Market: The bike has to fit the rider like a good pair of shoes! The brake levers should certainly also be of particular interest in this context. Individual ergonomics are required for optimal performance, but most brakes still come with a standard lever. With the #customizeyourbrake product range, Magura offers end customers the opportunity for the 2019 model year to select the brake levers according to their personal requirements.
In cooperation with world champions and professionals, the brake specialist Magura is constantly pushing the development of disc brakes. Of course, the engineers also focus on the ergonomics of the brake levers. It is clear that no hand is like the other! However, only an optimally fitting brake lever guarantees maximum performance for the rider. The professionals Danny MacAskill and Loic Bruni show how different the requirements can be. The HC3 1-finger lever for the Magura MT7 has been available for some time. The brake lever, designed in collaboration with Danny MacAskill, is entirely in keeping with the Scotsman's preferences. This prefers a close reach and a clear position for the fingers. The edges are particularly flat and rounded to prevent injuries. The variable transmission ratio allows adjustment of braking power and dosing.
The brake lever from Loic Bruni is completely different. True to the motto "all or nothing", the French downhill rider prefers a pressure point far away from the handlebars with a hard ratio for full braking power. The short shape of the lever is rather flat and straight. The brake lever, which is tailored to Loic Bruni, was used for the first time at the World Cup in Fort William. However, the lever of the world champion is not yet commercially available: the prototype made of titanium is currently still in the test phase as a study. The development is as complex as the riders are different. Ultimately, of course, the end customer also benefits from the findings of the designers. For the 2019 model year, Magura will be offering a wide range of different brake levers. A total of four levers made of aluminum and carbon with different ergonomics will then be available for retrofitting.