News in recent weeks has been pretty thin on the ground. I’ve resisted the urge to tell everyone who can’t read other websites that the Magura Gustav is dead-but-available-in-limited-run-out-colours since it was quite clear something new would be along to replace it.

What’s interesting about the new Magura MT8 though isn’t the new disc brake itself, but the material it’s made from.

I couldn’t help noticing some bold claims for the new composite material they’ve developed for their carbon brake. It’s manufactured by blending a ‘high percentage of carbon fibres in a thermoplastic mix’, which is then injection moulded to whatever shape is required. The result is one of the lightest disc brakes available on the market; just 260g per wheel is rumoured.

So those claims that caught my eye? Here’s a summary:

• Extremely light (less than half the density of aluminium).
• Tensile strength in between aluminium and steel, extremely impact resistant and break proof…
• Highest flexural fatigue strength of all conventional bike component materials.
• The efficiency weight (tensile strength/density) is double that of aluminium or magnesium and 6 times higher than steel…

It’s quite clear that with properties like that, the material won’t be confined to brakes – I’d think forks were an obvious next step and maybe wheels, but the possibilities are huge. It doesn’t yet look pretty but it sounds amazing!

More information on the Magura MT8 website.

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.