TRP: Dash Carbon Disc

A one-piece forged alloy caliper and 20.9mm composite pistons (which offer better heat resistance) give the Dash a smart look, and titanium hardware and carbon levers minimize weight. Along with a tool-free reach adjuster, an on-the-fly "power adjuster" alters leverage ratio to go from strong to ultrapucker (TRP claims a 20 percent variation). Our testers ran the brakes near full power and felt they retained a great deal of modulation with grand stopping ability. One consideration: Lever reach changes slightly as you adjust power. (www.bicycling.com)

Avid: Elixir 3

The newest addition to Avid's Elixir family is also the most affordable. The popular TaperBore design found on previous Elixir models is used on the 3, but a new pivot assembly makes accessing the 3mm lever-reach-adjustment bolt easier. Internally, the TaperBore master cylinder is structurally the same as on the Elixir 5, as is lever-pivot placement and geometry, but an allnew two-piece caliper has more-direct porting for easier bleeds. It also has more mass, so it's a better heat sink for less fade. However, this added mass means the Elixir 3 is heavier than other Elixir models. Feel at the lever is similar to higher-priced Elixir models, but initial power comes more softly. In fact, the stock organic pads give the Elixir 3 a lessaggressive feel overall than the Elixirs that come with sintered metal pads. Those looking for more raw power (large or aggressive riders, in particular) should swap to metal pads, go up a rotor size, or both. Bonus: The Elixir's toploading design makes swapping pads a simple task.--Ron Koch (www.bicycling.com)

Magura: Louise Carbon Bat

The Louise is Magura's do-everything brake: It's about 100 grams heavier per wheel than the company's Marta but has more features and can absorb more heat before performance is affected. One key feature is the adjustable hose fitting on the caliper: Some suspension bikes have challenging rear hose routing, and we found the 45 degrees of tool-free angular adjustment tremendously helpful for cleaning things up. Though we have a quibble with the shape of the lever--it's a bit narrow and the hook could be more pronounced--the Louise feels fabulous. The lever feel bares a strong resemblance to the Marta. It responds with a very light touch and glides through its stroke until it reaches a cushioned stop. Our only other gripe: Feedback could be better. Sometimes, the lever feels disconnected from what's happening at the ground. The power doesn't hit hard initially, making these brakes feel less powerful than they actually are. But they modulate wonderfully through the meat of the stroke.--Matt Phillips (www.bicycling.com)

Formula RX: Brake review

Formula only recently rolled out the RX, a more-affordable version of its lightweight R1. Weight, however, is still a respectable 351 grams (compared with the 272 grams of the R1). Even more impressive is the power at hand. Whether the trail dips gradually or loses elevation in short, steep bursts, these stoppers deliver smooth, consistent control that is above average for trail brakes with 160mm rotors. The lever is comfortable with very little slop, and provides a good feel for the brake's excellent modulation. Setup was a snap, aided by a two-bolt handlebar clamp. The RX comes with organic pads that give reliable performance on dry trails but suffer in the rain or on steeper descents. Anyone living in wet areas or places with bundles of vertical terrain should opt for the sintered/metallic pads. Also, the RX has few additional features--there's no contact-point adjustment, for example. But then again, this is a simple, effective, relatively lightweight brake at a good price.--Lou Mazzante (www.bicycling.com)