Magura USA 7.R Disc Brake Pad Gold, Race Compound

If you've got a featherweight XC rig because you need speed on singletrack rather than bling on the tailgate, then Magura's 7. R Disc Brake Pad-designed for use with two-piston calipers-is the obvious choice for stopping needs. Its robust bite means that you'll never have to touch the brakes until you absolutely have to scrub speed, letting you carry as much momentum as possible with the confidence that, when the time comes, you'll be able to feather just enough off the top to limit the need to mash out of corners. The 7. R features Magura's R (Race) compound, which begins with a resin base which is reinforced with suspended brass particles. The result is loud(-ish), sure, but it grabs the rotor with the same existential urgency with which we grab the brakes when we realize an upcoming rollover is less of a log-drop and more of a yawning precipice. As for the noise and increased rotor wear, this is a decidedly race-oriented pad (hence "Race"), so we're okay with it.