Review: Lewis LHT Brakes
Lewis Brakes, hailing from the ever-evolving landscape of boutique component manufacturers is attempting to carve out a space in the high performance brake market.
Their flagship LHT brake system is designed to handle the rigors of eMTB and gravity riding, promising premium performance in a refined, heat-resistant package. With a price tag hovering around R9000 (before rotors) and a feature set that nods to some of the best in the business, we spent time on the trails putting the LHTs through their paces to see how they stack up.
The Tech
The LHT is the brand’s top-of-the-range system, positioned as a direct competitor to heavy-hitters like the mighty SRAM Maven and reliable AF, Shimano XT. They also look remarkably identical to the Trickstuff Maxima with many alleging Lewis has simply reverse engineered the brakes. I’m not going to dive deeper into the ethics of this, but I do have strong feelings about this that I might lean into, in a dedicated article, at some stage.
The LHT is built around a 4-piston caliper design with titanium pistons housed inside ceramic inserts to improve thermal efficiency and braking performance on long runs. The system is paired with metallic pads, which conveniently share compatibility with both Hope and Galfer offerings, making aftermarket tuning and availability a non-issue. The lever body rotates on four bearings, giving a smooth actuation and premium tactile response, although the aesthetics of the lever design may not be to everyone’s taste – it’s a bit bulky and doesn’t quite match the desirable visuals of other brakes or the LHT calipers.
Weighing in at 310g for the rear brake (with hose, without rotor), the LHT system is in the same ballpark as Shimano XT and is a shade lighter than the SRAM Maven. That said, when you factor in the 2.3mm thick, 203mm Lewis rotors (which weigh a hefty 280g), the complete system ends up heavier than the SRAM Maven option, by around 92 grams for a complete set. A three-year warranty, SRAM Matchmaker and Shimano I-Spec clamp compatibility, and comprehensive online resources from Lewis round out a very polished finished product.
Ride Impressions
Adjustability
One of the most thoughtful features of the LHT system is its leverage adjust function. Using a 2.5mm Torx, riders can dial in how aggressively the brake ramps up power – ranging from a soft initial bite with progressive power, to a harder and more instant response. It’s a subtle but effective way to tune the braking characteristics to personal preference or trail conditions. After bracket testing the progression tune and trying the middle setting, I resorted to running the brakes in the most progressive / powerful setting – for me, anything else was just too weak and squishy. The LHT also offers tool-free lever reach adjust and a tool operated bite point adjustment. Overall, there’s a lot of adjustability on offer with the Lewis LHT brakes.
Power & Performance
The big question: do they stop like top-tier brakes should? In a word – almost. While they are far off the raw power of the SRAM Mavens, I do think they are in the same league as SRAM Codes, Shimano XT, Hayes Dominion and TRP DHR-Evo. The braking feel is consistent, I never had to contend with bite point float or brake fade. Even on long, relatively brake-heavy descents, I didn’t experience any noticeable fade, which likely speaks to the effectiveness of the heat-isolating ceramic pistons and thick rotors. On one of the test rides, I swapped the Lewis rotors out for a set of SRAM HS2 rotors which had the desired effect of adding more immediate bite to the braking characteristics.
Lever Feel
Here’s where personal preference comes into play. The lever shape is pretty standard, neither especially ergonomic nor offensive, but I did find that during wet or sweaty rides, there was a slight tendency for my finger to slip or slide off the lever. In fact, riding without gloves on a wet or sweaty day with these levers is not an option, for me at least. A more hooked, thinner or slightly textured blade would go a long way here. Or good ol grip tape.
In terms of feel, lever resistance is pretty light, especially in the freestroke, though not quite as featherlight as on the Hayes Dominion. Once engaged, the Lewis LHT’s offer the familiar resistance and modulation you’d find on most other brakes.
Installation & Maintenance
Lewis ships the LHT with all required hardware and tools, making the install process smooth. The bike shop that installed the brakes for me did comment that the installation and bleed process was not complicated. Also it’s worth noting the online documentation on the Lewis website offers detailed instructions and support.
Verdict
While the overall lever aesthetics and blade ergonomics could use refinement – and the rotor weight might deter gram counters – the overall build quality and performance are not shabby. For riders who want something different but still demand race-ready performance, the LHT offers a compelling blend of adjustability and reliability. //
| IMAGES: Chris Taylor |