A complete braking system, not just a "better brake"
Brembo has officially entered the mountain bike world with GR-PRO, a braking system developed for extreme gravity disciplines ā downhill and e-MTB ā and built on the same philosophy the company uses in MotoGP and Formula 1: everything works as a unique system, not as separate parts.
Weāre not talking about an adaptation from motorsport, but a project designed from scratch for bikes, but with the same obsession for control, consistency, and peak performance.
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š Context: how Brembo entered MTB
Brembo's entry into cycling is not a sudden move, but the result of a program developed over time.
From there, the project evolved into real tests on the toughest terrain possible: downhill races, where brakes are constantly pushed to the limit ā temperature, speed, and extreme mechanical stress.
GR-PRO is the direct result of this process.
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āļø The core idea: a complete system that works together
One of Brembo's central messages is that GR-PRO should not be viewed as a collection of components.
Itās a complete system made up of:
caliper
master cylinder (lever)
discs
pads
hoses
brake fluid
Everything is designed to work in "perfect synergy", meaning each element directly influences the behavior of the others.
The idea is simple: what you feel at the lever doesnāt come from one piece, but from the entire system.
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š§² The caliper: real rigidity and precision
The GR-PRO caliper is a two-piece forged construction, designed for high structural rigidity.
Brembo clearly states the goal: eliminating flex, so that every lever pull is transformed into precise and consistent braking.
It uses 18 mm pistons (4 piston design), optimized for:
immediate response
controlled progression
elimination of residual torque
consistency between the first and last brake
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š The discs: inspired by motorsport
The GR-PRO discs are made of steel and come in 200 mm and 220 mm variants, with a thickness of 2.3 mm, thicker than the MTB standard.
The design is inspired by the motorcycle world, especially in the area of the disc spokes, to improve:
heat resistance
mechanical rigidity
thermal dissipation
weight control
Brembo bets on the idea that heat dissipation is key to consistency on long descents.
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š§ Master cylinder: the part where it gets "custom"
The GR-PRO lever is one of the most adjustable on the market.
It includes:
3 levels of lever ratio (soft, medium, firm)
40 reach positions
7 levels of free stroke
Basically, youāre not just adjusting "where the lever sits", but how the brake itself behaves.
You can set:
how easily the brake engages
where the bite begins
how aggressively the system responds
Brembo makes it clear: the brake adapts to the rider, not the other way around.
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š„ Consistency: the real strength of GR-PRO
One of the things Brembo constantly emphasizes is consistency.
GR-PRO is designed to deliver:
the same power at the beginning and end of the descent
no fading
no performance loss at high temperatures
This is made possible by the combination of:
rigid caliper
thick discs
reinforced hoses
mineral oil with stable viscosity
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š§Ŗ The hydraulic system and pads
The hoses are steel-reinforced and have a PTFE interior, for:
minimal expansion
direct response
stability at high pressure
The brake fluid is mineral, developed internally by Brembo for thermal stability.
The pads are specially developed for the system and offer:
stronger initial bite
stable friction coefficient at high temperatures
repeatable behavior on long descents
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š Where it was tested
GR-PRO comes directly from competition:
UCI Downhill World Series
testing alongside the Specialized Gravity Team
Itās not a trail or enduro product "built up to DH", but exactly the opposite: a system born in downhill and designed for extremes.
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ā« Brembo GR-PRO
It enters completely differently:
GR-PRO doesnāt just try to be stronger.
Instead:
it treats the brake as a complete system, not individual components
offers a level of customization far above market average
places major emphasis on thermal consistency (minimal fade as a design goal)
comes directly from motorsport, not from the evolution of classic MTB
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š§¬ Conclusion
Brembo GR-PRO is not just another downhill brake.
Itās a change in approach.
Instead of optimizing what already exists, Brembo built a system where each component works together for the same result: constant control at the limit.
Or more simply put:
itās not an evolution. itās a different braking philosophy.