Formula Cura 4 disc brake review

If we have to decide on The Best Brake we’d go for the Formula Cura 4. The key thing is that the Formulas have the feel. And that’s what counts.

• Price: £175.00
• Rotor weight: 199g (203mm)
• Brake weight (per end): 245g
• Tested by: Benji

Although never quite at the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to brake brands, Formula has been making disc brakes for bicycles since the early ’90s. It has a lot of experience.

One thing its brakes don’t have is loads of bells and whistles. These Cura 4 brakes have reach adjustment. And that’s it. I tell a lie. They have Speed Lock hose disconnection. Basically it’s a system that allows you to unplug the hoses (for internally routed frames) and put everything back together again with no drips and no rebleed required. Very nice.

The lever blade of the Cura 4 is classically Formula: smooth and curvy forged little things. Despite the reach adjust, you are fairly restricted in where you have your bite point biting. If you like flat, hooky levers you may not like the Cura 4. If you like a brake to be really grabby and on–off binary, you may not like the Cura 4. If you simply measure a brake by how all-out powerful it is at the top end, there are possibly more powerful brakes. But if consistency and supreme modulation are your priorities, these are the best brakes out there.

The feel of the Formula Cura 4 is a really nice blend of positivity and lightness. You can clearly feel the moment when the pads meet the disc. The correlation between what your fingers are inputting at the lever and the effect at the rotor/wheel is very tactile and super controllable.

Overall

No bells. No whistles. Just feel and modulation for days. And more than powerful enough.

geometronbikes.co.uk

Review Info

Ben Haworth

Cotic RocketMAXer. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

More posts from Ben