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SOC13: First Look – FSA’s New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

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SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

After a pair of prototype brakes were spotted on a Feenstra Felt p/b Kenda team bike, FSA surprised everyone by announcing that they were going to enter into the world of hydraulic disc brakes for mountain bikes. What was their motivation to enter into a completely new category? Well, according to FSA Engineering Manager Herb Tai, disc brakes are still within the control system and are simply a natural progression to their component line. Herb also mentioned that they have been working with a few suppliers that aren’t necessarily in the bicycle industry, like the auto industry, that have highly developed process controls that will result in the highest quality final product.

According to FSA, the brakes on display were generation 3, version 5 with production versions coming soon but likely version 7 or 8 which will probably be for model year 2015. Check out the all-new K-Force and Afterburner brakes after the break!

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

Designed for XC and XC racing, the K-Force will slot in with the rest of FSA’s high end carbon parts. Target weight for the carbon lever equipped K-Force is sub 300 grams per wheel including a one piece rotor. While there have been a few comparisons to Avid’s brakes thanks to the lever shape, there are very few similarities especially due to the fact that FSA’s brakes will run on Mineral Oil.

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

FSA is working on both one piece and two piece rotors – 140 and 160mm for the K-Force, and up to 180mm for the Afterburner. Designed with threaded bleed ports, ease of bleeding is high on the list of priorities for the final product. Even though this is FSA’s first hydraulic disc brake design, they want it to be a contender right out of the box. In addition to wanting the brake to be perfect, FSA plans to have all of the support materials ready at the time of the launch whether it’s a bleed kit, spare part, or instructional video on how to bleed the brakes.

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

The Afterburner is aimed towards the Trail/Enduro market with an alloy lever blade and slightly bigger rotors. Both the K-Force and Afterburner brakes are to be “feature rich” with tool free lever adjustment and free stroke adjustment.

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

Dual bolt split clamps will make lever positioning as easy as possible, though no word yet on any Matchmaker or iSpec style shifter integration clamps.

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

Each brake will feature top loading pads that are held in place with a threaded pin.

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

If you’re looking for a new pair of gloves to go with your new brakes, Gravity has a new summer glove out that looks quite breathable. Thanks to the precurved palm and fingers, grip on the bar is accomplished without bunching of the material and the index finger is touch screen compatible.

SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes SOC13: First Look - FSA's New K-Force and Afterburner Disc Brakes

Elsewhere in the FSA product line, SLK carbon seatposts will soon be offered with an internal Di2 battery mount option. The carbon posts will include a bonded in aluminum insert which will hold the battery allowing for plug and play use of Di2’s stealth juice pack.

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Steve M
Steve M
10 years ago

Like the banjo fittings at the caliper. Gives you options on hose routing.

Jethro
Jethro
10 years ago

Looks nice but they really need to lose the red-white-black color scheme; super dated.

rosey
rosey
10 years ago

will their support materials include the phone number of the warranty dept for when these break on the third ride. i’ll never buy an fsa product with moving parts ever again.

Fredrick
Fredrick
10 years ago

love the single finger braking photo.
1 the hand is not even close to the shift levers
2 hand is not on the grip
3 lever is shaped like an Avid lever with means you don’t single finger you ham fist that lever!

On the plus side, i trust FSA more than i can trust TRP after working on and using them

estecalle
estecalle
10 years ago

Full Stop Ahead

Greg
Greg
10 years ago

hoses should be on the right side of calipers.
other than that, we’ll wait and see. historically, FSA does an okay job, but they never hit a home run.

chsad
chsad
10 years ago

+1 on FSA warranty. Not all that impressed. The Avid look would lead some to to think Avid quality…

Jeroen
Jeroen
10 years ago

I find it rather ironic that a company called Full Speed Ahead is going to market a brake… Not the best combination of naming and product placement 🙂

Smokestack
Smokestack
10 years ago

Like the idea of a new player on the market to take on the big boys, especially when they come out with a good looking brake, but those gloves look like the Answer XC gloves got beat up with a highlighter.

rayy
rayy
10 years ago

ALU-bolts (anodized) to hold the caliper in place?
Really?

Sideburnz
Sideburnz
10 years ago

@rosey: Not sure why you’d want that phone number. it’s bad enough having a broken part without listening to FSA’s customer service blame you for their defective products.

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