I guess I never understood the name "suicide levers" because the ones on my Raleigh work very well. So well, in fact, that when my girlfriend tried my bike, she used the suicide levers and went flying right over the handlebars!! The brakes on her old Peugeot are terrible, and she was quite taken by surprise.

Thanks very much for all of your advice. I'm going to get the bike if I can. If it doesn't fit me, maybe it will fit your girlfriend. I'll check in tomorrow and let you know how it works out.