In the world of high-performance stopping power, there is one name that carries more weight than any other: Brembo. From Formula 1 to MotoGP, the red (or gold or silver) calipers are as iconic as they are precise, and seeing them in mountain biking with the Specialized Factory DH team should be a sign that they mean business.
We’ve seen prototypes and these brakes in action under Loic Bruni and Finn Iles, but today, the wait is officially over. Brembo has unveiled the GR-PRO, a dedicated high-performance MTB braking system that aims to bring Moto-level consistency to the mountain bike world.
Finn Iles YouTube
The GR-PRO is available only as a complete kit, which includes both front and rear brakes, mounting accessories, mineral oil, and two extra pairs of pads, but no discs. The GP-PRO will be available to consumer is July, but we don’t have the USD or CAD pricing, just the Euro price, which is looking like €800 for now. We’re told they will be available in North America come July, but we don’t have those prices just yet.
Overview
Brembo
The GR-PRO looks exactly like what you’d expect from Brembo: industrial, purposeful, and expensive. These aren’t your mass-produced, cast-aluminum stoppers. The calipers and master cylinders are CNC-machined from solid billet aluminum. While they certainly look the part, Brembo claims superior stiffness and heat management compared to casting, which is crucial when you’re competing at the highest level of the sport.
Inside the caliper are 4 18mm pistons, pushed by Brembo’s own mineral oil. The lever features a 3-position lever adjustment, a reach adjustment, and a dead stroke adjustment, all independent of one another to further dial in the brake feel.
The GR-PRO is designed to work with 200-220mm rotors at the thicker end of the spectrum (2.3mm thick), and these new Brembo rotors are pretty standard in appearance, other than the angle of the arms at the rotor’s center, but Brembo says this is how it’s done in Moto GP, so who are we to argue?
The caliper itself is a four-piston design, but it’s the DNA inside that matters. Brembo is claiming that the GR-PRO utilizes technology directly inherited from their racing departments to ensure that the “bite point” remains consistent regardless of temperature – a holy grail for anyone who has ever dealt with “wandering bite point” issues on long descents.
Adjustments
One of the most interesting aspects of the GR-PRO is the lever assembly. Brembo has focused heavily on ergonomics and “leverage ratio.” The lever features an adjustable reach and, more importantly, a design intended to provide a linear, yet customizable feeling.
Brembo / Billy Ceusters (@billy_lebelge)
The 3-position adjustment offers soft, medium, and hard settings that affect the lever’s feel. The soft setting gives a longer pull with lighter force on the rotor, while the hard setting gives a quicker pull with a more abrupt braking engagement. The medium will be a nice middle-ground, we assume.
Brembo
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In a world where some brakes feel like a light switch, and others offer a deep, progressive arc, Brembo claims the GR-PRO offers “unparalleled modulation.” They want you to feel exactly how much pressure the pads apply to the rotor, enabling more traction control in loose, technical terrain. For riders who want to fine-tune the lever feel and get a brake that feels exactly how they want it, this could be the new benchmark.
The Competition
The GR-PRO is entering a crowded, highly competitive market. With the recent release of the SRAM Maven bringing “heavyweight” power to the masses, and boutique brands like Trickstuff, HEL, and Hope holding down the enthusiast corner, Brembo has its work cut out.
Trickstuff
SRAM
HEL MTB / Ian Lean
However, Brembo isn’t just another component brand; they are a braking authority. If the GR-PRO can deliver the same “set it and forget it” reliability and massive power-to-weight ratio that their motorsport products are known for, they won’t just be competing, they’ll be leading.
Initial Take
We haven’t bolted a set of these to a test bike just yet, but on paper, the Brembo GR-PRO looks like a serious contender for the “ultimate brake” title. They aren’t going to be cheap, and they likely won’t be on your local bike shop’s shelf next to the SLX bleed kits, but for the rider who demands the absolute best in Italian craftsmanship and downhill performance, the GR-PRO is the most exciting thing to happen to mountain bike brakes in years.
Brembo / Billy Ceusters (@billy_lebelge)
Do the brand’s heritage and performance claims justify the price, and will these Gucci-looking be a common sight on bikes in the future, or is Brembo entering a saturated market with an unproven product? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: we’re all watching to see what happens.