Rating: 8/10
The HS33s have been around for a while now, during their life the've seen the introduction of V brakes and more recently discs and yet they still hav quite a following. This in in no small part to the trials community who still swear by them, preferring the more direct and controllable feel to those offered by discs.
The HS 33 Greens are the latest incarnation from MAGURA. If you've never used hydraulic rim brakes the feeling can be a bit ood. The lever feels like a hydraulic disc does, no surprise, with a consistent feel that is not susceptible to the dirty cable related loss of power that Vs can suffer from. Obviously there are the drawbacks of any rim brake; get the rim wet or dirty and power drops and you get that horrid grit on rim sound, but if you don't have disc mounts then that's a moot point.
In terms of out and out power the HS33s are incredible. They come with boosters for a reason,even with them attached it is possible to see the seatstays flex. It's good to know that all that power is easily controllable though with the brake offering good modulation throughout the lever stroke. While we're talking about it they are comfortable levers to use, not too thin and they let you know what's going on at the end of the hose.
The pad wear adjuster is a feature that is especially useful in wet weather where regular pads seem to disappear at a quicker than expected rate. The et weather pads last a lot longer and performed just as well.
Weight wise they don't lose out by much to a set XTR V's, weighing in at 460g, but for most people who are running these, weight won't be that much of an issue and dependable low maintenance brakes will be. Indeed these brake have a five year leakproof warranty.
Discs may rule the roost but if you don't have disc mounts then the HS33's are what you need to bolt on. Just remember the boosters.
The HS 33's get the SINGLETRACK RECOMMENDED DISTINCTION.
The MAGURA hydraulic rim brakes are more powerful than Vs, slightly lighter than discs and very durable.
Now that trials frames can cope with the awesome power of MAGURA brakes, the stopping expert has upped the ante by renovating its HS 33 design. The original HS 33, as used by Martyn Ashton, worked well but was fiddly to set up and offered bugger all mud clearance for those wanting to partake in more natural trials or off-roading.
Instead of having the bright yellow brace on the front, and the fiddly connection for taking wheels off, the brace is now at the rear of the brake; this allows the brake to "locate" into the brace, rather than being "sandwiched" in as before, and you only have to flip the quick release lever to remove it.
The lever blades feel similar in action, but the pad adjuster is now integrated into the lever. The cable also comes straight out (not in line with the handlebars), so that a more direct route is possible, allowing for much shorter cables to be used.
At last, the classic MAGURAs have been revamped - a damned good excuse for all you trial riders to go and spank £124 on a set...
MBUK verdict: 8/10 - A great new look to a classic brake - well worth a look.
If you're after the ultimate in rim based braking power, MAGURA's HS 33 use full hydraulics for superb dry conditions modulations and reliability.
WMB verdict: Fantastic feel and power as long as your rims are clean. MAGURA's hydraulic rim brakes are the ace of anchors. Performance 10/10, Value 9/10.
WMB GOLD CHOICE
The HS 33 is a closed-system hydraulic rim brake that pumps no corrosive mineral oil through a hose form the levers to the callipers. Adjustment is via a disal on the lever that lets you tune the reach of the lever. It's also used for counteracting brake pump.
Operating on a closed system, the brakes can heat up under heavy use, but these are probably the most powerful rim brakes on the planet.
Everyone raved about V-brakes and discs, but after using both I Knew neither was right for me. Then my buddy Pete talked me into a set of HS 33 Race-line hydraulics, and I can't thank him enough.
They're smooth as silk and have enough power to bring a freight train to a screeching halt. Their ease of maintenance and buttery feel blow V-brakes right out of the water, and their weight advantage over disc brakes makes them number one in my book.
