With the cat out of the bag on Magura’s year-long developmental partnership with Cervelo, we’ve got a look at the future of road brakes with their new RT8TT hydraulic brakes and levers.

Yes, hydraulic disc brakes for the road are on the horizon. But there is a massive number of riders out there now that might want to upgrade to a hydraulic groupset without giving up their beloved frames. For those people, hydraulic rim brakes coupled with a same-brand system or Di2 / EPS hack are the answer. For the latter, Magura is first to market. Well, first for the TT crowd anyway…

As these renderings show, the brakes use the same single-bolt, center mount as traditional mechanical calipers. That means they’ll fit on any standard road bike!

Pushing from that central bolt is a small piston that pushes a cam to split the arms and bring the pads to the rims. From an aerodynamic standpoint, it brings everything in closer and directly in front of the frame, a benefit to any bike, and there’s no cable sticking off to the side.

It is interesting to see a rather large return spring. With mountain bike hydraulic disc brakes, the diaphragm that moves along with the pads pulls things back open when the lever is released. That diaphragm is also generally how hydraulic brakes self adjust for wear. Word is, there’s no pad wear adjustment on these road calipers because the lever pushes enough fluid and the leverage ratio is enough to move the arms a significant distance. If the other photos we’ve seen of them on the bike reflect reality, you’ll simply adjust the lever reach with a small allen key instead.

Magura says the benefits of road hydraulic brakes (rim or disc) are:

• no cable friction means super smooth braking action and feel
• massive braking power with minimal lever force
• fine modulation of braking power

These brakes come to us with taglines like “speed management” and “seconds make the difference.” The concept is that you can brake harder and later, saving a few precious seconds. It’s certainly true in mountain biking, and the benefits of that strategy in TT, Triathlon and Criterium racing should be obvious. For good ol’ fashioned road biking, having easier modulation and lever feel that’s not only easier but translates into more power even when the rider is fatigued can only be a good thing.

Shown above in the open position, the schematic below shows a quick release switch to open the brakes for easy wheel changes.

Full technical details are still under wraps, but we do know that it’s a fully closed system like their current HS33 rim brakes, and they come with a 5-year leak proof guarantee. What’s really amazing is that the complete setup comes in at just 495g. By comparison, Shimano Dura-Ace brakes are about 294g/set and 80g for the TT brake levers. Add cables and housing and you’re likely just over the weight of Magura’s hydraulic stoppers.

Reportedly, the group will appear on the Cervelo P5 first, then be available at aftermarket in June for €599 / set.

According to the press release below, an RT6TT will be on offer, too, at €499 / set, and likely standard road brakes, too. We’ll keep you covered, but check out the new road section on Magura’s website for info as they add it.

PRESS RELEASE (Google translated from German, unedited):

January 2012 – MAGURA RT8 TT brakes Revolution for triathlon and time trial World’s lightest and fastest hydraulic rim brake on the road.

MAGURA 1987 invented the first hydraulic brake for mountain bikes. 25 years Later in the world market leader for hydraulic rim brakes brings his whole Experience on the road. Presented together with Cervélo aero expert the Swabian traditional company, the world’s lightest and fastest hydraulic rim brake on the road, the TT MAGURA RT8, under the motto: “Aerodynamics by Cervélo, Hydraulics by MAGURA”.

Their braking power and Dosing in triathlon and road bike set new standards. The provides an effective “speed management” on slopes and in curves. The Driver can win race critical seconds. The mission of the MAGURA Development Unit in Bad Urach was short and clear: to build the world’s fastest brake on the road. You should be extremely easy, more Provide stopping power than any other road bike brake – and yet at the point be dosed.

It also sets as a brake for triathlon and time trial bikes in terms of aerodynamics new standards. It took the MAGURA bike manufacturer with excellent know-how in terms of aerodynamics on board: Cervélo from Canada. After more than one and a half years of intensive development work is now presenting the MAGURA Brake revolution for triathlon and time trial: the first hydraulic rim brake for the road, the TT RT8 (RT, such as Road team for TT Time Trial).

The RT8TT brakes on the UCI-compliant version of the new Cervelo P5. Photo from Fair Wheel Bikes forum.

Four factors, they are characterized from: high braking power and fine controllability, low weight and a wind tunnel optimized aerodynamic design. Speed ??Management à la MAGURA: Who brakes later will longer fast The RT8 TT offers a hydraulic rim brake compared to mechanical Rim brakes decisive advantages. First, the friction loss is significantly lower and allows a higher efficiency. Second, hydraulic lines may Be compared with pulleys installed in particularly tight radii. Both permits optimal dosing. In addition, only small hand forces for high braking force is needed.

The RT8 TT combines so strong delay with excellent controllability to the ideal “Speed ??Management”. “On departures, the driver can brake later and sharper and meters to win the race ahead of the curve may be critical seconds, “explains MAGURA marketing director Götz brown. So the slogan for the RT8 MAGURA TT also: “Seconds make the difference!” – “Seconds make the difference!”

Lightweight with no compromise – The RT8 TT is designed for minimum weight: the saving valuable carbon brake lever Gram as do the lightweight and extremely rigid aluminum brake body. The result of cooperation is the lightest road bike with about 495 grams of hydraulic brake currently on the market.

Maintenance-free and ergonomically optimized lightweight – The RT8 TT is an absolutely maintenance-free brake light and insensitive to dirt, Dust and water. With the help of the hydraulic brake pad change is compared to Cable brake very easy to perform. Numerous patents and the 25-year-old MAGURA Know-how in hydraulic rim brakes underlie the development. Thanks of thought “quick release” mechanism takes the wheel is only one Moment. Also, the brake lever assembly is straightforward. Of course, happens in the personal RT8 TT the MAGURA Royal Blood mineral oil is used. In contrast to the often DOT brake fluid used, it must not be replaced after some time and is absolutely harmless to health. Should there still be needed, which leads to vent or reduce, the simple and fast. In addition, there MAGURA a five-year warranty on leakage of oil from the pipeline. The ergonomically shaped carbon brake lever and the excellent controllability of the RT8 brakes allow effortless, even for riders with small hands. “You give the driver optimum braking control, and therefore also a sense of security, “says Braun marketing director. In addition, the RT8 sets due to their high efficiency even low manual forces in high braking power by. It is thus also to the needs of Ideally suited women who participate in road races

The brake lever's aero bladed design minimizes frontal area. Photo from Fair Wheel Bikes forum.

Cooperation with aerodynamics expert Cervélo – Designed in collaboration with Cervélo TT MAGURA the RT8 using a wind tunnel in a streamlined shape. The braking body are covered aerodynamically, the hydraulic lines inside the pipes and hidden as the ultra-stiff lever airfoil trained.

RT8 TT – 2012 race celebrates its premiere In the 2012 season, the brake is exclusive to the time trial machine P5 by Cervélo installed. The new TT is RT8 from UCI world cycling federation allowed. Their race debut celebrates it in mid-March at Ironman Australia. As a sponsor of Team Garmin-Barracuda MAGURA RT also brings the time trial of the Tour de France at the start.

Variants of the TT RT8 – In addition to the Triathlon TT Brake RT8 it is 2012, the racing-brake RT8 converter . give From both models it will also be a cheaper option – the RT6 RT6 TT and the converter.