Wino Ryder

I also cross posted this in the MTB forum. In the process of converting my commuter road bike to a more upright sitting position. The bike in question is an '85 Centurian 'Elite RS' road bike that has drop bars and I want to add sime nice cruiser style bars (North Roads, Albatross, Wald 8095) for around town comfort riding slow with my wife. I understand that Shimano makes the 'BL-R440 and '550 brake levers for flat bar and was wondering if anyone has ever used these. Just need some decent brake levers that will fit the bill and not be too expensive.

I also have plans on adding fenders to this bike, and a Brooks B-67 saddle, basically turning it into a nice, around town comfort bike like the old english 3-speeds. I also pull a trailer with this bike and am more interested in upright comfort than anything with this conversion. Any thoughts on this? In a way I feel like I'm committing a blasphemous act by this conversion, because this bike is really pretty nice for its age, but I'm getting older too and want some comfort in my old age.

So what say ye??

kpug505

I like the Rivendell silver bar ends...... But I also like some old school Suntour friction thumbies. Paul components makes a great set if you've got the change.......You can add the Shimano shifter of your choice to them. Kelly Takeoffs might be another option if you're gonna use standard road levers on moustache bars....

Rivs:


Suntour:


Paul thumbies with Shimano bar-end shifters: (Sorry for the big pic......It's sooogood though. For a recumbent)

Grand Bois

I've used them on two bikes. I like them and the price is right.



The silver parts are from "Problem Solvers". I put stainless reach adjustment screws on both sets.



My only complaint is that they are riveted together, so I can't take them apart to strip and polish them.

kpug505

Oops....I misread the post somehow. Please disregard my post.

g-funk

I'm partial to the weinmann brake levers. I use them on tons of bikes and will buy junker bikes just because they are on there. they are light, look great and are old, which I think is key on an old bike.

this pair is a mis match and in fairly poor condition.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Weinmann-Straigh...QQcmdZViewItem

Grand Bois

I like those, too. I smooth out the seams on the levers and polish them on a buffing wheel. Thre's some play in them, but they work.

bbattle

On eBay right now, LINK



Pyramid makes something that looks identical to the brake levers that were on my Raleigh. Cheap, vintage looking.



Here's my Sprite with North road bars and the Pyramid levers.


I've since added cork grips to the bars.

mstrpete

I've got a pair of those in the parts bin; got them off a '71 Collegiate I decided not to restore. I went in a slightly different direction-from this:

To this:

Those are the bars from that '71 Collegiate, on a '71 Super Sport. I re-used the brake levers, shifters, and RD from my '85 Trek 830:

And I'm going to re-use the Shimano Deore FD from the Trek on this one as well.

nlerner

I use those alloy Weinmann/Dia Compe levers on a bunch of bikes with upright bars, and they work fine and look fairly retro. I also use older steel Raleigh or other English levers; also no problems. Probably my favorite in terms of feel and performance are pretty much any MTB levers though they don't look very C&V.

V-O is selling these Tektro levers for relatively small money and would be worth a try.

Neal

Wino Ryder

Like hell I will. That pic of your bars and levers with the brass bell is breathtaking. All you guys came through in spades with some beautiful pictures, and gave me some great ideas. All those brake levers shown look really nice, even the link to the Diacomp retro levers. Right now I'm going to stick with the original '600' DT shifters (because they're nice), but in a few days will spring for one of the beautiful brake levers you guys so graciously showed pics of. I will most likely go with the North Roads style bar, or possibly the Albatross if I can find something with a broader sweep. (decisions, decisions)

"Dirtdrop", that picture of your mixte is beautiful.

Thanks guys

g-funk

if you go for the weinmann/dia compe levers make sure you get the right size bands for your bars

ronzorini

New Dia Compe levers for $11.88 over at Niagra Cycle Works:
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...oducts_id=1586

karmat

Dia Compe are fast becoming my favorite parts manufacturer as they put more and more of their classic stuff back into production. Levers, calipers, hoods, those Silver shifters above, etc. Note that Dia Compe had a licensing deal with Weinmann so those Dia Compe levers are nearly identical to the Weinmanns. Dia Compe made the brakes and shifters for SunTour, so those Silver shifters are SunTour Sprints.

Karl

tashi

I'm not sure of the bar diameter or the bars you're using but an old pair of 600 non-aero brake levers have been working well on the flipped cruiser bars on my Jeunet. They're also really long, so they help with applying lots of braking force. I've got them mounted in the front curve of my bars, leaving me plenty of room for my hands on the swept back portion of the bar Mountain bike style levers tend to crowd my grip area. And they look great!

mstrpete

OMG, I love that chainguard! Where'd it come from?

tashi

France I guess. It was on the bike when I bought it and it seems to have come that way as there are mounts for it on the frame.

It's lovely, and part of the whole french thing that this bike has going on. The Jeunet is cheap, french and worn out, but I just can't seem to part with it due to it's powerful "je ne sais quoi"