Advice on Brake Levers
 

I could use some advice on selecting drop bar brake levers for use with cantilever brakes. This is for my 1984 Miyata 610. I want to use aero style brakes. Leaning toward Tektro. Not sure if the RL520 is correct as it states it is for "linear pull brakes". Is this a V Brake only?
Thanks in advance!

Linear Pull IS V Brake.

For cantilevers you want Tektro's RL340 or R200 which are made for cantilever or road-type caliper brakes. Almost all Shimano road levers are also suitable.

Thanks HillRider! I see the RL 340 on the Tektro site but not the R200. On ebay the R200 are more $. Why?

They don't make the R200 anymore but Cane Creek offers their own version.

Is there a quality difference between Tektro and Cane Creek? What Cane Creek lever would be comparable to the Rl340?

I have a set of the R200 levers on my touring bike which has cantilever brakes. I really like them for a couple of reasons. First, my road bikes have Campy 10 speed brifters and the Tektro levers have exactly the same shape. As well, the quick release incorporated in the lever which is a direct copy of the Campagnolo system makes it easy to release the brakes to deal with flats. And, even though they are pretty good quality, they were dirt cheap. All in all, great value

Cane Creek levers are manufactured by Tektro

Cane Creek SCR5 brakes are made by Tektro and are functionally identical to Tektro's own 200 and 340 series. Only difference is the hoods, CC ones have a different design on the surface but the shape is the same. 200 levers are straight, 340's are curved slightly. Origin8 also had a version of the straight ones for a while. 200's are more expensive new because they are no longer made and some people (myself included) prefer them to 340's. Both versions have the release function that open the caliper, both are very comfortable and will last pretty much forever. I have them on several of my personal bikes and have installed them on a dozen or more others.

The RL320's seem to have replaced the R200. As far as I can tell they are functionally identical but the 320's have a modified "anatomic" lever shape. The levers on the 200's look like the ones on the RL520's. Why the 200's are more, I have no idea.

I have the 200's on three bikes as they are the basis for "Retroshift" brackets and shift lever mounts. They work very well.

I use Shimano's Brake levers like this Shimano Ultegra R600 Brake Levers | Chain Reaction Cycles.. on my CX type Bike with Top mount levers.

and this Brake caliper http://www.tufonorthamerica.com/imag...oky_carbon.jpg



But If You Haven't bought the brakes either then the longer pull lever and V brakes were made to pair together

based on what evidence ? you been in the Factory in Taiwan and the Cane Creek Offices in North Carolina? or you just made it Up .. :roflmao:

I orderd the Tektro Rl340.Thanks!!

You'd be better off with a asset of 1980s Dia Compe gran Compe levers instead....they're correct for the time period as we'll and they are spring assisted like modern levers. I just restored a set I got off ebay and I'm presently installing them (you can see them on the pics I posted on your other thread on aero levers and cantis.)

Those Shimano levers are nice....look period correct for an 84 miyata too. Whatever you do though don't go through chain reaction for your gear....I tried them out and got a sliced tire from them then they took a month to get another out to me...no communication...horrible....you can do better elsewhere.

I know nothing about Tektro and Cane Creek other than the Cane Creeks are made in in Taiwan. (Says so in the box.) Also they are identical as far as my eye can see except the graphics and the above mention of the hoods. I have one set of each on different bikes. If it turns out Tektro doesn't make Cane Creek, then 1) I would be VERY surprised and 2) something pretty fishy is going on.

Ben

You actually can use V-brake levers with dual pivots and there can be good reason to do so. I do it with the fix gear bike in my photo so I can have confident, consistent stopping power without locking up wheels on steep descents. I can ride the drops which I always do downhill and grab a fistful of lever and get no surprises. Braking is a little weak riding the hoods, but on that bike and setup, I am almost only on the hoods going uphill where braking isn't much of an issue.

Side benefit: V-brake levers have huge hoods. Wonderful for climbing! So, a setup that is ergonomic, keeps the rubber on the tire and the shiny side up? All good if you ask me. But not for a bike where you ride the hoods a lot.

Ben

Merida and Giant are Both on Taiwan and I am sure they are not the same company any more than Toyota And Honda are the same company..

According to Harris Cyclery:
"Cane Creek SCR-5 "Æro" levers with black hoods BRL27 $42.95/Pr.

These are super brake levers for road bikes, made by Tektro."

Back side of the Cane Creek lever = Tektro part number. This is pretty common knowledge, Tektro supplies brakes for a lot of other brand names, including Cannondale at one point. Which, frankly, is to our benefit.

Sometimes the secondary brand keeps around a design for a longer period than Tektro carries it under their own name (e.g. The 200 series levers, which one can still purchase from Cane Creek or Origin8). For years, an online vendor was selling Tektro 539's, which are an excellent dual pivot caliper, for around $20 a pair but branded as Cannondales. We win!