KTM, Husqvarna and Gas Gas Front Brake and Clutch Levers Explained
This one comes up at least once a week in the AS3 office, whether it’s an enquiry or a customer has mistakenly ordered the incorrect parts, so we thought we would do a feature on it and take a deep dive in to the Brembo? Magura? Braktec? question that is so often asked due to frequent changes of these levers on the various years and models of the KTM, Husqvarna and Gas Gas motocross and enduro bikes.
KTM Front Brake & Clutch Levers
We’ll start with the easy one first, as the current KTM clutch and brake lever set up has remained the same Brembo levers from 2016-2025 on all motocross and enduro bikes. However, if you go further back you will find that the KTM models have always used a Brembo front brake. From 2005-2013 the Brembo front brake lever features a claw style lever that holds the plunger that goes in to the master cylinder in place. This was replaced by a new style Brembo front brake lever in 2014 which is still used now on the 2025 models.
All KTM models came with a Magura clutch up until 2006, when a Brembo clutch was introduced for the 250, 300, 350, 400 and 530 SX, SX-F, XC, XC-F, EXC and EXC-F models. The 125, 200 and 525 remained on Magura until 2008 and in 2009 a new style Magura lever was introduced for the 125 and 200 models, which was then discontinued in 2015 for the SX models and 2016 for the EXC and XC-W models. This new Magura lever was also used on the 450 SX-F between 2009-2012, before switching to Brembo in 2013. Previously, the 450 SX-F used the old style Magura lever between 2005-2008. The 450 EXC used the same old style Magura lever between 2005-2007, before switching to Brembo in 2008.
Husqvarna Front Brake & Clutch Levers
The Husqvarna brand was purchased by KTM in 2014 and just like KTM, their 250cc-501cc motocross and enduro bikes came as standard with a Brembo front brake and Brembo clutch which made things easy. This remained the same up until 2015 for the motocross models and 2016 for the enduro models. The TC 125 and TE 125 had a Brembo brake and Magura clutch for those years. In 2016 the motocross models switched to the same Brembo brake and Magura clutch set up which remained in place until 2021, apart from the TC 250 which made the switch in 2017, along with the TE and FE models, plus the brand new TX 300 and FX 350 and FX 450 models. In 2018 the first Magura front brake appeared on the Husqvarna enduro and cross country models, which remained on these bikes up until and including the 2021 models, at which point it was discontinued and not used again by Husqvarna.
2022 saw the introduction of the Braktec front brake and clutch levers on the Husqvarna enduro bikes, which remained in place for 2023 and 2024. In 2022 the motocross and cross country models switched back to the Brembo Brake and Brembo clutch and still currently have this set up on the 2025 bikes. The enduro and cross country models also switched back to all Brembo in 2025, all apart from the FE 501 which randomly kept the Braktec clutch and has a Brembo front brake. Also, just in case that wasn’t confusing enough, in 2023 Husqvarna released the TX 300, FX 350 and FX 450 with both Brembo and Braktec brakes and clutch, the Braktec versions can be found listed on the Husqvarna parts finder as TX 300 BT, FX 350 BT and FX 450 BT.
Gas Gas Front Brake & Clutch Levers
In 2021, when Gas Gas was acquired by KTM, the first of the new era of Gas Gas enduro bikes came with Braktec brakes and clutch as standard, which still remain in place now for the 2025 models. The motocross models came with Brembo brakes and clutch when first introduced in 2021 and that remained the same up until and including 2023. In 2024, the MC (motocross) and EX (cross country) models switched to the same Braktec levers as the EC (enduro) bikes and that also carried over to 2025 apart from the EX250F and EX350F, which had a Braktec front brake and Brembo clutch for 2024-2025. Just like Husqvarna, Gas Gas also caused some confusion in 2023, by releasing the motocross and cross country models with both Brembo and Braktec levers, again the Braktec versions of these bikes can be identified on the Gas Gas OEM parts finder with ‘BT’ after the model.
Factory Editions, Rockstar Editions and Pro Models
Hopefully you’re still following all of this and if you are you’re doing well! However, just to add more confusion in to the mix, we’re going to take a look at the special edition models. All of the information listed above is correct, except if you own one of the Factory Edition, Rock Star Edition or Pro models, all of which have different brakes and clutch to the standard models. The Husqvarna TE 300 Rockstar Edition’s all use Brembo brakes and clutch which is the same for the TE 300 Pro and the FE 350 Pro. The Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition has a Brembo front brake and Magura clutch from 2018-2020 and a Brembo front brake and Brembo clutch from 2021-2025. The Gas MC 450 F Factory Edition has a Brembo front brake and clutch between 2022-2024, but in 2025 switched to a Braktec front brake and Brembo clutch, as does the MC 250 F Factory Edition. The 2025 MC 450 F Prado Edition however remains as both Brembo.
Which Other Bikes Use Brembo, Magura and Braktec Levers?
Brembo are probably the most commonly used levers of the three, with Brembo clutch levers also appearing on Beta, Triumph, Sherco and TM motocross and enduro bikes. Their front brake levers also feature on Sherco, AJP, TM and more recently Kawasaki with the 2024-2025 KX 450 now coming as standard with a Brembo front brake. We have also just developed a set of brake levers for the Stark Varg electric bike, which features a brand new Brembo rear hand brake lever. Magura clutch levers can also be found on the 2018-2020 Gas Gas enduro bikes and the 2021-2025 Rieju enduro bikes. The only other bikes that we have seen to have a similar Braktec master cylinder is the clutch side on the 2024 KTM 690 models and the 2023-2024 Gas Gas ES 700 and SM 700, however the lever looks considerably different to our motocross and enduro lever.
Need Help With Your Front Brake & Clutch Levers?
If you have any questions about the front brake and clutch lever on your KTM, Husqvarna, Gas Gas or any other motorcycle, feel free to get in touch and we will be happy to help. We know from experience that over time, master cylinders can get chopped, changed and swapped around for various reasons and once a bike has changed hands a few times, it’s easy to assume that what is on it is standard, but it’s not always the case. We offer brake and clutch levers, brake lines, clutch hoses, repair kits and reservoir covers for a wide range of motocross, enduro and trail bikes, so hopefully we can supply what you need.
