You Need to See These Stunning New Swedish Radial MTB Brakes

The world of MTB brakes is definitely a bit of a spectrum. There are the usual picks that you see on OEM bikes from SRAM, Shimano, Magura, Hayes, and TRP, but on the aftermarket side, there are almost more options. They’re exotic, expensive, and often come with a long lead time due to their bespoke, handmade nature – making them that much more desirable.

Brands like Trickstuff, HEL MTB, Intend, and 612 make some incredibly bespoke brake sets for those who want the “bling factor” paired with the reliability of modern mountain bike brakes. These offerings are exotic, hard to come by, and have an almost mystical quality. You don’t see them on the trail all that much, and when you do, they are certainly eye-catching.

612 Parts has just released the Die Bremse RS (meaning “The Brake” in German for English speakers), a radial-style brake that carries over the distinctive industrial style seen on Die Bremse brakes. This new offering is lighter and more compact but fully compatible with 2- or 4-piston calipers, and aesthetically, these brakes whisper to my appreciation for brutalist architecture.

Felix at 612 Parts started as a self-described “average mountain biker” with a background in engineering and a lack of patience for the status quo. After a successful first run of his original axial brakes, he’s back with the second generation: Die Bremse RS (Radial Style). If you like your mountain bike components to look like they were carved out of a single block of Swiss excellence (because they were), you’ll want to pay attention to what 612 is up to.

Form and Function

The original Die Bremse was already a boutique darling. CNC’d in Switzerland and Germany, hand-assembled, and featuring massive stainless steel pistons. The new RS (Radial Style) takes that foundation and pivots (literally) to a radial lever layout.

But it’s the clever, rider-focused “tinkering” that makes this stand out, even amongst other bespoke brakes.

Key Highlights: The RS Evolution

• The “Travel-Ready” Clamp: In a stroke of genius, the bar clamp stays on your bars while the actual lever assembly can be removed. If you’re packing a bike box or bleeding them, you can remove the lever without losing your exact ergonomic position. Bolt it back on, and it’s right where you left it.
• Headset Routing Friendly: Whether we like it or not, cables through the headset are here to stay. The RS lever body is so slim that it can actually fit through an IS 52 headset bearing. That’s a massive win for the headset-routed crowd and the mechanics who have to suffer for them.
• Modular Everything: The RS levers are cross-compatible with 612’s two-piston and four-piston calipers.
• Weight & Aesthetics: A complete set (radial lever and two-piston calipers) weighs 393g. It’s light, but with 7075 aluminum and carbon lids on the levers, it doesn’t look fragile.

Details

We live in an era of “big brake” dominance, but there is something inherently satisfying about a self-funded operation producing world-class tech. There are no corporate spec sheets dictating compromises here.

The result is a brakeset that features ball-bearing-equipped lever blades, reusable threaded hose hardware (goodbye, one-time-use olives), and a “space-age” finish that makes your current setup look like a high school shop project.

Die Bremse RS is slated for release in early May. If you’re looking to upgrade your stopping power with a side of boutique craftsmanship, keep your eyes on the Swiss border.

Learn More at 612-parts.com