Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Paul E-Lever.....Bad Ass or What?

Is the Paul E-lever a badass lever compared to other cross levers?

Personally, I hate Paul levers and find them to be overrated & overpriced. I'll take a Tektro any day.

Personally, I hate Paul levers and find them to be overrated & overpriced. I'll take a Tektro any day.

Agreed. Tektro/Cane Creek are nice. I also have a set of Specialized cross levers I got a while ago that a super comfy.

Is the Paul E-lever a badass lever compared to other cross levers?

I got one for my Kilo thinking I'd be switching to risers (I got the lever w/smaller diam. clamp). Ended up liking the flop/chop bars, and rode brakeless for almost a year. Finally threw a Soma urban cross lever on the bike for the 5-boro ride (def. worth having a brake for that mayhem).

The e-lever was pricey, but I wanted as small a lever as I could find, and with a silver or brushed metal finish. I liked the aesthetic and I had the cash.

If you're going to get one, get the larger diameter clamp. It's too damn expensive if you're not sure which bars you'll end up with You can always shim it with some PBR aluminum, or a strip of inner tube.

So... I haven't mounted it yet, but it looks great. I'll get it on a bike eventually. My only concern is that the lever is too small. Having a 1-finger lever means you better not miss in an emergency situation (which is about the only time I use the brake). In practice the small lever may not be an issue, but with the Soma (or Tektro) levers you get a lot of metal to grab.

Probably not worth the money. But then again, there's a lot of bike parts for which you could say the same thing--and yet we still buy them.

Agreed. Tektro/Cane Creek are nice. I also have a set of Specialized cross levers I got a while ago that a super comfy.

For some reason that just makes me think you're putting those levers where they shouldn't belong.

I would never even consider the need to have a lever that was "super comfy" unless I was so scared I needed to have my fingers wrapped around it at all times.

I got the 1/8" track bars and the top of the bar does not have enough straightness to mount my "dirty harry lever" correctly. The clamp on the dirty harry is massive. I'll prolly have to use it on my bullhorns or something like the nitto noodle bar.

Can't decide between the Paul lever or the regular cross lever.

Anyone with the 1/8" track bar have the same problem?

I think the E-Lever is a bit weird - if in an emergency I needed to brake, I'd want more than one finger to do said braking.

However, the Paul Cross lever is awesome, and only a few bucks more.

To help you, I've made this useful infographic illustrating what's what:

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5236/goodbaduglya.jpg

I think the E-Lever is a bit weird - if in an emergency I needed to brake, I'd want more than one finger to do said braking.

However, the Paul Cross lever is awesome, and only a few bucks more.

To help you, I've made this useful infographic illustrating what's what:

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5236/goodbaduglya.jpg

What size clamp is the third option?

E-lever SUCKS. Seriously...sucks.

It's pretty hard for such an insignificant and simple part to be so crappy, but Paul managed to reach new levels of fail with this one.

Bad things about the e-lever:

1. Price

2. No hinge. Makes it a huge PITA when you switch bars or w/e. And, if you're putting it on some bullhorns you are liable to scratch the hell out of your bars trying to get it to slide on and go around the curve

3. Finish scratches easily. I had the black and silver one, but the black part has gotten really ugly (not that it matters, but for this price I have high expectations)

4. Not good at doing its job. You don't get very much leverage with it.

I think all things Paul are over priced and self important, they have survived because they are better than the other MTB Farkle (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=farkle) but that doesn't mean they are worth the extra cost. For example their Road Cranks use a Campy BB even though by their own admission everyone else uses JIS....I like their hubs but can't ever see myself blowing that kind of coin on a single never mind a set

I'm not a fan of the e-lever. I thought about it, but then I tried a similar one finger lever at the shop and didn't like it. I ended up getting one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Salsa-Cross-Levers-shims-31-8/dp/B0028MT2OS
At the shop they sold me just one so it was cheaper, but this seems pretty nice and you get shims with it

I think all things Paul are over priced and self important, they have survived because they are better than the other MTB Farkle (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=farkle) but that doesn't mean they are worth the extra cost.

They're not at all over-priced - generally speaking, when you buy American-made parts, you pay more due to the increase in labor cost. Over-priced compared to parts made in China or Taiwan, yes.

Quality-wise, there are awesome parts being made all over the world. Some people like to support American businesses, some people like to support Italian businesses, some people could care less where their stuff is made, as long as the product they buy meets their expectations. That's the beauty of the world we live in.

I pulled the trigger and got a set of cane creek cross lever along with a tiagra front caliper. With the money saved I also bought the pedro trixie tool.

They're not at all over-priced - generally speaking, when you buy American-made parts, you pay more due to the increase in labor cost. Over-priced compared to parts made in China or Taiwan, yes.

Quality-wise, there are awesome parts being made all over the world. Some people like to support American businesses, some people like to support Italian businesses, some people could care less where their stuff is made, as long as the product they buy meets their expectations. That's the beauty of the world we live in.


I agree that Paul's makes some quality parts but like much in the MTB world the mark up is a bit steep compared to like quality parts in say the BMX world it has always been this way and probably always will be because the market supports it. I support the made in the USA market when I can, my primary recreation is skateboarding...I buy trucks and wheel made in the USA. My boards are all made by small local builders. their product is better and cheaper than mass produced boards. Bearings are a near impossibility because there just aren't any quality bearing manu's that can compete at the quality and price point as the imports....sad that (anyone know for sure that CrisKing headsets use made in the USA bearings?). It really does depend on what you are looking for and what you are willing to spend and on that I believe we both agree

Personally, I think the Paul-E lever is bad...and ass, not bad ass though.

It does not have hinges and it is expensive....

Anyone have experience with one of these?
154529

I've got an E-lever, and I like it enough. Not worth the money, but it's a damn good looking lever. And despite the fact that it feels a little chincy, has never failed me.
If you've got the cash and want your brake lever to be baller lookin', go for it. Otherwise, it's wildly overpriced..

salsa owns.

Anyone have experience with one of these?
154529

Seriously? It is ridiculous how many people mount that lever upside down.

WoundedKnee, it doesn't look like it's upside down. Other bikes I've seen it on the other side of the stem, so the long lever goes in front of the stem, so you can reach both levers adequately...

That's upside down. The bolt belongs on the bottom.

but that's common sense

I am using Salsa Halter Top Levers. Pretty decent. A little too big compared to E-levers, but it will fit 31.8mm bars. That's good for me.

but that's common sense

Oh yeah, nevermind. It's perfect.

That's upside down. The bolt belongs on the bottom.

Not just the bolt , but the longer lever be on the other side.

That's upside down. The bolt belongs on the bottom.

Ah, ok. Thanks for clearing it up for me Scrod. Didn't notice that! =)