Guide to 2025 SRAM MTB Brakes - Motive, Maven, DB Models 2

Find out what's new with SRAM brakes and what separates each brake model.

After numerous spy shots graced the pages of our beloved Tech Rumors forum, SRAM's new Motive brake is officially here. On top of that, 2025 marks a major shift for SRAM brakes—all models now use mineral oil, gone are 2-piston calipers, and there are only two categories of brakes: heavy duty and extreme duty. With lots changing, here is a breakdown of the new product line and details on what separates the Motive, Maven, and DB models.

Table of Contents

SRAM Motive Ultimate AS Bellingham 8723

What's New in 2025

Up to this point, SRAM separated its brakes into three categories: light duty (Level), heavy duty (Code and DB8), and extreme duty (Maven). Moving forward, there are only two categories: heavy duty and extreme duty. 

What that means is Level and Code are out, and in their place now live Motive and DB—the heavy duty brakes. Maven remains the sole owner of the extreme duty title. 

All brakes also use mineral oil and have 4-piston calipers. That's right, no more DOT 5.1, or 2-piston calipers. 

It's a bold but calculated choice by SRAM to give riders just two brake tiers. It's bold because they've essentially split mountain biking into two groups: gravity riders (downhill, enduro, e-bike, aggressive trail) and everyone else. The riders who will feel the pressure most from this new approach are XC and endurance riders who prioritize brake weight over power. 

SRAM Motive Silver AS Bellingham 5266

Motive now sits as the mass-appeal brake, while DB models are dubbed as the low-maintenance, low-barrier-to-entry brakes. Motive is slightly heavier than Level, and offers slightly less power than Code. To help curate Motive's brake performance to a wide range of riding disciplines and rider preferences, SRAM is continuing to push the concept of tuned brake performance through rotors and pads. This isn't a new concept, but it'll likely be a more discussed topic with Motive as riders and bike companies seek more or less power based on riding type. 

SRAM continues to offer three rotor models: CenterLine X (140-180mm for XC riding), CenterLine (140-220mm for XC-gravity riding), and HS2 (160-220mm for e-bike and gravity riding). We've already seen World Cup downhill athletes pairing CenterLine rotors with Mavens, presumably to detune their aggressive bite. We'd expect to see the opposite with Motive, where riders reach for larger HS2 rotors than they previously would have with Code to increase power and bite. The same approach can be done with sintered (metal) or organic pads. 

Image 3-14-25 at 2.22%E2%80%AFPM

The final and possibly biggest change is the switch from DOT 5.1 to mineral oil in all brake models. You can join the endless debate over the pros and cons of either fluid in our brake or tech forum. But regardless of your oil preference, mineral oil is what's fueling SRAM brakes moving forward. DB8 and Maven kicked off the switch to mineral oil, which was enabled thanks to advancements in piston seal technology. The new seals are more air-tight and less affected by heat, leading to more consistent braking performance and longer service intervals. Mineral oil is also a little safer to handle and less corrosive. All brake models follow a similar bleeding process, including the crucial piston message as the final step.    

For 2025, SRAM brakes include three Motive, four Maven, and three DB models. There are also Motive and Maven Expert Kits that include a limited edition Ultimate colorway.


Motive

Motive is SRAM's latest 4-piston brake intended to serve a wide range of riders—from XC racers to hard-charging trail riders. Think of Motive as splitting the difference between the outgoing Level and Code models. It's fairly light, weighing ~20g more than Level (when comparing Ultimate models), and produces 'nearly as much power as Code.' SRAM's words, not ours, and to be verified.

SRAM Motive Ultimate AS Bellingham 0594.jpg?VersionId=rqgUAj1btpH6N
SRAM Motive Ultimate AS Bellingham 9184

Motive Highlights

  • Intended use: XC, trail, all-mountain
  • 4-piston caliper
  • DirectLink lever design
  • Stealth lever architecture
  • Tool-free reach adjustment
  • Ambidextrous levers
  • Maxima Mineral Oil
  • Bleeding Edge bleed port
  • Stock pads: organic
  • Pad size: large
  • Piston size: (2) 16mm, (2) 15mm
  • All models include: MMX clamps, barb & olive, hose hooks, T8 Torx // rear brake also includes: piston massage spacer, bleed block, T25/T10 Torx
  • Motive Service Manual, Bleed Procedure & How-To Bleed Video
SRAM Motive Silver AS Bellingham 4987.jpg?VersionId=ShW1Ot

With XC bikes becoming increasingly more capable and World Cup racers blitzing descents faster than ever, even with seat posts at full mast, creating a more powerful brake that's just a touch heavier seems like a worthy tradeoff. For riders on 130-150mm bikes who previously ran Code brakes, Motive may or may not satisfy your needs depending on terrain and personal preference. If you felt like you were already reaching the limit of Codes, it might be time to graduate to Maven. Motive does use the same piston diameter as Code (15 and 16mm) and large brake pads; however, it employs SRAM's DirectLink lever design instead of their SwingLink cam system. The main difference between the two is the way power builds through the lever stroke. SwingLink (previously found in Code) progressively builds power the more you pull, while DirectLink (previously found in Level) creates a linear lever feel with consistent power throughout the lever stroke. So instead of receiving more power the harder you reef on the brakes, Motive will deliver power faster but remain calmer the harder you pull. 

SRAM Motive Silver AS Bellingham 5386

There is no pad contact adjustment, only a tool-free reach adjustment on the outside of the lever. SRAM purposely passed on the contact adjustment to save weight, which could be a deal breaker or water under the bridge, depending on how Type-A you are about your lever throw. All Motive models feature SRAM's close-to-the-bar, 'Stealth' lever design. To help alleviate unwanted cable rattle against the bars, all brakes include hose hooks that attach to the stem. Other details include a bleeding edge port at the caliper for easy bleeding and the familiar MatchMakerX clamping interface to neatly attach a shifter and dropper lever. 

Motive is offered in Bronze, Silver, and Ultimate models, as well as the Ultimate Expert Kit, which is a banging deal if you're cool with running the limited edition Teal colorway. 


Motive Models

Motive Bronze - $175

925020935100-DB-MOTV-BRZ-ORG-DFBA-DIR-900-c-Lever-3q-v2-2

Motive Silver - $225

925020931100-DB-MOTV-SLV-ORG-BKA-DIR-900-c-Lever-3q-v2.png?VersionId=9Yc8Ex3pqsKJAZexpEwq
  • Aluminum lever
  • Steel hardware
  • Bushing lever pivot
  • Weight: 279g 
  • Aluminum lever
  • Stainless steel hardware
  • Bearing lever pivot
  • Weight: 273g 

Motive Ultimate - $275

925020927100-DB-MOTV-ULT-CAR-ORG-CLRA-DIR-900-c-Lever-3q-v2.jpg?VersionId=vjgnaGdsEfW99lfUEXH4UquF

Motive Ultimate Expert Kit - $599

SM 250212 MAVEN-MOTIVE-BOXSET AS-00097 H 2
  • Carbon lever
  • Titanium hardware
  • Bearing lever pivot
  • Weight: 264g 
  • LTD Edition Teal Splatter & bold black ano colorway
  • 2x MMX Clamps
  • 2x 20P-1 brackets
  • CenterLine X rotors: 2x180mm, 2x 160mm
  • Rotor bolts, rotor
  • Carrying case
  • Pro Mineral Bleed kit
  • 2x Steel-back metal sintered pads
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$250.00
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$250.00

DB Brakes

The DB brakes are the workhorses within SRAM's brake lineup. The DB8 casually launched a few years ago and since has been a silent hero in the world of low-maintenance, get-the-job-done brakes. What DB brakes lack in window appeal, they make up for in value and performance. 

005018243001-AM-DB-DB6-ORG-DFBA-RMMX-RR-DIR-2000-c-Lever-Side-v2.png?VersionId=WQ
005018243001-AM-DB-DB6-ORG-DFBA-RMMX-RR-DIR-2000-c-Caliper-3q

Highlights

  • Intended use: trail, all-mountain, e-bike
  • Same 4-piston caliper across all models
  • Maxima Mineral Oil
  • Stealth lever architecture
  • Tooled reach adjustment
  • Left & right specific levers
  • Threaded caliper bleed port
  • Bushing lever pivot
  • Steel caliper hardware
  • Stock pads: organic
  • Pad size: large
  • Piston size: (2) 16mm, (2) 15mm
  • Included with brakes: T8 Torx, MMX clamps, barb & olive
  • DB8/6/4 Service Manual, Bleed Procedure & How-To Bleed Video

There are now three DB models—DB4, DB6, and DB8. All share the same caliper that fits large brake pads (same as Code 2011+) and feature a tooled reach adjustment, a bushing at the lever pivot, and are Matchmaker X compatible. SRAM categorizes the DBs as heavy-duty brakes with code-like power, which, according to our testing, is mostly true. However, the use of a bushing instead of a bearing in the lever pivot, a slightly more crude lever blade, and similar lever internals to that of Motive make for a less refined feel compared to Code. DB brakes are also heavier than Code and Motive. 

005018243001-AM-DB-DB6-ORG-DFBA-RMMX-RR-DIR-2000-c-Lever-Knuckle.png?VersionId=Y.YE8uI0jI z

The DB8 uses a traditional SRAM hinged lever mount, while the DB4 and DB6 use a split ring clamp. This means you have to remove your grip to slide the lever onto the handlebar. Like Motive, all models feature SRAM's 'Stealth' levers. However, DB levers are right and left specific. The last noteworthy detail is that DB brakes use a threaded caliper bleed port instead of a bleeding edge port. SRAM's mineral oil bleed kit does include an extra threaded fitting for this reason.  


DB Models

DB4 - $75

005018242001-AM-DB-DB4-ORG-DFBA-RR-DIR-2000-c-Lever-3q-v2

DB6 - $95

005018243001-AM-DB-DB6-ORG-DFBA-RMMX-RR-DIR-2000-c-Lever-3q-v2

DB8 - $137

Screenshot 2025-03-14 at 10.57.35%E2%80%AFAM.jpg?VersionId=c2hHx6OMsvufr9XR
  • Aluminum lever
  • Split ring clamp
  • MMX compatible
  • Weight: 364g 
  • Aluminum lever
  • Split ring clamp
  • MMX compatible
  • Weight: 363g 
  • Aluminum lever blade
  • Two-piece MatchMaker lever clamp
  • Weight: 
Where To Buy
Free U.S. shipping on everything.
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free U.S. shipping on everything.
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$206.25
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$20.93

Maven

Big brakes for big jobs, that's what Maven's are all about. Since launching last February, Maven has established itself as one of the most powerful brakes on the market. It's also great at managing heat, making it a great choice for downhill, enduro, e-bikes, larger riders, those who drag their brakes, and those who brake late. We broke down all the details of Maven in a First Ride review and compared its performance in a brake shootout last Fall. For 2025, Maven remains unchanged, except for a new limited edition colorway and a new Maven Base Model.  

brake test vitalmtb-4 2
brake test vitalmtb-10 2.jpg?VersionId=S3wSSXZq5cGGgMSBAfpwyXIT9Cbd1k

Maven Highlights

  • Intended use: enduro, downhill, e-bike
  • 4-pistons
  • Maxima Mineral Oil
  • SwingLink lever design
  • Stealth lever architecture
  • Tool-free reach adjustment
  • Pad contact adjustment (Ultimate & Silver models)
  • Ambidextrous levers
  • Bleeding edge bleed port
  • Stock pads: organic
  • Pad size: XL
  • Piston size: (1) 19.5mm, (1) 18mm
  • All models include: 2x 20P-2 brackets, T8 Torx, MMX clamps, barb & olive, hose hooks
  • Maven Service Manual, Bleed Procedure & How-To Bleed Video
maven base

Maven Base is a new entry-level model in the Maven family with some key differences that should make it a touch more user-friendly. Instead of using a SwingLink in the lever to build power the harder you pull the lever, it uses the DirectLink lever design (like Motive and DB) to smooth out its power delivery. It also has smaller 18mm pistons in its caliper, compared to Maven's 18 and 19.5mm pistons. Maven Base only weighs 10 grams more than Maven Bronze and costs the same at $185. It also features the same bushing lever pivot, tool-free reach adjustment, no pad contact adjustment, and Bleeding Edge port. So, don't think of Maven Base as being below the other models; rather, it is a Maven targeted at those who want slightly more controllable power. 


Maven Models

Maven Base - $185

925020922070-DB-MVN-BSE-SIN-DFBA-DIR-750-c-Lever-3q

Maven Bronze - $185

Screenshot 2025-03-14 at 11.11.25%E2%80%AFAM 2.jpg?VersionId=1Qm
  • Aluminum lever
  • Tool-free reach adjustment
  • Steel hardware
  • Bushing lever pivot
  • Weight: 380g 
  • Aluminum lever
  • Tool-free reach adjustment
  • Bushing lever pivot
  • Weight: 369g 

Maven Silver - $265

Image 3-14-25 at 11.15%E2%80%AFAM.jpg?VersionId=E2KhMJRLhxOEl2MhbMW3nCMFvD

Maven Ultimate - $300

Screenshot 2025-03-14 at 11.11.56%E2%80%AFAM
  • Aluminum lever
  • Tool-free reach
  • Pad contact adjustment
  • Stainless hardware
  • Bearing lever pivot
  • Weight: 371g 
  • Aluminum lever
  • Tool-free reach
  • Pad contact adjustment
  • Titanium hardware
  • Bearing lever pivot
  • Weight: 361g 

Maven Ultimate Expert Kit - $599

maven expert kit 2
  • LTD Edition Teal Splatter & bold black ano colorway
  • 4x HS2 rotors (1x 220mm, 2x 200mm, 1x 180mm)
  • 2x 20P-1 Brackets
  • Rotor bolts
  • 2x steel-backed metal sintered pads
  • Pro Mineral Oil Bleed Kit
  • Rotor Travel Bag
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$4.00
Free shipping on orders over $49 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $49 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$4.00
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$290.00

Check out key specs for the Motive, Maven, and DB, compare brakes side by side, and contribute a review in the Vital MTB Product section.

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