That red line doesn't represent the actual surface of the hood though, which I'm *assuming* is what Shimano recommends be level...but level with the ground or level with the top of the bars?

And now I've been staring at that photo for too long :twitchy:

Agreed.

Yup if he made it level with the flat of the handlebar top, then the hoods would be pointing straight up.

Did I say anything about sliding the hoods all the way to the bar tops? no, I didn't. I said that I felt the hoods should be up further.

I prefer to see the bottom of the lever level with the bottom of the drops, which it is. Furthermore the curve of the top of the hoods creates a flat line with the curve of the bar which is also appealing to the eye.

i don't like all black bikes.

That might be your preference and it may look best to you the way this line lines up with that line, but that doesn't mean the hoods are flat.

Bianchi 10 is right... brake levers need to to be 90* to the ground.

Eh, doesn't matter. Bike is hot either way.

i don't like all white bikes too.

I'm not saying they NEED to be level, I'm just saying they aren't.

Look level to me.

You folks may do it differently, but I set the handlebar on a flat surface, mount the levers so that the end of the brake lever touches the same surface, on both sides, then mount the assembly. Once mounted, I rotate the entire assembly so that the drops are comfortable, and typically the hoods line right up comfortably, worst case within 1/4" of final position. This also usually leaves the end of the handlebars pointing slightly above the rear brake. This has worked for Ergos, STI's, and TRP RRL brake levers, on a variety of compact and standard bars (Ritchey, Deda, and FSA). Doesn't seem like rocket surgery.

Your line looks more like it's indicating the "ramps" than the hoods.

More like brain science.

I'm honestly not even sure what he's trying to indicate with the line.

Much like on graphs, red lines without corresponding green and blue lines are meaningless.

That is a hell of a line for one that was drawn on a phone, though. Kudos!

Almost every dura-ace 9000 group, including shimano's own display bike shows the ramps level:

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/201...800_75_600.jpg

I also agree with that they look more aesthetically pleasing that way

I'm gonna assume if the stem is 8 or 9 degrees below horizontal that the ramps are pretty near horizontal in real life. Maybe sloping down a degree.

I think the pic has significant barrel distortion.

Just because it's a display bike doesn't necessarily mean it's correct.
http://www.mtbe.co.uk/files/image_006_174.jpg

Those are level! diamondback is not.

Ha! Thank you

My point was that people were disputing Shimano's instructions on what they mean by level. That is pretty hilarious though.