I'm looking to upgrade the brake levers on my old road bike. It has suicide levers which suck, and I would like to put aero levers on, for better mechanical advantage, increased comfort, and the nice clean look.

BUT. This bike has some fantastic grips. They're not the spongy foam, they're smooth and have a sweet diamond pattern punched in. I'd like to keep the grips, which I assume means I can't have aero bars.

So, what are the best non-aero bars, in terms of ergonomics and efficiency?

The tape needs to come off if you want to change the brake levers which means you could go aero. Could you just carefully remove and rewrap the bars with the old tape?

no, it's not tape. it's the foam tube grip stuff that came on less-expensive bikes in 1980's. normally I would ditch it but these grips have a nice pattern so I want to keep it. but I don't think you can run cables under them.

Gotcha.

I've got some nice Shimano 600EX non-aero levers from 1984. Was thinking I'd put them on eBay along with the 600EX sidepull caliper brakes, but I could sell the levers separately if you want them. They're in perfect functional shape; there are some scratches on the aluminum and on the rubber but the hinge mechanism is still in perfect shape.

Whatever you do, you'll need to leave the mounting brackets on the handlebars (since you don't wanna remove the puffy grips) and screw the replacement levers into them. You may need to use the screw that came with your suicide-levers, since sometimes the threading is different between old-cheap-school stuff and nicer (or newer) stuff.

I really like the good old Weinmann hooded levers which were commonly paired with Vainqueur 999 centerpulls, because they fit my smallish hands beautifully, allowing me to grab them quickly and securely.

Sexiest: Modolos. Best? Hrmm...

Concur.
I recently swapped out a pair of Mafrac levers for the Weinmans on my daughters bike because she couldn't reach the Mafracs.
What you can do is unscrew the saftey levers, cut the mounting stud/piviot off flush with the lever body, and polish it up nice. Or leave it rough and cover them with a set of hoods from loosescrews.
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I actually have a pair of those Weinmann levers and yeah, they do look like a good size for my little hands. Plus they have a good shape. Sounds easy: remove extensions, get new hoods, all set.

Then again...the Shimano 600s would match the brakes perfectly, and it's always nice to have continuity. Plus they are nice.

Either way, I have options. Thanks guys.

Cane Creek SCR-5C (compact version )

Those are aero levers, but I agree, they're nice-

If you're going to go this route, you not only need to remove the suicide-lever extensions, but you also need to get new whatever-they're-called that go through the brake-lever body (the thing on which the lever itself pivots). It sticks out on the inner side to attach suicide levers, and you need the type that doesn't stick out on either side, but is flush with the brake-lever body on both sides so you can fit rubber hoods over it.
Or, you could saw off the offending part of that piece.
Here's what a brake lever looks like in the configuration you'd need it:

If you have rubber hoods, both approaches work. I call the "whatever-they're'-called" piece the "pivot." They were available in red, gold, and plain aluminum. Other options with Weinmann handles are press-in quick release and swing-out quick release tabs to simplify wheel removal without requiring a quick-release brake cable stop. Aftermarket non-authentic hoods (black ones on restored red-with-white Capo) are readily available, but genuine Weinmann hoods (white ones on unrestored white-with-red Capo) are getting scarce.

That was what I was thinking, provided I could do it cleanly. But thanks for the pic, that helps a lot.

Could you possibly soap up a piece of cable housing and slide it under the foam?

I wouldn't give up on aero quite so easily.

I don't know...it's pretty snug. This isn't the puffy black foam you see, this stuff is smooth matte rubber with no give. But I might try anyways cause I really do want it that bad.

I need to read more closely.

I am guessing that what you have would make it difficult to slide under...

What make of levers do you have now, because those weinmann levers usually use the same bolt as the suicide lever ones. If this is the case you can unscrew the mounting screw and slide the lever body off, and replace it with the weinmann body, that way the mounting band never leaves the bar and you can keep your grip.

I took the suicide levers off my Dia-Comps and then cut the pivot off so it was the right length. To hold it still, I put a screw through the hole in the pivot and screwed it down to a saw horse. Then I cut it off with a hacksaw. I put black aftermarket hoods on it and you can't even tell it ever had the suicide levers. What amazed me was how light the levers were, substantially lighter than the new aero levers. I also love the little lever that allows the brakes to open for wheel changes, much easier than on my newer bike with dual pivot calipers.

I think that usually, if that foam has been on there for 20 years, it's more or less become one with the bars. I removed some off a bike, and it was a job, believe me! I have some rather sexy Modolo levers, black anodized with white hoods. If that goes in any way with the looks of your bike, give me a shout.

My brakes have a little "push to open" quick release lever too and it makes me pretty happy.

Those Modolos really are sexy. Very, very sexy. The bike's black and red though, I think the white hoods would look a little funny...better hold on to them for a bike that's more aesthetically worthy.

Well, they're available for trade/sale to anyone that wants!