Happier?
 

Would I be happier with NOS 105 aero levers for $50, or new R400s for $30? For the 78 Trek 930 frame set I recently purchased.

One of each. Asymmetry is the new black.

Or new Golden Arrow/1050 non-aero levers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Shimano...53.m1438.l2649

R400's. They match any outfit.

^^^^^^^^^
This.

What level NOS 105's are we talking about here? I've used the 8 speed ones and the 9 speed ones. They are pretty different. I don't think I'll use the 8 speed ones again; they hurt my hands on long rides. I don't remember the 9 speed ones well enough to compare; but they are different.

If they are the BL-1051 series, stay away. The hoods will be near impossible to find, should you need one.

This is C&V. You need to buy both and then buy another frameset for the extra pair.

Nothing special about the 105 levers, so save yourself $20.

If the R400s are anything like my RX100 levers (and they look nearly identical), they ought to be pretty comfy compared to older stuff.

Campy Super Record, NOS, drilled, with NOS hoods. eBay, $399.

Thanks for the replies.

The R400 levers are, IIRC, modeled on the 6403 brake lever body (Shimano 600 level, Super SLR tech/geometry). They are really nice. I may not be a fan of the grey trim ring (prefer all black like the R600 levers), but they look good, are comfortable (I put a piece of bar tape on each side under the hoods to bulk it up slightly, helps a lot), and work well. Hoods for 1051 levers will be hard to come by, but it takes years to wear a hood out. They'll be all black with a silver blade. They'll look more 'period correct' but the body is narrower, so comfort will depend on how you set up your bikes. I will always suggest the discontinued Tektro R200 lever. Super comfortable, round, wide lever body (Campy 9/10s Ergo shape). Black with silver blade, good lever action, with a Campy-like brake cable release/slack feature for tire removal.

You'd be $20 happier with the R400's.

or blondes, so I have been told.

Are these it? Found More! Shimano 105 Aero SLR brake lever pair grey handles black hoods NOS

Yes

I found a pair f 600 EX non-aero levers here in the bin, but I really prefer aero.

I went out of my way and bought a bruised pair of Shimano 600 aero levers to match my groupset for $40. Rode them for a season, didn't find them all that great, then swapped out to more modern Cane Creek SCR-5's (which are fantastic).

I wish I had my $40 back.

Hey Jerry-

IMO- a 70s bike looks right with non-aero levers. (Preferably dual slotted :D)

If you want to go with aero levers- they're not going to be "period correct" in any way- I wouldn't go with something that's something sorta like what you want because it's sorta old.

Go with the levers you like that you think will go best with the bike/components. IMO- the aforementioned Cane Creek SCR-5 levers with gum hoods look pretty slick.

Otherwise out of your 3 choices you brought up- the R400.

I appreciate your insights, but I am a bit of a frankenbike purist. I really don't care for non-aero levers anymore. What I look for in a bike is a quality ride, and I really don't care about anything else (except price, of course). The shifters I'm gonna use came off an 87 Prelude, probably Tektro calipers, Fujita Belt saddle, biopace crankset. I like to use what I have around. And frankly, in my market, nobody would know or care about period correct. I don't wish to intentionally offend sensibilities; I'm just a bird of a different color. And I enjoy vintage bikes.

Never worked for me.
The R400 levers do, though.

Top

:roflmao2: +1!

I also love the cane creek levers. You get the choice of gum or black hoods, and I have them with both black and silver blades. Lots of choice.