I've got a couple old bikes I'm restoring with linear pull ("V") brakes, and assorted grungy old brake levers which I _thought_ were linear pull, but are apparently not long pull...

I'm looking for cheap linear pull brake levers for these bikes, and I see Tektro has some for BMX and some for Mountain, and I'm wondering what the difference is... The BMX ones (Tektro 319A) are like half the price of the mountain ones (various #s like TS360A, MT2.1) ..

I can't really tell the difference between these... are the BMX levers shorter 2-finger style, while the 'mountain' ones 3-4 finger?

I haven't seen many BMX's with linear pull brakes so I'm going to say that they are not compatable with the linear brakes you are using.

well, these claim MTB https://www.tektro.com/02products/02sl.php

and these claim BMX https://www.tektro.com/02products/14sl.php

and both say they are for linear/long pull brakes. and at least some of the MTB ones are 2-finger, same as the BMX ones. I'm just getting more confused.

/me shrugs...

silly me. upon further looking and poking and pondering... the BMX ones are sold as right side only, and don't have options for twist or trigger shifters, while the mountain ones come either for twist or trigger (just moves where the clamp is in relation to the lever a bit).

just go for some avid levers and be done with it.

The Tektro 354AG levers have an adjustment so they can work with V brakes or "standard" brakes. The adjustment changes the leverage. I'm currently using a pair with Mafac centerpulls in the standard setting. Leverage is a little too low, but luckily I have very strong fingers.

These are excellent quality levers at an excellent price.

I in fact have a set of those adjustable ones on one of my bikes. was handy back when I had a sturmey archer drum in the back that needed long pull, and a sidepull caliber in the front that needed short pull. someone knowlegable has told me that those are too long in 'short' mode, and too short in 'long' mode.

And, I did go ahead and order the avid's last night after looking over what was available from multiple catalogs. first time I've ordered from JensonUSA, hopefully they are reasonable about shipping/delivery.

just get a set of avid FR5 theyre like 20$ canadian here

saw them going for 12$ on jenson usa

I just put in my first order from them about a week ago. Delivered in 3 business days as promised. No problems. Put my second order in with them today. So far they seem like they have good prices and good shipping.

Jake

got 2 sets of them in and installed them on two of my vbrake bikes instead of whatever older junk grips I'd been using.

*sweet*

yeah, Avid FR-5 levers work great with Shimano v-brakes.