Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - tektro brake levers

anyone using the R200A brake levers? i'm putting together another work horse commuter fixed gear bike for winter/foul weather training and commuting, and need some solid brake levers. i tend to ride on the hoods quite a bit, and these look a lot like campy 10-sp levers, which is what i prefer on the road bike. any quality issues to be aware of before i order. they're $21, so its not a huge purchase, i just dont want to be ordering junk. thanks for the help/advice.

http://www.universalcycles.com/images//products/medium/6623.jpg

theyre fine.

theyre fine.

Pretty sure the stock levers on my Maddy are the exact same ones, just not labled Tektro, they are really great levers. Now the brake calipers are another story, although the calipers work just as well as the levers the hardware must be substandard material as they started to rust even though my bike has never ever seen foul weather and is stored in a clean dry place along with all my other bikes which have zero rust on any parts.

I got these for my bike ... my hands are on the smaller side, so I would have preferred the R100A myself, but these work great and are comfortable to ride on the hoods.

I got these for my bike ... my hands are on the smaller side, so I would have preferred the R100A myself, but these work great and are comfortable to ride on the hoods.

Yeah, these came on 2 of my bikes, but I changed them for Cane Creek compact levers, because like you I have small hands. So, I have two pairs of unused Tektro R200 levers if anyone wants them. PM me if interested. Also, i have a 120mm 1-1/8 x 25.4 stem.

They are not much more, and feel WAAAY better in the hands.

More road bike geek style (of which I am) than SS/FG but I would get SRAM levers way before Tektro/Cane Creek
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0042
http://www.bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/sram-brake-levers-interbike09-1.jpg

R200 and R100 are discontinued, but they're now available in a slightly modified design, similar to current generation shimano levers and are called RL340 and RL341

the texture on the rubber hood does wear out eventually, not that other levers don't have this problem.

The Cane Creeks have little raised salamander patterns on the hoods that make them more grippy and comfy IMO. The rubber itself feels a bit softer than the Tektros.

R200 and R100 are discontinued, but they're now available in a slightly modified design, similar to current generation shimano levers and are called RL340 and RL341

the texture on the rubber hood does wear out eventually, not that other levers don't have this problem.

i think tektro has been copying the campagnolo shape.



They are not much more, and feel WAAAY better in the hands.
More road bike geek style (of which I am) than SS/FG but I would get SRAM levers way before Tektro/Cane Creek
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0042
http://www.bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/sram-brake-levers-interbike09-1.jpg

http://velospace.org/files/20100630-CRW_8522-Edit.jpg

http://velospace.org/files/20091123-20091123-CRW_6290.jpg

i agree.

I just got the R200, and installed em. Comfortable enough for me! Will post pics soon.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii266/squeegeesunny/DSCN9479.jpg

The 900s are about $100, the 500s about $75. Quite a bit more than the $20 the OP was willing to pay for the Tektros so I doubt he is in the market for these.

I can say however that 900s are very nice. I bought them for my SS and I love them.

I like them. But the SRAMs look good as well.

Just thru some RL520 (http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=10&sortname=Cyclocross&sort=2&fid=3)s on with Avid Shorty6s (http://www.sram.com/avid/products/shorty-6-rim-brake).
Feels good, man.

The 900s are about $100, the 500s about $75. Quite a bit more than the $20 the OP was willing to pay for the Tektros so I doubt he is in the market for these.

I can say however that 900s are very nice. I bought them for my SS and I love them.

The link I posted had them yesterday in stock for $48 free ship/no tax and with an extra 10% off (good till 10/28 "EXTRA10", they could have been had for $44. They are out of stock now.

the tektros are fine. I've run them on several bikes; they're actually a very nice design (even if it is a hack).

I'd buy them again.

the tektros are fine. I've run them on several bikes; they're actually a very nice design (even if it is a hack).

I'd buy them again.

Kiss my ass. :thumb:


(I am referring to the username)

got em my the xcheck, and they're nice and comfy..that being said, SRAM's ergonomics are second to none and i'll most likely pick up a set of their ss ones in the future.

Those were the ones that came stock with my paddy wagon; used them for awhile before I threw bullhorns on. Quality is not an issue; they are in fact more sturdy and comfortable as they look. Solid.

(I am referring to the username)

Whatever are you referring to? My name means "I Love Bicycles" in Takrit, my native language.

?

the tektros are fine. I've run them on several bikes; they're actually a very nice design (even if it is a hack).

I'd buy them again.

+1.

thousands of miles on a set. hoods are still solid, action crisp as day 1...logo has largely worn from the blade. boo hoo...

i should update this, i did order a set (wish i would have seen your post earlier Tejano, would have def bought yours...) but i really like them, thanks for all of the advice.

The Tektro levers are Campy knockoffs, and they work great with my Campy brakes.

the newer RL340/341 is a better product, IMO.

Here is a comparison of the shorter reach levers, R100 and RL341.
older model is similar to campy, but the newer levers look more like sram or shimano levers.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison01.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison01.jpg)http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison02.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison02.jpg)http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison03.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison03.jpg)http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison04.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison04.jpg)

Just thru some RL520 (http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=10&sortname=Cyclocross&sort=2&fid=3)s on with Avid Shorty6s (http://www.sram.com/avid/products/shorty-6-rim-brake).
Feels good, man.

wait... you're using aero levers designed for V-brakes with a cantilever brake?
usually that gives some pretty poor leverage. It's supposed to be either RL520 with V-brakes, or some regular road levers with the cantilevers.

did a nice long ride today on the fixed gear bike with the new levers. it was a beautiful fall day, the kind where i leave behind the cyclocomputer, forget about mileage, speed and time.

i must say, i am amazed at the quality of these brake levers for the ~20 i paid for them. they feel very sturdy and well made, the hood shape is very close to the old gen 10-sp campy levers i'm used to, and the reach to the levers is a non-issue with the bars i'm using.

the sram ones do look nice, but these are an excellent option for anyone looking for a low cost aero brake lever. i highly recommend them.

thanks for all of the recommendations, advice and comments, happy riding all!

the newer RL340/341 is a better product, IMO.

Here is a comparison of the shorter reach levers, R100 and RL341.
older model is similar to campy, but the newer levers look more like sram or shimano levers.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison01.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison01.jpg)http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison02.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison02.jpg)http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison03.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison03.jpg)http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/th_tektrolevercomparison04.jpg (http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/bike%20parts/tektrolevercomparison04.jpg)

Nice photos (just the sort I was looking for).

Do the 340's have similar cable pull compared to the 200's? Are the tolerances any better?

Nice photos (just the sort I was looking for).

Do the 340's have similar cable pull compared to the 200's? Are the tolerances any better?

feels the same. They're supposed to have a slightly different pull ratio, just like the new shimano 5700, 6700 and 7900 levers and brakes, but it's not unworkable.

i have the older campy long pull versions and i really like them. of course, the sram are nicer but they're also five times the cost.