Which brake levers?
 

Hi folks, i need a bit of advice in choosing some brake levers for a pink and black 1992 Bottecchia.

I found it equipped with different parts, mostly Shimano 105, and then found a cheap bike from which I stripped an almost complete Dura Ace groupset. I am still missing the downtube shifter levers (I will look for Dura Ace) and the brake levers.
Should I make the effort of finding Dura Ace? Is there another technically good set of levers from that period, like Dia Compe, or something else?
I think I want something with black hoods, and not too expensive (EUR 20-30 for the pair would be ok, maybe a bit more if necessary).

I am a complete noob on this craft, everything I know about this period is hearsay, but I intend to ride this one, and I want it to be able to stop while being handsome :)

Thank you

Find some Dura Ace BL-7402s. They're available and some of the nicest out there. But probably a bit more expensive.

Out of curiosity: which DA groupset (7400/7700/7800/7900/etc . . . . ) did you end up with from the donor bike?

If you're seriously worried about aesthetics, long-term I'd find brake levers and shifters from the same generation of DA. They will likely be expensive, but they'll match the rest of the groupset.

If you choose to go that route, I'd also pay special attention to the condition of the hoods on any DA brake levers you find. Replacement hoods for some of the older DA levers are very hard to locate and will be expensive.

Best of luck with the build.

Reproductions of many DA hoods are now being made.

True - supposedly. But I don't recall seeing too many (if any) threads here where someone's purchased a pair and posted their impressions of them re: quality, fit, durability, etc . . . .

The pix posted do look pretty nice. But they might or might not be worth purchasing.

If you know of any threads reviewing those repro hoods, I'm all ears.

I've always found Vacuum metalized plastic to be ugly about 2 seconds after it's removal from it's packaging unless it's really thick. Shimano's wasn't.

Huh? What is metalized plastic on 7402 levers?

I'm this close to grabbing a set--but I just recently bought a NOS set, and it's hard for me to justify spending even $50 bucks on something I technically don't really need. I'd love to hear a review myself.

7400

I can see they don't easily go lower than EUR 100 :|

Is this not Vacuum metalized?
Looks soft like aluminum rather than chrome.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...65bcc463fb.jpg

Not chrome.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bee5a5a98b.jpg

I recall the pros riding with STI brake lever shifters in '91/'92.
Maybe you can skirt by the period-correct-police on that one.
They will set you back a pretty penny, but totally worth it, in my estimation.

Hmmm. Good question. Mine don't have that problem, but I'm not sure what's under the plating.

Shimano BL-R600. They are more ultegra or dura ace level than the '105' level of the still produced BL-R400 brake levers. A little hard to find, however.

https://road.cc/content/review/6810-...00-brake-lever.

If you don't mind the grey on the BL-400, just get those. There are also tons of brake levers from the late 80s and early/mid 90s on ebay that are essentially the same thing as the BL-400. RX100 brake levers are an example. Dura ace 7400 levers are expensive and the hoods are no longer produced.

I was looking at these
I'd probably go this route over the Dura Ace. The metallization on the Dura Ace looks cheaply done.
The 105's have a nice look without that shiny bit.
​​​​​​​https://www.ebay.com/itm/166140923539

Believe the OP stated that he has 7400 components, so six speed with non-aero levers. 7400 levers are not hard to find right now, although original hoods are pretty much nonexistent. Rustines made sets for Campagnolo levers that fit really well but they seem to be out of production at the moment- perhaps available in Europe where the OP is. Agree that while lovely, 7402 levers pickle very easily on the chromed plastic and that 400/600 series levers are just as good and easier to find.

Another option are the Euro-centric Shimano 1050 (105) non-aero levers that are actually superior in function to 7400 and look very nice.

That portion of my levers (under the rubber hood) is all aluminum. The portion you circled appears to be chrome plated aluminum.

Thanks for looking.
Still looks cheaply done. I guess it's typical shimano
I have my doubts as to if partzilla used real chrome when they could hum a few bars and fake it.

Question: is there any other options beside Shimano and Campagnolo?

I already have a steel bike with STI, this one will go the other way.

The R600 looks decent, will look into it, thanks.

My heart weeps at the thought of reading 105 on those levers, next to DA :/
But the other options look fine.

The 105 logos polish off quite easily, and they actually look very spiffy.
Here's a pair on my Raleigh Gran Tour:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e4a3c4c17a.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b18fbed264.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5204a5a16.jpg

Aero Gran Compe (AGC) from DiaCompe.

Those might be a good choice. Didn't they introduce the concept of an internal spring in the lever too?

Perfection :love:

Only problem with those 105 levers....they're hard to find in good condition and the hoods are unobtanium.

I buy mine new off of eBay. About $100 a pair NOS. New hoods seem to last a long time.
Hoods show up from time to time, there’s a seller in the Midwest who usually has a pair or two in stock.
But yeah, like all Shimano vintage levers, they can be hard to find.

These look pretty nice, for 50 bucks are they any good? NOS BL-Z325
https://www.ebay.com/itm/391482181235

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SgoAA...jFb/s-l400.jpg