Three year project sees the light of day trade show.
After three years’ and 8 generations’ development, FSA’s first ever disc brake models should be making their way to shops in 2014. In keeping with the brand’s existing naming, there will be trail-oriented Afterburner and race-oriented K-Force models. Based on a shared platform, both brakes make use of nontoxic, Japanese-sourced mineral oil and both flip-flop levers feature tool-free reach and stroke adjustment. In what may be an industry first, the front brake’s hose is intentionally less stout than the rear, with the goal of providing more consistent feel at the levers. The duo was developed in Seattle, so should be right at home on soggy trails.
The K-Force model uses a magnesium master cylinder, carbon lever, titanium hardware, and a two-piece rotor to come in at a respectable 305g per wheel (including hardware and rotor). At $370 (UK pricing TBC) per wheel, FSA has jumped right in to the deep end- we’re interested to see how they perform compared to like-priced brakes.
At $290 per wheel, the Afterburner swaps the K-Force’s magnesium master cylinder for aluminum, titanium hardware for steel, while adding only 40g per wheel. The nearly all-black finish is much more businesslike and – as it has all of the K-Force’s function – we wouldn’t be surprised if FSA is going after major OEM spec with this one.
No drivetrain manufacturer can be left out of the 1x revolution- and this includes FSA. Rather than adopting the narrow-wide configuration championed by SRAM and others, FSA have gone with very deep, slightly hooked chainring teeth. In addition to steering clear of others’ intellectual property, the Mega Tooth design allows for odd chainring sizes as well as even. Chainring development is nearing completion and will initially be available in FSA’s 386 bolt pattern (shown), with 104mm and 110mm (‘crossers take note) configurations and complete Afterburner and SL-K level Megatooth cranksets to follow.
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$740 for a set of disc brakes??! From a company called Full Speed Ahead? This is a joke, right?
Tortise,
FSA acknowledge the irony- but remind us that you can’t go fast without good brakes 😉