Magura MT7 Next Disc Brake Review

Magura has been in the brake business for over two decades. Back in the day when people where pumped on V-Brake performance the people at Magura were selling Hydraulic Rim Brakes for mountain biking. These brakes are still very popular on trials bikes. Many World Cup riders ran these brakes back in the day. Magura has relaunched their MT line and introduced a gravity/enduro specific brake called the MT7 Next is is a dual piston design with four pads. We reviewed the MT8 when they first came out a few years ago. The brakes worked well even in the downhill capacity we tested them in. Considering this was a featherweight AM/XC brake that speaks well for Magura and its brakes as a whole. We are very excited to test a gravity specific brake from them in the form of the Magura MT7 Next Disc Brake!

These brakes are a very light DH brake option. Using the Carbotecture lever housing helps keep the weight low. We have used brakes that weigh easily 200 grams more per brake in the past. So being able to save almost a pound in the brakes alone is a nice bonus. We opted for the MT7 with toolless adjustment. Magura informed us we would have less adjustment with these than the tool versions offer but more on that later.

We used 203mm SL rotors front and rear on a large megatrail. The bike was built up with heavier parts for the more gravity based riding it would be put through.

"The MT7 stands for maximum braking performance and stability in extreme conditions. In the tough, bike-testing worlds of Enduro and Downhill, the additional braking power of the 4 brake pistons is a positive safety factor. The aluminium, two-finger brake lever - with toolless adjustment - and the adjustable bite point provide the necessary ergonomics for perfect brake control, even in difficult terrain and on long downhill runs. 5-year leakproof guarantuee for brake levers and cylinders after providing the original proof of purchase."

Features

• Actual weight: 271 grams
• Four-piston caliper
• 17mm pistons
• Mineral oil
• Tool-free reach and pad contact adjustment
• Carbotecture SL composite lever housing
• Does not include rotor or adapter
• One-year warranty
• Made in Germany

Technology

Weight	~375 g (including 160 mm Storm Rotor)
Colour	Black-Fluro-Yellow (Master), Mystic Grey Anodized (Caliper)
Technical features	Full hydraulic dual piston floating caliper
Hydraulic system	Open, with expansion chamber
Intern. standard mounting (IS)	Yes, adaptor
Pad wear adjustment	Automatic
Postmount mounting (PM) only front	Yes, direct mount
Disc diameter (mm)	Front 203, 180, 160 Rear 203, 180, 160
Centerlock compatible	Yes, with adaptor
Transmission medium	MAGURA Royal Blood mineral oil
Brake hose	MAGURA disc tube easily shortened
Hose fitting caliper	RHR - Rotateable hose routing
Brake pads	Organic 9.1 Performance (4 Pistons 2 Pads) 8.1 Performance (4 Pistons 4 Single Pads)
Material fitting bolts	Aluminium
Brake lever and caliper	Carbotecture SL (Master), Aluminium forged (caliper)
Lever blade	Aluminium
Reach adjust	Yes (tolless)
OPD (caliper in one-piece design)	Yes
BAT (bite point adjuster)	Yes (tolless)
EBT (Easy Bleed Technology)	Yes
2-Piece Lever Clamp	Yes
Dual Docking for trigger shifters	No
magnetiXchange	Yes
Feel-Safety-Ergonomic	Yes

Cabotecture Explained

"The MAGURA Research Team has been analyzing rigidity and strength test results during it’s MISSION PERFORMANCE, that different types of conventional materials like die cast aluminium, magnesium or laminated carbon fibres show a variety of important material deficiencies. Our material competence confirms these results.

The ideal material to build the best brake in the world would be extremely tensile, ductile and have an immense ability to bend. It would endure a lifetime of heavy use, would be absolutely precise, dimensionally stable and fatigue durable over many years. These materials exist – but they are generally too heavy or very difficult to process (titanium) and are therefore unsuitable for bicycle use.

Special lightweight and extremely strong carbon fibre materials have been introduced recently quite successfully in many high-tech areas such as automotive or aeronautics. MAGURA is the only bike component manufacturer experienced in manufacturing those materials for the industry and thus has the core competence in house. The MISSION PERFORMANCE follows this track and develops together with the best renowned manufacturers a brand new material: Carbotecture®.

The exact composition of this material remains a closely guarded secret – but we can reveal the following: Carbotecture® is the perfect material for the new exclusive Carboflow® process, also developed by MAGURA. Carbotecture® consists of a high percentage of carbon fibres in a thermoplastic matrix. This new material can not be compared with any known fibre reinforced plastic or laminated carbon fibre mats.

Properties of the material

• Extremely light (less than half the density of aluminium).
• Tensile strength in between aluminium and steel, extremely impact resistant and break proof ...
• Highest flexural fatigue strength of all conventional bike component materials.
• The efficiency weight (tensile strength/density) is double that of aluminium or magnesium and 6 times higher than steel ...

Processing

• Carboflow® has the highest process security due to complete in house  manufacturing at MAGURA Germany.
• Much higher reproducibility compared to conventional carbon laminates.
• Highest dimensional accuracy and precision.
• Perfectly sealed surface after processing (aluminium die cast has open sponge-like pores and must be impregnated).

Design possibilities

• Especially adapted design to the Carboflow® process allows an optimized fibre orientation according to the directional stress.
• Better calculable and more homogeneous than die cast aluminium. Oversizing can be reduced, thus ensuring a lighter and safer component design.
• Manufactured using the the Carboflow® process (without mechanical post processing as with alloy die cast) allows full freedom of shaping.
• The lightest possible material allocation can be realized with complex strength and process simulation.
• The product design enjoys almost no limits.

Carbotecture® is not simply a new High-Tech-Material. The name is based on both of the main components which lead to the material – Carbon and Architecture – only a company who is in the position to command the complete Process Architecture can benefit from the advantages this new material offers. MAGURA has the experience in dealing with highly complex material structures and mixtures and now focussed on offering the best components available worldwide for the bicycle market has developed a new unique Workflow.

Mission accomplished! With the MT8 MAGURA presents the worldwide most clever disc brake ever with Carbotecture® SL Master and Carbolay® lever blade, manufactured in our innovative Carboflow® process.

Based on the MAGURA Performance Factor the MT8 is the new benchmark on the disc brake market. Despite the awesome weight features the MT8 makes you forget the well-known problems of the ultra-lightweight competitors' products - thanks to Carbotecture SL®.

The goal has been reached. With the MT8, MAGURA presents the most elaborate and best thought through disc brake in the world with a lever from Carbolay® and a Carbotecture® Full Carbon Master, produced in the innovative Carboflow® process. Measured up to the MAGURA performance factor, we feel that the MT8 is currently the best disc brake on the market. Despite absolutely sensational weight values, where the ultra-light models from the competition have run into problems, we've managed to avoid these with the MT8 - due to Carbotecture SL®."

The brakes mounted up pretty straight forward. We had some issue getting the pads to not rub on the rotors and eventually got them to spin freely. We learned later that the SL rotors offer less modulation. The brakes even with the SL rotors off better modulation than either Shimano or SRAM XO brakes do. They are not up to what Hope offers but we are going to run the standard rotors and see how much more squish these will add to the lever feel. It turns out that the brakes are very powerful. The 203mm rotors are way overkill for a trail bike. I weigh 213 lbs and the brakes never showed any signs of fade and I tend to ride the brakes a fair bit.

Trevor RolandOverall the Magura MT7 brakes impressed us a bunch. They are very light and offer an incredible amount of power that is very very useable. The tooless brake lever is the one we chose but it was also somewhat limiting. You get about 3 full rotations on the pad engagement and lever throw. I think next time the tool version is what we would go with. It isn't very often that you adjust brakes on the go anyhow. Another thing to note is that the brakes when ordered will need to have line length specified. It is very easy to cut them luckily and took about 5 minutes in total with no bleeding needed.

Trevor Roland

Q & A With Magura About The MT7's

1.     What was Magura's primary goal in creating and designing the MT7 brake system? 

Our primary goal in creating the MT7 was to address a need for the gravity crowd.

Since our own Gustav's demise several years ago, consumers have asked for a replacement so we saw a need to deliver the most durable, stable, light and powerful yet most importantly great modulating brake available. The brake lever/tire patch communication is tantamount.  

2.     It has been awhile since you guys offered a gravity brake. Why did it take so long?

Mountain bike hydraulic disc brake performance has progressed considerably and twin piston caliper's (w/large rotors) are very good performers however the gravity market, bikes and riding areas have also progressed so we saw the opportunity and need to reinvest in this segment. 

3.     Was weight or braking power of more importance with the MT7's?

Equal in our case! Usually this is not possible and you have to choose but with the new materials available (in this case Carbon Fiber) AND the ability to manufacture them, then for some manufacturers, both are possible. 
In addition, we use an equation in designing our brakes that must equally consider, performance (heat stability and power), weight, ergonomics and feel. 

4.     Would you guys suggest riders looking for more modulation to run the standard rotor as opposed to the SL variety?

Feel does vary slightly between usages of the two model rotors but really; the non-SL rotor has more stability under heat loads and cycles. It's really for more extreme scenarios like heavier bikes and riders, more vertical terrain, longer descents and even to compensate for braking techniques like brake draggers. 

5.     Any tips or tricks to getting a clean bleed with the MT7 brakes?

This new model Next MT brake line has evolved in many ways and servicing was as important of a goal. The MC reservoir bladder was repositioned, the bleed port beefed up, the internal fluid routings simplified and therefore early feedback has been super positive for servicing success and ease. 

Always remove the caliper while bleeding (orients the caliper properly for air evacuation) as it simplifies the process and assures success. Positioning the MC angle correctly is as important and following a 4 stroke bleed procedure which includes vacuum strokes that help assure fluid (and air) movement. 

6.     At some point do you think the tool less version will have more adjustment in it?

Absolutely! Due to feedback, this is our #1 task at the moment. Production changes are occurring NOW. 

7.     Are you guys stoked to have Intense/Palmer back on Magura?

Huge! We are honored to be involved again with Napalm and the Intense crew. Additionally, Shaun, Intense and Magura are re-investing back into our Mountain bike community with youth development, repeat Huge!

8.     What do you think where the top 3 advancements in MTB technology in the last 20 years?

Materials usage, manufacturing ability, testing equipment and data. That may be 4, sorry.

9.     Climbs or descents?

I'm into speed so descents are most fun but you've got to get to the top so it is most rewarding to pedal!

10.   Rocks or jumps?

Both are welcome, both are needed. 

11.   What do you think the future holds for the industry as a whole?

The future is bright with diversity, which is the best part isn't it? We get choices and are very fortunate to have options. The quiver continues to grow, as the categories get more specific. 

12.   Any information you want the viewers to know about the MT7 brakes?

The MT 7 Next is the usage of exotic materials and innovative manufacturing technique combined with existing knowledge from our mountain bike and motorcycle experience. This gets lost sometimes but the ability to bring the ideas to fruition and deliver to the end consumer is sometimes the hardest and least appreciated parts of the equation. 

We try real hard and never give up. This product is an example of this, a continued evolution in design and manufacturing, listening to our consumers and dealers and competing with other quality manufacturers whom are constantly trying to raise the bar!

Trevor Roland

The Magura MT7 brakes accomplish what they had intended. Providing a lightweight brakes with immense power, good modulation and is easily servicable by the consumer. Overall we where very happy with the brakes and would for sure reccomend them to a friend. Just keep in mind that these are their DH brakes and a 180/160mm rotor set up should be plenty. These brakes are some of the best out there and also some of the lightest. Magura hit the ball out of the park with their MT7 brakes!