"Old School" brake levers
10-24-08 | 08:54 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
"Old School" brake levers
Anyone know where I can get some old school brake levers for drop bars, the kind where the cable comes out the top of the lever and forms an arc as it heads off to the caliper? I got an older bike (Schwinn) at a great price (FREE!) with only one lever. Thought the old levers would look better than modern 'under-the-bartape' type levers. The bike is missing a few other parts, but I can probably get it up and running as a decent town bike for $100-$150. Thanks
10-24-08 | 11:06 PM
#5
Great State of Varmint
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 18
From: Dante's Third Ring
Yes to above^^^. You can find the Dia-Compe for cheap - around $15/pair - on eBay. New production, not fancy but good quality. And yes - the cables come out the tops! Amazing! LOL. Comes complete with rubber-hoods.
10-25-08 | 05:00 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,509
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From: Quahog, RI
Bikes: Giant TCR Comps, Cdale R5000, Klein Q-Pro, Litespeed Siena, Piasano 105, Redline Conquest Pro, Voodoo Bizango, Fuji Aloha
I have a pair, will let them go super cheap. email capwater@yahoo DOT com
10-25-08 | 07:01 AM
#7
Oldtimer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Foothills of the Catskills in New York
Bikes: 1972 Raleigh LTD, 1985 Cannondale SR300 (2), 1986 ROSS Eurotour, 1991 Giant Sedona MTB, 1992 Trek Antelope MTB
If you're looking for cheap...
https://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_...oducts_id/1605
I don't have personal experience with these items but I buy stuff from these folks occasionally.
https://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_...oducts_id/1605
I don't have personal experience with these items but I buy stuff from these folks occasionally.
10-25-08 | 07:57 AM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
You'll have 2 problems with the old levers. #1 is that the rubber hoods are usually falling apart, if they even have them. #2 is that they don't stop as well as the newer ones, but I guess they stopped hundreds of millions of cyclists in the past so they do work.
10-25-08 | 11:40 AM
#10
My bikes became Vintage
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 13
From: Ontario, Canada
10-25-08 | 11:23 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 174
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From: Walnut, CA
10-26-08 | 07:24 AM
#12
Broom Wagon Fodder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 64
From: Minnesota
Bikes: Fuji Supreme; Kona Wo; Nashbar road frame custom build; Schwinn Varsity; Nishiki International; Schwinn Premis, Falcon Merckx, American Flyer muscle bike, Motobecane Mulekick
Those ones at VeloOrange are nice. If you already have the levers, Cane Creek hoods are OK -- not the perfect gum color I'd like but they work fine. Maybe $10 a pair.
https://www.bikeworldusa.us/Dia-Compe...source=froogle
https://www.bikeworldusa.us/Dia-Compe...source=froogle
10-26-08 | 05:45 PM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for the responses. That Velo-Orange site looks like the best place for older-vintage parts. Their SS fenders also look cool! Went to a bike shop in my area that had been recommended for its stock of older parts. They had the levers, but wanted $69.95 for the set! 
I'll buy them by mail order and spend the rest on tires, pedals, chain and a few other parts.
BTW: The bike I got appears to be a mid-1980's Schwinn LeTour; the frame's been repainted and doesn't have any decals, but Schwinn emblem is still on the headtube. Took apart the BB and headset; both appear to be in good shape, just need a good cleaning and re-greasing. If I don't get the frame/fork repainted it should cost around $125 to get it back in shape. Deraillers won't work either, but might just put a SS freewheel and tensioner on it to solve that problem (got a few of those in the garage). It'll make a nice errand bike!
I'll buy them by mail order and spend the rest on tires, pedals, chain and a few other parts. BTW: The bike I got appears to be a mid-1980's Schwinn LeTour; the frame's been repainted and doesn't have any decals, but Schwinn emblem is still on the headtube. Took apart the BB and headset; both appear to be in good shape, just need a good cleaning and re-greasing. If I don't get the frame/fork repainted it should cost around $125 to get it back in shape. Deraillers won't work either, but might just put a SS freewheel and tensioner on it to solve that problem (got a few of those in the garage). It'll make a nice errand bike!
10-26-08 | 06:32 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 2
From: Charlottesville, Virginia
Bikes: Dawes Kalahari, Puch Prima Super Sport, Graham Weigh 853
Shimano Tiagra aero levers tuck the cables under the bar tape. They are said to work a bit better than the non-aero type, so you might think about doing that instead (I know they won't look quite the same, but they were common on '80's bikes).
