Lewis AX Brakeset - Serious stoppers or just another brake company?

Lewis AX Brakeset – 3 Month Review

There have been a few rumblings about the Lewis brake brand lately, and after having good experiences with the LHTs on multiple shop bikes, I was keen to see what their latest offering was all about.

When I saw the AX brakes featuring huge pistons and promises of massive stopping power, I had to give them a go—especially on an e-bike where brake performance really matters.

For reference, I'm around 90kg and have been running the brakes with 220mm front and 200mm rear Galfer wave rotors.

My first impressions? They were... okay.

I could tell there was serious power hiding in these brakes, but they just didn't seem to have enough bite from the supplied pads. The power was there, but it wasn't translating to the trail in a way that inspired confidence. After a few more rides things actually felt worse, so I reached out to the distributor and they quickly sent out a different pad compound to try.

What a difference.

The new pads completely transformed the brakes and changed my opinion almost overnight. Initial bite improved dramatically, the stopping feel became much more positive, and all of a sudden that hidden power was easy to access. Better still, they retained plenty of modulation, making it easy to control speed without feeling overly grabby.

Lever feel is another highlight. There's very little breakaway force required, giving the brakes a light and responsive feel at the lever while still delivering all the power you could need once things get steep.

In terms of outright stopping power, I'd say the Lewis AX is on par with, if not slightly better than, SRAM Mavens. That's impressive company to be keeping given how highly regarded the Mavens are for powerful trail and e-bike applications.

Reliability has been solid throughout the test period. The rear brake required a single bleed over the three to four months of testing, but aside from that they've been trouble-free. Noise has also been minimal, even in wet conditions where many powerful brakes can become frustratingly loud (I'm looking at you Sram :/ )

The other thing Lewis has nailed is the aesthetics. The machined levers look fantastic, and those massive calipers mean business. While they're available in black, the raw alloy silver finish is the standout for me. It looks premium, stands out from the sea of black brakes on the market and gives any bike a unique, high-end appearance.

The Verdict

With the correct pad compound fitted, the Lewis AX brakes have been seriously impressive. They offer huge stopping power, excellent modulation, a refined lever feel and reliability that has so far been hard to fault.

If you're looking for a brake that can comfortably handle aggressive trail riding, enduro racing or e-bike duties, the Lewis AX deserves a spot on your shortlist. Once paired with the right pads, they've proven to be one of the most powerful and confidence-inspiring brake systems I've ridden.