

Brembo Brakes has officially entered the cycling market, partnering alongside Specialized with the goal of pushing the limits of downhill racing performance.
“Officially entering the cycling world through the front door of the MTB World Championship is an exciting new challenge for Brembo. We are proud to do so with a team and a manufacturer that share our same vision of performance and innovation, and it is no coincidence that this happens in the year of Brembo’s 50th anniversary in motorsports,” said Andrea Paganessi, Brembo Motorcycle Global Chief Operating Officer.
“Today we can say that thanks to technological advances, Brembo has not simply improved braking, but has revolutionized it.”
Purpose-Built for a New Era of Racing
As downhill bikes get faster, tracks get rougher, and athletes redefine the limits of what’s rideable, braking has become an even more critical performance need. The Specialized Gravity team needed a system built for the leading edge of progression.
“At Specialized, we’ve always believed that racing is the ultimate proving ground for innovation,” said Armin Landgraf, CEO of Specialized. “We hold our partners to the same high standards we set for ourselves, and Brembo’s legacy of forward-thinking engineering and race-proven performance made them the clear choice. This partnership represents a strategic investment in cutting-edge technology—designed to support our athletes at the highest level. As downhill racing continues to evolve, this collaboration ensures we deliver breakthroughs that start on the podium and shape the future of the sport.”
Specialized Gravity athletes will pilot prototype Brembo brakes throughout the 2025 World Cup season. These components are the result of a focused R&D partnership aimed solely at delivering podium-worthy performance under the most demanding conditions in the sport.
How the new Brembo braking system for Specialized is made
The braking system, both front and rear, includes an axial brake master cylinder that, in addition to the two common adjustments (lever distance and free stroke), also features center-to-center adjustment, allowing riders to customize the braking feel according to their preferences. The master cylinder is paired with a post-mount caliper with four “isolated” aluminum pistons, 18 mm in diameter, to provide high braking power.
The master cylinder and caliper are connected by a braided steel hose to ensure consistent and precise lever travel. The system is completed by a fixed 2.3 mm thick brake disc, specifically designed to pair with the caliper, with an enlarged band to better manage heat exchange during extreme use.