SRAM has recently overhauled its brake lineup and has introduced the all-new Motive, a model designed specifically for cross-country and trail riders. While racers might initially hesitate at the slight weight increase compared to the outgoing Level, the improved power and refined lever feel make the Motive a compelling upgrade. For most riders, the performance gains will more than justify the added grams. But with lightweight, power, and consistent feel all key factors, the real question is, can it compete with the best from rival brands?
SRAM Motive Ultimate Brakes – Technical Information
As the name suggests, the Ultimate is the top-spec version of SRAM’s new Motive brake. This four-piston system is a successor to both the Level and Code and now stands as the lightest model in the updated lineup. SRAM claims it’s “light enough for hard-charging XC, powerful enough for aggressive trail,” and with its carbon lever blade and titanium hardware, the performance focus is clear, as is the premium price tag. To put things briefly, the Motive has a weight that is only slightly more than the outgoing Level, but braking power similar to the Code.
The Motive range starts with the Bronze model at £170, featuring an alloy lever blade with a bushing pivot and compression hose fitting. Stepping up to the Silver at £220 gets you a pivot bearing and a banjo-style caliper hose attachment. At the top of the line, the Ultimate comes in at £270 with a carbon lever blade, titanium hardware, and an adjustable banjo fitting. These prices don’t include the rotors or mounts.
On test here is the SRAM Motive Ultimate Expert Brake Kit, which includes a pair of Ultimate brake units, four rotors, extra pads in a different compound, various mounts and bolts, clamps, and a full bleed kit with SRAM’s new Mineral Oil. The complete kit retails for £585.
It’s a comprehensive package, but at the core is still the Motive Ultimate brake. The uncut caliper and lever assemblies with standard (rather than MMX clamps) come in at 271g for the front and 300g for the rear. Add 36g for a post mount and bolts if needed. The six-bolt floating rotors weigh 101g (160mm) and 125g (180mm), with six titanium rotor bolts adding another 7g. This puts a typical full brake setup at around 425g.
The Motive Ultimate lever uses SRAM’s latest architecture with a radial master cylinder design. This not only reduces the overall system weight but also improves modulation by allowing a more linear fluid flow through the system. The pivot bearing also gives a smoother lever action compared to bushing-based models.
The Ultimate offers a tool-free reach adjust and an adjustable banjo at the caliper for hose routing, giving a cleaner and more tailored setup, especially on modern trail and XC bikes with tight cable paths.
SRAM Motive Ultimate Brakes – Performance
I initially fitted the brakes without cutting the hoses or bleeding them, allowing me to test them exactly as they come from the factory. The setup was straightforward — small touches like caliper bolts with captive washers helped make alignment simple, and I had perfectly true rotors with no rub right out of the box. Throughout testing, I ran a 180mm rotor up front and a 160mm rotor on the rear. The brakes come fitted with organic pads, designed to offer maximum bite with minimal noise. Also included in the Expert Kit are sintered pads, which promise better durability and wet-weather performance.
After some initial riding, I cut the hoses and bled the system. Using SRAM’s new bleed kit, which is included in the Expert Kit, the process was relatively simple. The Bleeding Edge port system makes fluid changes clean and quite easy, and the kit includes high-quality syringes, spare o-rings, and all the necessary fittings to get the job done properly.
The brake lever differs noticeably from other cross-country-focused brakes I've tested recently, such as the Magura MT8 Pro and Hope XCR Pro X2. While both of those feature short, sculpted levers, the Motive has a longer, straighter blade with a subtle hook at the tip. This shape means the bar position for the lever is crucial for getting the most out of the brake, and it took a few rides to fine-tune the setup to suit my preferences. The straight lever shape, paired with the radial master cylinder, likely contributes to the brake’s smooth and linear feel. Compared to some other brakes, I found others can have more progressive leverage, allowing for braking power that ramps up towards the end of the stroke
The hooked tip of the Motive lever is a little short, offering less grip than the more sculpted levers found on other brakes. In many ways, it’s horses for courses, and different people will have personal preferences.
Lever reach is tool-free via a thumb adjuster, but there’s no contact point adjustment — something I didn’t find myself missing, as I’ve never chosen to run a set of brakes with it set anything other than the quickest/shortest bite point. One welcome detail is the hose routing from the lever, which runs tight to the handlebar and follows its shape cleanly. While not unique to the Motive, SRAM has used a similar design on previous models, referred to as “Stealth”, which allows for much neater cable management. It also seems well-suited for modern frames, especially as full internal cable routing either from the bar or through the headset is becoming common on mountain bikes.
First impressions from the trail were dominated by the sheer power of the Motive brakes. There’s plenty of usable power on tap for general cross-country riding, and it is delivered with consistency through the lever stroke, too. The braking feel is very different from that of Magura, Hope, or Shimano XC brakes — it’s smoother and softer, without the immediate bite those brands often deliver, especially Shimano.
The linear feel of the brake may be due to the lack of the “Swing Link” technology found in some other SRAM brake models, such as the Maven, and removing it is likely primarily to reduce system weight. Initially, I found this slightly off-putting, but with more ride time, I became accustomed to the feel. The Motive delivers impressive stopping force for a relatively lightweight brake, especially on the front, where it can be fully used. On the rear, paired with a 160mm rotor and a lightweight XC tyre, the brake often overpowered the available traction, locking up the wheel more easily than I’d like.
While I don’t have any 2000m+ alpine mountains to test the heat management, I was able to test it in an unorthodox way — using a tow rope to hold and control the speed of a child on a bike down a long 15% gradient tarmac descent in mid-Wales. SRAM has probably never tested for this occasion, but I can say it was the perfect test. The lever gradually crept outward under constant braking over several minutes, but crucially, power delivery remained available. Once released, the lever returned to its normal position after minimal cooling and continued to perform without any loss of power or bite. Across the full test period, the brakes remained quiet in nearly all conditions, with only a light squeal when first used in the wet, and I didn’t experience any problems with excessive vibration under power.
Performance has been solid throughout testing, with no serious change in lever feel and smooth, even piston and pad movement. Using a bearing, rather than a bushing within the lever should increase the longevity, and the system hasn’t developed any play during the time I have had it to test. SRAM’s switch to mineral oil also appears to be a sensible one. In theory, it should mean less maintenance over time and better long-term reliability, as it’s less prone to water absorption that can occur with DOT fluid.
For riders prioritising low weight, it's worth noting that while the Motive Ultimate is the lightest brake in SRAM’s new range, it’s still heavier than other top-tier XC options. For example, the Hope XCR Pro X2 brakes come in at 193g (front) and 225g (rear), including caliper, lever, and hose. The Magura MT8 SL is also sub-200g. However, both are two-piston brakes with a more focused XC remit, and neither comes close to matching the Motive’s power output, even when using the same rotor sizes.
That said, while the Magura MT8 Pro I’ve previously tested can’t match the outright power of the Motive, its overall feel, weight, and balance make it my preferred choice for dedicated XC racing. For general trail riding and more aggressive terrain, however, the Motive makes a much stronger case, and as ever, personal preference will always play a role.
SRAM Motive Ultimate Brakes – Verdict
It might be helpful to consider the Motive brakes in the context of SRAM/RockShox’s fork range. They seem best matched to riders on 35mm SID or Pike forks, where balanced weight and performance are the goals. For riders who use heavier-duty forks like the Lyrik, Zeb, or Boxxer, they are more in line with the powerful Maven brakes. At the lighter end, if you're running a SID SL, weight is likely your priority, and while the Motive Ultimate is SRAM’s lightest option, it probably won’t satisfy hardcore weight-weenies.
At £585, the full Expert Kit for the Motive Ultimate brake is expensive. But compared to buying individual components, and if you don’t already own a bleed kit or spare pads and rotors, it offers decent value. With each Motive Ultimate brake priced at £270 without a rotor, the kit feels like SRAM is throwing in a generous bundle of tools and spares, likely by design.
Against the competition, though, it's not easy to justify. Shimano’s XTR Trail four-piston brake is £245, also without a rotor. Hope’s XCR Pro X2 costs £210, while the Tech 4 X2 is £205. All are notably cheaper as a full set. For XC racing, my personal choice remains the Magura MT8 Pro, recently tested, which offers excellent performance at £155 per end.
As a lighter rider, outright braking power isn’t always essential, especially for racing. But for trail riders or anyone who wants strong stopping power, minimal fuss, and bold styling, the Motive Ultimate is a serious contender. The high price is a sticking point, but the Expert Kit does bring a lot to the table.
Visually striking and mechanically solid, the Motive has impressed with its smooth lever feel, consistent power, and quiet performance. If top-end braking with minimal maintenance matters more than saving grams, it’s a very capable — if premium — option.