Brembo expands its horizons in the world of two-wheel applications and officially enters the world of mountain bike competitions.
Starting this year, in fact, Brembo is a key player in the Downhill World Cup Championship, alongside the Gravity Team of Specialized Bicycles, one of the most important international players in the cycling world.
The collaboration between Brembo and Specialized stems from a shared vision: to push the limits of technology and performance, even on the most extreme terrains. Both companies share deep values such as continuous innovation, the pursuit of excellence, and a passion for high-level sports.
“Officially entering the cycling world through the front door of the MTB World Championship is an exciting new challenge for Brembo. We are proud to do so with a team and a manufacturer that share our same vision of performance and innovation, and it is no coincidence that this happens in the year of Brembo's 50th anniversary in motorsports,” said Andrea Paganessi, Brembo Motorcycle Global Chief Operating Officer.
“Today we can say that thanks to technological advances, Brembo has not simply improved braking, but has revolutionized it.”
“Specialized strongly believes that racing is the ultimate testing ground for innovation,” said Armin Landgraf, CEO of Specialized. “We look for partners who can meet our same performance standards, and Brembo’s history, marked by cutting-edge technological advances and high-level performance in racing, led us to this choice. This collaboration represents a strategic investment to support our athletes who compete at the highest level. Downhill racing is constantly evolving, and this partnership ensures the ability to continue delivering innovations that allow Specialized to keep competing for a great future in the sport.”
This strategic alliance represents just the beginning of Brembo’s journey to redefine braking standards in the MTB competition world, bringing the Italian company’s experience and technology to new terrain, always looking toward the future.
How the new Brembo braking system for Specialized is made
The braking system, both front and rear, includes an axial brake master cylinder that, in addition to the two common adjustments (lever distance and free stroke), also features center-to-center adjustment, allowing riders to customize the braking feel according to their preferences. The master cylinder is paired with a post-mount caliper with four “isolated” aluminum pistons, 18 mm in diameter, to provide high braking power.
The master cylinder and caliper are connected by a braided steel hose to ensure consistent and precise lever travel. The system is completed by a fixed 2.3 mm thick brake disc, specifically designed to pair with the caliper, with an enlarged band to better manage heat exchange during extreme use.