TRICKSTUFF

Founded in 2004 and housed in Pfaffenweiler, Germany, Trickstuff manufactures MTB brake systems, brake pads and disc brakes of the highest quality. It helps athletes to push their boundaries with smooth, predictable stopping power on the very steepest and roughest tracks.

Trickstuff is obsessed by the smallest details, so its components are individually produced and assembled by hand in a German factory with uncompromising function and reliability in mind. This commitment has made Trickstuff’s brakes some of the most coveted systems on trails and in bike parks around the globe.

All Trickstuff brakes have been designed so that each component can be replaced individually and is readily serviceable by any rider with a fundamental knowledge of bike components and the right tools.

KEY PRODUCTS

MAXIMA

The MAXIMA is Trickstuff’s flagship braking system, set apart by its incredible power, low weight for its class and smooth controllability. Perfect for enduro or downhill riding, it achieves decisive action with minimal finger force via comfortable, ergonomic levers. Meanwhile, its soft bite point tempers its power, giving the system excellent modulation and ensuring you’ll always feel fully in control of your deceleration.

POWER Brake Pads

The POWER Brake Pads will let you quickly upgrade your Shimano or SRAM brake set. Swap out the existing pads, and you’ll discover fierce yet controlled bite at the slightest touch of the levers. They’ll give you the confidence you need to push your limits, whether that means taking on a steeper chute or a bigger jump, secure in the knowledge that ample stopping power is a squeeze away.

Downhill Disc

The Downhill Disc is made from hardened stainless steel and features a 223mm diameter, compared with the standard 203mm discs, which means it delivers 10% more braking force and is quick to absorb braking energy. Thicker than usual, with a generous friction ring width, it effectively combats brake fade, offering action that you can depend on.

About Trickstuff

Trickstuff’s journey as a brake specialist began shortly after it was founded by Michael Habighorst, when the company merged with a brake pad manufacturer and began producing its own products. It later took over “The Cleg” and produced its first 4-piston brake set, the CLEG, before Klaus Liedler took over the company in 2009.

Further brake systems followed, then the launch of the Dächle Discs, but the company only really started to gain notice in 2015, when its new Direttissima braking system was used by mountain biker and extreme athlete Tomas Zejda at Red Bull Rampage. Partnerships with Sabine Spitz and World Cup sponsorships of the UR Team, the Athertons and Nina Hoffmann came about soon after, as did many triumphs and new products.

By 2020 the company had tripled in size over the course of just three years, boasting 21 employees compared with the previous six, and was forced to move to new premises and revamp its whole production system as sales grew even faster than the company. Acquired by DT Swiss in 2022, it is now a major influencer in the braking systems market, trusted by its customers to offer top quality and performance.

Why Trickstuff’s brakes are extra good

The secret to Trickstuff’s quality is not just one standout feature, but many features that each introduce marginal gains into the system as a whole, resulting in brakes, brake pads and rotors that are simply better than those of the brand’s competitors.

The braking systems are well constructed, with reliably tight tolerances and their four ball bearings, pressure-stable POM plastic pistons, POM plastic ball in the barrel nut and corrosion-resistant CNCed aluminium components keeping the friction low, the action smooth and ensuring a long life.

Hollow stainless steel pistons minimise the contact surface between the brakes and pads and work in partnership with low viscosity, eco-friendly Bionol, made from vegetable oil, to keep the heat in check. Meanwhile, this quality brake fluid helps to maintain a constant bite point, in conjunction with strong, pressure-resistant hoses and brake callipers optimised for stiffness.

Trickstuff’s comfortable, ergonomic brake levers can be adjusted to fit an individual’s hands, so that braking is safe and controlled.

However, Trickstuff doesn’t compromise when it comes to power. Its use of a small 9mm pump piston, plus levers and pumps that are designed to transmit force efficiently, means its braking systems exhibit a high hydraulic transmission ratio, a high mechanical transmission ratio, linear power transmission and progressive action.

Trickstuff and Saddleback

Trickstuff has been a German household name for many years, producing some of the highest quality and best performing braking products ever seen, but low production numbers have previously prevented the brand from expanding into new markets.

Now part of DT Swiss, Trickstuff has revamped its systems and procedures to ensure that expansion won’t come at the cost of its signature high production standards. As of September 2024, it has partnered with Saddleback to ensure a trouble-free rollout in Europe and beyond.