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  1. #1
    Senior Member JonathanGennick's Avatar
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    Question on BMX brake leverage

    Will the handle from an old fitness bike having canti-brakes work well on a modern BMX bike? I know that levers for canti- and v-brakes pull the cable using different leverage ratios. What about BMX brakes? Will those canti-brake levers work? Or do I need to get BMX-specific levers?

  2. #2
    Powerful-Ugly Creature Greyryder's Avatar
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    You mean the U brakes on freestyle bikes? Those will work with standard short pull levers, like you're talking about.

    Pet peeve of mine; there's more to BMX than just freestyle. BMX race bikes have been using V brakes since the 90s.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Burton
    When some wild eyed eight foot tall maniac grabs you by the throat and taps the back of your favorite head head against the barroom wall, and he looks crooked in the eye, and he ask you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."

  3. #3
    Digging in the pain cave. midschool22's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonathanGennick View Post
    Will the handle from an old fitness bike having canti-brakes work well on a modern BMX bike? I know that levers for canti- and v-brakes pull the cable using different leverage ratios. What about BMX brakes? Will those canti-brake levers work? Or do I need to get BMX-specific levers?
    Can you post a pic of the lever?

  4. #4
    Senior Member JonathanGennick's Avatar
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    @Greyryder, thanks. And apologies for my lack of BMX bike knowledge. I am working to improve that.

    I ended up giving the kid the old, canti-lever that I had. I also ran him some fresh brake cable--inner and outer. Can't say that I liked the feel of the lever, but the kid was able to skid the rear tire and he was real happy about being able to do that.

    @Midschool22, I will try and post up later w/a photo.

  5. #5
    Senior Member JonathanGennick's Avatar
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    Ok. I went to Danscomp.com and looked at their brakes. What I worked on yesterday was not a u-brake. It was a caliper brake.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
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    I have this one, LBS suggested it, my expectations were to throw on a low end Tektro for cheap, after getting this one, I actually am happier with it.

    http://www.amazon.com/Black-Ops-Cali...ef=pd_sbs_sg_3

    Also available:

    http://www.amazon.com/Black-Ops-MX-H.../dp/B000AOXF62
    http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-319AC-S...ef=pd_sbs_sg_2

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