Magura Gustav Pro Brake Review
Introduction
I’ve got a soft spot for Magura Gustav brakes. I remember drooling over the iconic neon-yellow versions on my friend’s Specialized Palmer FSR back in the day. Then, in 2008, when I was racing for Solid Factory Racing, we had the then-current Gustav’s on our bikes — and they were seriously impressive at the time.
Now, after years of Magura producing exclusively the MT series, the Gustav has returned to the line-up . But is this new version worthy of the legendary name?
What’s New?
This brake is a 100% new design from Magura. Their goal wasn’t more power — they were already happy with that — but to create a more reliable, consistent, and modern brake for downhill racing and eMTB use.
Key design changes include:
Larger piston volume in the master cylinder, which should help maintain a consistent brake feel even when the pads are worn down and for better heat management.
Massive brake pads with 94% more volume than MT7 pads — that twice as big in my books!
Thicker rotors at 2.5mm — among the thickest on the market aside from ultra-rare 3mm options from the Italian Braking Brakes.
The lever piston diameter has been increased to 12mm (up from 10mm on the MT7).
The caliper pistons now measure 19mm (up from 17mm on the MT7).
Magura claims the larger pistons reduce system pressure, which lowers expansion in the hoses under pressure. That’s plausible, but personally, I’d prefer braided hoses which should cancel any brake hose expansion and for added safety and durability.
Everything about these brakes are big.
T25 screws to retain the pads.
Owl eyes!
Legendary namesake.
Unboxing
I picked up the Gustav Pro First Edition set which comes in at €699. Included the Limited Edition box:
Front and rear brakes (pre-bled)
203mm x 2.5mm rotors
A brief history of Gustav Magenwirth (Magura’s founder),
And some throwback neon yellow fridge magnets.
Nice presentation overall, and a nod to the brand’s heritage, if you’re into pure eco-packaging, you’ll be disappointed.
Installation & Construction
It’s a shame when you break something and need to order new parts before you’ve even used them.
Magura’s lever bodies are made from Carbotecture — basically mashed up carbon and resin moulded into shape. While it’s lightweight and functional, some riders find it less confidence-inspiring and cheap looking/feeling. Personally, I’ve never had a failure, but the finish isn’t as refined and spangly as CNC’d and anodised alloy.
Gone are the strange self-tapping screws of the past. These have been replaced by proper M5 bolts with T25 heads, which feel far more solid. The pad retaining bolts are also T25. I’ve had numerous Magura brakes that come with T25 caliper bolts, but the Gustav’s came with 5mm hex. It would be nice if these were also T25 so one tool could be used for nearly all aspects of brake maintenance.
The new “Easy Link” hose system allows tool-free disconnection without fluid loss. However, the plastic covers protecting this system are fragile — I broke one immediately: replacements come in a pack of four for €20.
Magura ships the system with extra-long hoses suitable for most bikes (and probably even a tandem!). The stock hose fittings are crimped on (which are available but need specialist tools - suitable for shops) but you can switch to the included standard olives and tap-in connectors after cutting.
Rotor Issues
The included 2.5mm-thick rotors are great in theory — offering improved heat resistance and less warping. Unfortunately, both rotors in my set arrived slightly warped: this can be fairly normal occurrence with one-piece rotors. Despite careful straightening, I couldn’t eliminate pad rub or trail noise completely. Other riders have reported similar issues.
The reach adjuster sits flush in the lever and can be hard to turn.
Adjustability & Ergonomics
Gustavs’ adjustment options are limited. There’s only the lever reach is adjustable via a small barrel dial, which is awkward to turn. I’d say I have average finger strength but the dial is set so flush within the lever blade they’re hard to grip and turn. There’s no separate bite point adjustment, which is disappointing for a premium brake.
For me, the lever feel itself is also a letdown. Compared to brakes like Hope Tech4, Trickstuff Direttissima, or Lewis LHT, the Gustav lever angle feels off to me — pulling more into the bar than inline with your finger. It’s not as ergonomic or intuitive and has a bulky lever blade.
The huge main piston also blocks a lot of space on the bar next to the actual clamp meaning less room to adjust gear or dropper levers to your liking. Matchmakers are available but weren’t in stock when I bought my brakes.
On-Trail Performance
Magura say they are happy with the power output of their previous MT7, which were excellent, these GUSTAV PRO also offer a lot of stopping power, but it is not class leading like a Trickstuff Maxima or Hope T4. Some people worry that brakes can be too powerful, I disagree, I just think it means you need to use less finger strength meaning less fatigue and arm pump on demanding descents. Powerful brakes with little modulation can be hard to control, however, especially in the wet or on loose surfaces.
For pro DH racers who know exactly where their braking points are, they might like massive power that comes instantly. For general enduro riding on new tracks or in changing conditions I prefer as much modulation as possible: it’s easier to feel, feather and adjust the power as you need it. The Gustav’s don’t have the most modulation out there, they have a more wooden feeling with much of the power all coming at once.
The massive-ness of the Gustav means there was zero fade or bite point change even on long descents and the pads and rotors also kept their bite even when extremely hot.
Thanks to the thick rotors and pads, they should outlast anything on the market before needing changing.
On the trail, they are awesome brake that I would happily take anywhere with me. Maybe I’ve been spoiled, but the ride feel just doesn’t inspire the same confidence as the best brakes in the game.
Verdict
The Magura Gustav Pro is a solid brake that puts reliability and longevity at the top of its priorities. If you want a brake that you can install and forget about, it might suit you well.
But for €700, they are not particularly exciting for me or stand out in any major way. I expect more refinement and looks, better ergonomics, and I prefer more power and modulation.
Funding
I buy all the products you see on my site from local shops or online sales making these reviews 100% independent. My project is crowdfunded by you guys buying competition tickets, I get zero marketing money or products from the brands. To support these reviews, you can head to my competition site, answer a simple question and you have an extremely good chance to win some awesome products: Currently I’m running The Ultimate £1300 Brake Comp where you can win ANY pair (or multiple pairs) of brakes you like!
Thanks, Paul.