When the name is Ultimate and the company is SRAM, you know theyve pulled out all the stops, put in all the big tech, found all the marginal gains, and packaged them in one place. The Level Ultimate Disc Brake does this with their new cross-country and trail stopper. Titanium bolts, for example, are axiomatic with Ultimate components.

Naturally, this brake has a carbon lever blade for super lightness. It pivots on bearings, rather than bushings for a super-smooth feel. The lever has adjustable reach, of course, and is bolted to the bars via a MatchMaker MMX clamp, which can accommodate SRAM trigger shifters as well as RockShox controls, de-cluttering the bars. Its also ambidextrous. It has new design engaging the master cylinder called DirectLink, which starts to engage the caliper the moment it is activated. That master cylinder relies on technology found in Guide brakes. They share a timing port closure system (cup seals), as well as the PiggyBack Reservoir, which is small, and light, and direct, and even makes the levers ambidextrous, and the Expandable Bladder, which reduces air bubbles in the system.

The caliper itself is a single piece, monobloc if will, which is stronger and lighter than two-piece designs. Inside the caliper, there are two 21mm diameter pistons pushing aluminum-backed brake pads. Beyond the pads is a stainless steel shield. The stainless steel acts as a heat shield, making it much harder for the friction-generated heat from braking to get to the cylinders, which, in turn, makes it harder for the fluid to heat up. Hot fluid expands, and can close your brakes when you dont want them to, which no one wants.

As always, the hoses come pre-bled and ready for easy installation. The Ultimate brakes have a feature called Bleeding Edge, which is a simpler fluid port on the caliper that makes bleeding easier as well as air contamination and fluid loss less likely. Standard pads are organic, and replacement is from the top, which makes things simpler and faster. DOT 5.1 fluid comes standard and must be used. Rotors come separately. Level brakes work with rotors as small as 140mm in diameter, as large as 180mm in diameter. For best performance, SRAM recommends their CenterLine rotors. Weight for a single wheel is 318g: direct-mount of caliper, 800mm of hose, and 160mm CenterLine X rotor.

SRAMs Level Ultimate Disc Brake has everything you need in a cross-country brake at less weight than you though possible.