Brembo Enters the Cycling Market: Collaboration with Specialized for Advanced Braking Systems
Brembo Enters the Cycling Market: Collaboration with Specialized for Advanced Braking Systems
Brembo, a leading manufacturer of braking systems for the motorsport sector, has announced a partnership with Specialized Bicycles. This collaboration involves the development of a new disc brake system specifically for cycling, with the involvement of professional athletes such as Loïc Bruni, Jordan Williams, and Finn Iles from the Specialized Gravity team.
Context and Objectives of the Collaboration
Brembo's entry into the cycling sector, while seemingly a new venture, is not an unexpected departure from its established presence in motorsport. This move follows the acquisition of the suspension brand Öhlins in 2024, which already supports the Specialized Gravity team. Brembo's primary objective, in synergy with Öhlins, is to contribute to the success of athletes Bruni, Williams, and Iles in World Cup competitions, by using prototype braking systems during the 2025 season.
Precedents and Innovations of the Braking System
Brembo has a long history in the automotive world, having supplied braking systems to Formula One and MotoGP teams. This experience in top-tier motorsport is considered a solid foundation for technology transfer to downhill cycling, an area that demands extreme braking performance.
Historically, Brembo did make an earlier foray into the cycling market approximately 17 years ago, with dual-piston brakes featuring a lever design reminiscent of classic Shimano XT and a caliper somewhat resembling an enlarged Hope C2.
The current braking system, observed on the Specialized Gravity team bikes during early World Cup races, shows a significantly evolved design:
Lever: The lever appears notably long and linear, comparable in size to the Hope Tech 4 V4, but without protruding adjustment dials. It is speculated that a small integrated dial near the pivot on the lever itself allows for "reach" adjustment (the distance of the lever from the handlebar).
Lever Body: The lever body appears similar in size, though potentially slightly larger, to SRAM's Maven brakes, and—like the Maven's "Stealth" lever body—sits close to the handlebar. The fluid reservoir seems taller (similar to that of TRP DHR EVOs) and possibly a touch larger than SRAM's top gravity stoppers.
Caliper: It is presumed that the caliper utilizes a four-piston configuration to ensure powerful braking action on the rotor.
Commercial Future and Availability
According to official communications from Brembo, the current development phase is exclusively focused on Downhill World Cup competitions, with the Specialized Gravity team using prototypes for the remainder of the 2025 season. No precise indications have been provided regarding future commercial developments or the potential public availability of these braking systems. However, the appearance of the prototypes, which seem close to a production-ready version, suggests a concrete possibility that these high-end, Italian-made braking systems may become available on the market in the near future.
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