM Maven Ultimate – 362g

In addition to the brake itself, your rotor choice will play a big role in the total system weight. The Motive Ultimate Expert kit comes standard with CenterLine X rotors, though you’re welcome to use these brakes with the thicker HS2 rotors if you’re after more power. Based on our confirmed weights, fitting a pair of 180mm HS2 rotors will add around 85g over the CenterLine X rotors;

• SRAM CenterLine X 180mm Rotor – 125g
• SRAM HS2 180mm Rotor – 168g

Installation

We’ve had two sets of SRAM Motive brakes on test for the past month. Mick put a set on his Santa Cruz Tallboy and Wil’s got a set on his Trek Fuel EX. We’ve tested these brakes with the lighter CentreLine X rotors and organic pads, as well as the heavier duty HS2 rotors and metallic pads.

The installation process will be familiar to anyone who’s fitted a SRAM brake to their bike over the past few years. The Motives feature an ambidextrous brake lever design that means you can flip-flop them from left to right, and the hinged clamp allows you to do so without having to slide off the grips and other controls. On a side note, we love that SRAM continues to use the MMX adapters for direct-mounting compatible shifters and dropper post levers. Given standards often chop and change in the MTB world, we’re happy to see this one stick around as it works well.

Setting lever reach is done with a tool-free dial, though there is no pad contact adjustment for changing the amount of free stroke. If you’re chasing a tighter lever feel however, fitting the thicker HS2 rotors will reduce the free stroke compared to the thinner CenterLine X rotors.

Bleeding

One key point of difference to the Levels and Codes is the use of mineral oil in the Motive, which demands a specific bleed kit with purpose-built seals and o-rings. SRAM handily colour-codes its bleed kits and even the oil itself, with red for DOT fluid and green for mineral oil.

Using two syringes to pass fluid back and fourth through the system, the bleed process is straightforward and is made easier thanks to the clever Bleeding Edge fittings down at the calliper. After trimming the brake hoses to length, a quick bleed was all that was needed to remove a few wayward air bubbles up at the lever. It’s also recommended to massage the pistons as part of the bleed process, which helps to get everything moving nice and smoothly.

As usual, SRAM has a fantastic video on its mineral oil brake bleed procedure to walk you through everything step-by-step.

On the trail with the SRAM Motive brakes

From the initial setup in the workshop to our first ride on dirt, the SRAM Motive brakes have impressed with their sleek ergonomic lever shape and light action. Coming from the Level 4P brakes, the lever feel is very similar. Your forefinger is met with minimal friction thanks to the DirectLink and sealed bearing pivot, which result in silky-smooth articulation.

This differs to SRAM brakes that feature the SwingLink system, like the Codes and Mavens. This linkage helps to increase the leverage on the master cylinder to ramp up power throughout the stroke, though it adds notable friction that your finger needs to overcome each time you pull on the lever. It’s a similar story with Shimano’s Servo Wave linkage, and it’s why many enduro and DH racers pair the XTR Race lever (which doesn’t have Servo Wave) with the Saint calliper.

While the super light lever feel is similar to the Level 4P, the Motive delivers a noticeable power increase thanks to its chunkier 4-piston callipers and larger pad profile. Combined with metallic pads and 180mm HS2 rotors, Wil has found there to be a good amount of stopping force for his Fuel EX. Even on some of the longer sustained descents at the Mystic Bike Park in Bright, he had no issues with fade or a lack of power.

The Motives have also proved to be pleasingly consistent, with no perceivable wandering bite point despite plenty of finger-dragging down steeper sections on the mountain. This differs to our collective experience of the Mavens, which can occasionally exhibit some bite point inconsistency if they’ve not been subjected to the perfect bleed and setup.

That being said, heavier riders and those on longer travel trail bikes may not get the power they need out of the Motives. The linear action means there’s less ramp up as you squeeze harder, and we’d still give the Codes the nod in terms of their overall bite. Neither are as eye-popping as the Mavens though, which will be the better choice for those who are regularly shuttling downhill laps at the bikepark.

Of course there’s nothing preventing you from upsizing to 200mm rotors if you wanted more grunt out of the Motives. According to SRAM you’ll get a 14% jump in power for every 20mm increase in rotor diameter. However, it’s worth noting that the Motives are intended for XC racing and trail riding rather than full-blown gravity riding and e-MTB use. As such, you can expect to see these brakes showing up on bikes on the World Cup XC circuit where they’ll be replacing the old Level 4P.

In that environment, their light and linear lever feel provides a wide and usable band of modulation that makes them predictable and easy to control. When fitted to an XC or lightweight trail bike with stiff carbon wheels and fast-rolling tyres, that makes it easier to toe the line between slowing down quickly while maintaining traction. If you’re less fond of overly grabby brakes, the Motives will appeal with their smooth feel and intuitive power delivery.

Flow’s Early Verdict

By combining the outgoing Level 4P and Code in a new mineral oil mash-up, the SRAM Motive brake aims to hit the Goldilocks sweet spot for XC racers and trail riders.

We’ve found them to mostly deliver on SRAM’s claims, with both weight and power slotting in between the Level 4P and Code. Combined with the light and smooth lever action, the Motives offer great ergonomics and a predictable feel on the trail with oodles of modulation.

In their stock form with organic pads and the lightweight CenterLine X rotors, they’ll suit those wanting a bit more oomph compared to the Level 4P. By switching to larger HS2 rotors and metal pads however, we were able to boost power and tighten up the lever feel for faster and rowdier riding. We’d still steer heavier and gravity-hungry riders towards the Mavens, but so far we’ve been impressed with the Motives. We’ll be spending plenty more time on them throughout the year, and look forward to seeing how they fare longer term.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Wil Barrett

Hometown

Bendigo, Victoria

Height

175cm

Weight65kg