Formula have a new flagship mountain brake, the RO, but its predecessor still offers amazing power and control-to-weight ratio for those who can afford it and are prepared to look after it.
The R1 cross-country brake master cylinder helps The One come in under 400g, even with an oversized calliper, so it’s ideal for trail or enduro downhill use. The big pistons and pads give huge amounts of power. Rein it in though, and the softly-squeezed modulation gives fantastic fingertip control in the sketchiest traction conditions.
Bedding in with the sintered pads is quick and they last well in wet conditions, but the small bolts and internals need more TLC than most. Formula rotors and mounts are very expensive, but with modular selling, you can buy the brake alone for £229 and use your old hardware.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
