replacing old levers
 

Hi all
New here...Am replacing some old "suicide bars" on my son"s lovely old Nishiki 10 speed. Figured I would also changeout the brake levers. I plan on installing some cross top levers plus something like the Cane Creek SCR-5 aero levers (will keep the old Shimano sidepull calipers). Does it matter if the new levers have return springs or not, or are "standard pull" or something else? Maybe it doesn't matter, since even the Cane Creek site doesn't mention anything about either one.
My appreciation to the moderators and everyone who make this forum so great!

The main spring action to return a brake lever is the spring in the brake itself. BTW, installing aero levers is a very good move. Not only does the bike look better, but the aero levers provide better mechanical advantage, much safer. Consider replacing the cables as well to provide smoother action.

+1 What he said.

I picked up some knock-off Aero levers on ebay, the guy sells them all the time. They turned out to be Nashbar product, I thought they were pretty decent for the price.

Item # 310124122777 is one of his sales. For a little under $24, you get a set delivered to your home with two extra lever hoods.

YMMV.

+ 2

Those knock-offs, can't beat the price, with hoods, at your door.

I've got SLR aeros and hoods on my trade list, wouldn't take $24 shipped.

The Nashbar levers are available from Nashbar for $19.9 plus shipping
http://nashbar.com/profile.cfm?categ...eid=&pagename=
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photo...-NCL-FRONT.jpg
Niagara Cycle Works has the nicer Tektro levers for essentially the same price, and I remember reading a number of threads last year when I was in the market for new levers, the Tektro 200a levers were much better regarded than the Nashbar ones.
http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.ph...id=283&sort=2a
http://www.niagaracycle.com/images/q...s/BR7210md.jpg

I ended up getting a set of each (Nashbar and Tektro) and the Tektro do seem better finished (nicer shaped) and bit more robust. I don't have either set installed yet, but will have them on bikes this spring and plan to do a comparison.

I had a similar question in regards to the build I am doing on a Trek 560, except that I was starting from the other way around. I was considering Shimano brakes sets, but then I became aware that at some point Shimano incorporated a system in their brakes that used spring tension in both the caliper and the lever. The operative point lies in the energy needed to most effectively move the cable in both directions through inertia and drag in the sheath. The intention behind the design is to create greater sensitivity and more incremental modulation in the applied force. Well, I already had a pair of unsprung SunTour aero levers, so I sought out a set that did not come designed to complement a springed lever. (I bought a set of Tektro R556.) For what it's worth, I ran the solution past the owner of my LBS, and he nodded in agreement. My guess is that whatever the mix and match, there would not be a dramatic difference, but I wanted to dial in the best effect in the first shot.

The Tektro 200A/Cane Creek SCR-5 is one of the rare things that virtually everyone on Bike Forums agrees upon.

Those are cheaply finished reproductions of the Dia-Compe Aero Grand Compe (A300G) levers, with return springs added into the lever body design. They work well, but they're nothing special to look at. Same levers are used on the GMC Denalis.

-Kurt

I bought two sets of the Tektro 200a this past fall and put them on my Trek and Raleigh. They were easy to install and look very nice. I paid $23 at the LBS for them.

1. How is it better looking?
2. How is this mech. adv. obtained? ..besides "Sheldon said so"? Are you just quoting others, or can you actually provide an explanation?

1. No cables sticking out.
2. Newer Aero levers are designed so you can use them from the tops. They moved the pivot point and changed the grip. The older levers could be used that way but weren't designed for it.

As for the Tektro levers, I put a pair on one of my vintage bikes, along with Tektro calipers, the 730 quartz I think. They work great, much better than the old Modolo Speedy that were on it. And yes, put new cables and housing on.

If I may add my own subjective opinion - I prefer first-gen C-Record aero levers over the Tektros. Never did care for the "New Campag Record look" of the Tektros, or the wide, flat-looking lever arm.

-Kurt

The Nashbar levers look just like the older Tektro levers that I have. I prefer them to the new ones. I think the 200a's and all new brake levers are hideous.

That's my subjective opinion.

Hear, hear.

-Kurt