It seems like almost every bike sold these days has the same SRAM Codes strapped to it, and while those might check the boxes for tons of riders, that doesn’t mean some riders aren’t left looking for more. Luckily, we’re in some version of a golden age of brakes, with just about every high end brake out there offering amazing power, tunability, and reliability that is sure to tickle anyone’s fancy. But with so many options, it’s almost impossible to choose the perfect one without trying everything, so that’s exactly what we did! I’ll be dissecting all the minute differences between each option and helping you decide exactly which is the best option for you and the trails you ride.

Let’s introduce our long list of worthy contestants, starting with the all new SRAM Maven, SRAM’s new most powerful brake, dethroning the ubiquitous Code as the reigning gravity king in the lineup. Next, a brake that really shook things up and made lots of people switch from their OEM stoppers with their ease of use and modulation, the TRP DHR Evos. From across the pond, the Hope Tech 4 V4s are a moto inspired brake that are incredibly simple and bring some of the most power we’ve ever seen. Hayes is in their renaissance era, with the Dominion A4s supplying the lightest lever feel west of the Mississippi. Last but not least is the Magura MT7, with its neon colorway, low weight, and impressive power.

First we’ll do a quick rundown of some pros and cons of every brake on our list, and then we’ll get into a comparison between them and rank them in a few categories to find out exactly where each excels and where each falls short.

Prefer videos? Here's a comparison between the Magura MT7, TRP DHR EVO, and Hayes Dominion and dedicated SRAM Maven video!

Because they’re made by one of the Big S’s of mountain biking, getting replacement parts like brake pads or hoses if something goes wrong on a road trip should be as easy as finding an oil filter for a 2006 Honda Civic, and every bike shop worth their salt is going to have a bleed kit and a mechanic who’s set these up a million times before. The shape of the lever is also incredibly similar to the Code, so if those are comfortable for you to tug on then I bet you’ll get along well with the Maven. Just like their DOT Fluid brakes, this mineral oil Maven uses a Bleeding Edge system, which I’ve found to be the most refined bleed kit and makes getting a perfect bleed more painless than other systems.

The DHR EVOs are heralded for their modulation abilities, and with a distinct ‘bottom out’ in the lever throw, the DHR EVOs continue to provide power as push against that wall. There’s nothing unpredictable about their performance, and I quickly understood why these have become such a popular option among those who put performance above everything.

Just like every geriatric on the links every Sunday morning, we’re looking for a low score on our table to figure out which is the best overall brake in my experience. Keep scrolling after reading the table, we've got explanations for everything below!

It’s a bummer that any of these brakes have to come last on this list, because each and every one of them gave me plenty of power on the trail when set up right with a quality bleed, big rotors, and metallic brake pads. If the Codes were on this list, I’d put them in last, not because they don’t have any power, but they just don’t have the same power as any of the brakes on this list. That being said, power is Mavens number one standout feature, and everyone’s first reaction to pulling them in the parking lot is “Holy SRAM these have lots of power”, and they’re right! With the biggest caliper pistons of any brakes on this list, pulling for these big red stoppers is like dropping a huge anchor off the back of a dingy, you’re coming to a screeching halt.

Compared to the rest of the brakes, the Mavens definitely have noticeably more power, and I would say the difference in power between the other four brakes is far smaller. Much more important than the ranking on the list is keeping them in good shape, with regular bleeds and making sure to bed in your brake pads properly whenever you swap them out! Getting a bad bleed will ruin the experience of any of these brakes, and make sure you have that goldilocks sized rotor, not too big and not too small!

When TRP’s DHR EVOs started getting popular a few years ago, modulation became a big buzzword in the brake world, largely because increasing power was no longer the main improvement brands could make in their brakes. There was plenty of power to go around, so making the power more usable became the priority, hence modulation. Brake with the most modulation are the easiest to control and don’t have that crazy bite you’ll find on a Shimano brake, but instead come on more slowly and let you roll the power on instead of getting flung over the handlebars the second you even look at your brake levers.

TRP started the modulation charge, but Hayes has taken the conversation over with their Dominion A4s. With the most predictable bite point of the lot and a smooth power delivery through the whole stroke, the Dominion A4 instills confidence with the control it gives any rider that installs them. The Mavens are towards the bottom of the list because of their relatively stiff lever pull which we’ll talk more about in the next section, which make it difficult to control exactly how all that power is supplied.

Now this category is as subjective as it gets, and I know plenty of Shimano die-hards will disagree with me here, but I want the lever action to be as linear as possible, without any resistance to fight against. The Hayes Dominion A4 was designed to have as light of a lever throw as possible to keep arm pump at bay. A lighter lever throw means less force from your fingers and less tension in your forearms, letting you rip top to bottom runs at the bike park all summer long!

Unfortunately, the lever feel of the Maven is its kryptonite, and has an incredibly stiff pull in the first millimeter of travel that definitely gave me more arm pump on longer descents. SRAM told us this comes from the incredibly high quality seals in the master cylinder that form a tight fit, giving the Mavens a two year service interval, much longer than the other brakes on this list. But it’s up to you to deicide if that long service interval worth the increased fatigue on trail!

I’m pretty removed from the service department here at The Lost Co, and as an amateur mechanic, I find a way to make every possible mistake on the way to getting a perfect bleed on these brakes. It usually takes me a few tries no matter which brand of brake we’re dealing with, but that’s more of a reflection of my mechanic skills than the servicability of any of these brakes. Our head mechanic Alex doesn’t have an issue coaxing the bubbles out of any of these calipers and usually had to step in and help me out.

At the top of our list for serviceability and setup, the Hope Tech 4 V4s are dead simple, and don’t even use a bleed kit! Instead, you bleed it like a car brake, with a series of opening and closing the bleed port while pumping the lever to move the bubbles through. Our runner up is the Hayes Dominion A4 with its dual bleed ports in the caliper that allow you to get the bubbles out faster than any other brake. Just like SRAM’s other brake models, the Maven uses bleeding edge fittings which make getting a perfect bleed way easier than a lower tech bleed kit.

This category is the most objective of the bunch, and the Maven Expert Kit is some pretty amazing value, considering you get two Maven Ultimates, 4 HS2 rotors, a SRAM Mineral Oil bleed kit, extra brake pads, and caliper mounting hardware for $599. You won’t be able to get anything this complete from any other manufacturer, especially at this value, but unfortunately there’s only 2500 Maven Expert Kits in the world, and once they’re sold out, they’re gone forever! So once we’re on the normal pricing, the Mavens are no longer the best value, and that award goes to the Hayes Dominions. They’ve got the lowest overall price (and often go on sale), come with extra brake pads, and have a super durable construction to keep them from breaking during a crash. While the Hopes are the most expensive brakes of the bunch, they do come with an added bonus of two extra sets of brake pads, the most of any brakes I’ve used. But if you’re like me and you’re only interested in the metallic brake pads and the extra organics in the box are just going to collect dust for as long as they exist, then this isn’t a huge consideration.

All things considered, the Hayes Dominion A4 are my number one choice when looking at the numbers, and overall they are my favorite brake on the market right now. That being said, 99% of riders would be stoked on every single one of these brakes, and it’s my job to really nitpick the small discrepancies between them. Upgrading to any of these brakes will give you way more power and control than any brake that comes stock your bike, and we highly recommend any of these brakes to any downhill or enduro riders looking to ride fast and slow down fast!

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