FSA K-Force and Afterburner disc brakes introduced

FSA K-Force and Afterburner disc brakes introduced

Cross-country and trail riding versions

The K-Force brake will be FSA's top-end disc model. It's expected to be available in early 2014

Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Josh Patterson

The K-Force brake will be FSA's top-end disc model. It's expected to be available in early 2014 - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Contact point adjustment is made using the red knob located to the right of the FSA K-Force brake lever - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The red dial behind the brake lever adjusts the reach of the FSA K-Force disc brake - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The FSA K-Force brake uses a carbon brake lever - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
FSA will offer the K-Force disc brake with a two-peice rotor - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The FSA K-Force caliper is constructed from cast magnesium. Titanium hardware is used to keep the weight in check - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Afterburner is the more affordable 'trail' brake in FSA's new brake line. It will be available early next year - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Like the K-Force brake, the FSA Afterburner comes with contact point adjustment - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The black knob behind the brake lever adjusts the reach on the FSA Afterburner brake - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The FSA Afterburner disc brake lacks the titanium hardware found on the K-Force - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The FSA Afterburner brake uses an alloy brake lever - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

FSA is poised to enter the mountain bike disc brake market early next year. The component manufacturer views disc brakes as a natural extension of its cockpit offerings, and plans to offer two models that fit into the company’s existing cross-country (K-Force) and trail (Afterburner) component groups.

The K-Force brake will sell for US$369 per wheel, while the Afterburner brake will cost US$289. UK pricing is yet to be announced, and availability is expected to be early next year. Click through the image gallery, right, for detailed images of the two new discs.

Shared features include tool-free reach stroke/contact and reach adjust. The new brakes will come with front- and rear-specific hoses, presumably to balance modulation between the front and rear models. Both the K-Force and Afterburner will use mineral oil.

The k-force brake will be the fsa's top-end disc brake. it is expected to be available in early 2014: the k-force brake will be the fsa's top-end disc brake. it is expected to be available in early 2014 - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Claimed individual wheel weight for the K-Force is approximately 300g

To keep the weight in check, the top-end K-Force brake uses a carbon brake lever and titanium hardware. The more affordable Afterburner will come with an alloy brake lever and steel hardware.

For more information on FSA products see www.fullspeedahead.com.

Josh Patterson

Contributor

Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2025