Bicycle Mechanics - are these brake levers useable with cantilevers and v-brakes?

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/BL/EV-BL-M570-1775B_v1_m56577569830608735.pdf

i'm using them with v-brakes at the minute but have a pair of cantilevers that are nearly brand new for another bike and gonna swap them if they fit. save me buying a new set of v-brakes:)

in case the link doesnt work, they are shimano deore m570 with the L-H power adjuster thing:)

No, just V-brakes, you will find that brake levers are Canti or V, none do both.

No, just V-brakes, you will find that brake levers are Canti or V, none do both.

Some do both, but they should specify that they do. For instance, the Tektro MT2.1 levers: http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?d=single&item_id=TK-MT11 have a block that changes the cable attachment from less travel/more leverage (i.e. cantilever) to more travel/less leverage (V-brake). The Avid levers also have adjustable leverage- I have them on a couple bikes which have sidepull brakes on the front and V-brakes on the rear. The Avid levers work great in this application.

No, just V-brakes, you will find that brake levers are Canti or V, none do both.

actually some do both, tektro and shimano i know for sure do make them

Ok, Lets add no Shimano do both (preparing to be proved wrong again)

Ok, Lets add no Shimano do both (preparing to be proved wrong again)

Nope- I've never seen a Shimano lever that "goes both ways". :)

If I'm not mistaken, those levers have adjustable mechanical advantage which should allow them to be used with V-brakes or cantis.

I bought a bike with cantis and V-brake levers. It took me a while to figure out why my braking was so weak. However, with proper setup, Kool Stop pads (installed by the PO) and a strong hand I could lift the rear wheel with the front brake. So even if they aren't ideal for cantis they may still be acceptable.

Nope- I've never seen a Shimano lever that "goes both ways". :)

yes with the cheapo rapid fire plus ones. ef50 or 51. something like that. usually on the aftermarket ones. gotta move the plastic block to change leverage ratio

As previously stated, Tektro makes a pair of levers that works on both canti's and linear pull brakes [ model number RT354AG and MT2.1 ].
As far as I know Shimano does not make such a lever [ as they would not be able to sell you a different lever if they did ].

As previously stated, Tektro makes a pair of levers that works on both canti's and linear pull brakes [ model number RT354AG and MT2.1 ].
As far as I know Shimano does not make such a lever [ as they would not be able to sell you a different lever if they did ].

Yes, Shimano does make such an animal. I can't find a link to them at the moment, but I sold several models of bikes that were so equipped. They had a red plastic block that had to be removed and flipped over to switch between the two settings. Quite a few of the bikes with roller brakes had them and I reset some of them to long reach to suit customer preference.
Also check out Avid Speed Dial.

Here ya go. It's the Nexus levers.
http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/BL/EV-BL-IM65-2245_v1_m56577569830608730.pdf
Look down the left column under Mode Position.
http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Nexus/ShiftLever/SI_6JB0A/SI-6JB0A_EN_v1_m56577569830605917.pdf

I'll bet that if you move the pull power adjuster up to the H setting the pull will be close enough to work decently with your cantilever brakes. It may not be quite as good as with the proper canti levers but it would work well enough to try them out and let you see if you are OK with them or need to look into actual canti specific levers.

By using a fairly "flat" angle straddle cable you'll increase your leverage at the canti arms and make it so that the slightly lesser mechanical advantage at the lever balances out. So keep that in mind as well.

Looks like two seperate questions in this thread.

So no - those particular levers are meant only for V-brakes.

And yes - Shimano does actually make a half dozen models of levers that are convertable, but they`re also pretty specific. They are designed to be used with V-brakes with power modulators only and can be converted (by reversing an insert) to be suitable for mechanical disk brakes or cantilever brakes or drum brakes.

maybe a stupid question so why do they have the low high adjuster thing if not for canti's? i don't see it on many other levers?

maybe a stupid question so why do they have the low high adjuster thing if not for canti's? i don't see it on many other levers?

That's what I think too. If it was my bike, and I didn't like the feel that I got using canty brakes with the levers in the "L" position, I'd convert the lever to the "H" position.