Removing Shimano M System Brake Levers
 

I purchased a mid 1990's Rockhopper today and it has what I think are called Shimano M-system brake levers on it. They are cantilever levers. Thay have a flat metal band that runs around the handlebar. They do not have the normal 5m hex wrench removal. I cannot see where or how to loosen / remove them.

Anyone have experience with these?

Wow, it's been awhile since I worked on one of those. I do believe if you remove tension from the brake cable by detaching the quick release at the cantilever, you can then squeeze the brake lever all the way to the handlebar. Inside the gap at the pivot point you insert a philips (I think) screwdriver to loosen the clamp internally. It's a very F'd up system.

According to Shimano the M-system actually refers to brake pad material used to improve wet weather performance. That doesn`t quite explain why `Shimano M-System` ended up getting stensiled on brake housing, but it did and I`m guessing that that is where you picked out the name.

And sounds like Konabunny has already explained the removal procedure. What you`re probably looking at from the sounds of things are road levers which work perfectly with cantilever brakes but aren`t usually whats installed on mtb bikes.

Not a screwed up system - probably just not what you`re expecting.

@Burton...

by "F'd up system" I was refering to what a PITA it is to remove the lever/shifter mech from the handlebar. It's not very
intuitive for someone who hasn't worked on many bikes. The shifters are kind of clunky, but there is nothing wrong with the functionality of those systems as you pointed out.