tkamd73 

I agree, doesn’t take much, don’t really care though. If it all comes off no big deal, I know what they are. Bought the bike new, will own it when I croak. Tim

Kontact 

I guess I "appreciate" those TRPs for their retro-futuristic styling, and would be happy to see them on a bike that is not mine. They have a "Sky Captain" feel to them.

This was about as far as I can enjoy going in that direction, and have been good levers for me:

The Golden Boy 

I've been playing around with the idea of replacing a set of non-aero levers with aero levers... right now I'm kind of waffling about the SCR5 levers as well as the Origin 8 drilled brown levers... they both look very nice and quite classy.

Slightspeed

I love the feel of these Weinmann levers on my Raleigh. They came with the bars, not original for my Super Course, but I'm keeping them.

speedevil 

I just put a set of TRP RRL levers on my 1989 Cannondale ST600, and I like them a lot. I like the hood shape, and braking is easy from the hoods or the drops. The button to open the calipers is nice, but using that and releasing the lever on the calipers still isn't enough to slide a wheel in with the 35mm tires aired up. Oh, well, the 35mm tires ride smoothly, so they're worth the extra minute or two it takes to air them up *after* installing the wheel.

Nice to see the Suntour shifters on those levers too.

seedsbelize 

Grail? But I do like my Gran Compe aero levers.

tiger1964 

Another vote for the Universals, although in my case I used them is Weinmann 500 side pulls. Still have my set but the hoods are far past the date of DNA extraction.

rhm

The red anodized Modolo gets my vote. I recently passed up a pair of these, NOS in blue. I passed because I don't need them. Kinda regret that.

RobbieTunes

These are the huckleberries. Very light, smooth pull, nice leverage with a built-in pulley, nice looking. Only drawback is the "out there" shape of the levers, not for small fingers, and very stiff hoods (come in white and black). Almost impossible to wrap under the bottom lip. These will also run non-aero if needed.

Goes almost without saying that a fine set of aero 7400 levers, with the correct hoods, would bake my cookies.....

I've not seen the BL600's. They would be a good match for the DA downtube shifters.

And Universal AER's. Fat levers to go with the beefy calipers.

RobbieTunes

I think I'd have considered a blue bike to build around them.

randyjawa 

Not sure if there is a Grail brake lever for me, but these, now fitted to the Rbeneick, are interesting in appearance and work just fine. They are, however, problem causing when wrapping the handlebar is the issue...





For vintage brake level performance, it is hard to beat these Exage levers that are fitted on my Jamaica Bianchi...

Wileyone 

Like these? I think these are 7402 or 7403 with the return Springs.

ollo_ollo

My current favorites: Got these at a swap meet labeled as "Athena" levers & put them on my blue Titan.

Also, once had a 1965 Schwinn Super Sport given to me by a co-worker. His dad was original owner & it had Weinmann Red Button levers mounted on track bars with an adjustable "Record" stem. In my rush to eliminate surplus bikes prior to our move to Oregon, I passed the bike to a Schwinn collector. I had actually removed the stem, bar & levers along with a very good condition Brooks B15 to keep, but decided to send them with the bike in a weak moment. Never saw another set of these 50's-60's levers since. Didn't even take pictures, and had to find these on the web. Don

dddd

I was patiently waiting for some version of the C-Record style of lever to make it's appearance. I always find these comfortable.
Add Campagnolo "Doppler" (retrofriction) levers to the bike and I'm a happy rider!

Cables out the top or under the tape, black or white, your choice!

Joe Englert found me this (my first) C-Record bike, it came with early DiaCompe aero levers so I fixed that:



Seems like I spent years wanting a good Croce De Aunne bike, finally found this one way up in lake Tahoe, at a good price:

Bikerider007

@rhm you are stronger than me. Modolo made some pretty stuff.

79pmooney

I cannot call any lever with an exposed cable "grail". In my racing days of the '70s, I was putting in long miles and spending those hours fantasizing about a surgery that would open up my hand between my fingers so I could slide my palms over the hoods. When aero levers came out, I was on board as soon as I saw my first pair and never rode exposed cables again. Good riddance!

In my book, good lever have to have nicely rounded undersides so I don't rub all the skin off my middle finger above the knuckle. Mafac Racer levers were very good in that regard. The much better made and good looking 2000s were lousy.

Tektros are a solid "good" so all my bikes are there or will be soon. I know, totally liarg.

Edit:



The DiaCompe/Grand Compe version of these levers with their cheaper swing out releases were a huge blessing in a race once. I crashed and got back up to a wobbly front wheel, hitting the brake shoes. I was focused on getting back into the race and the bike was shaking enough that I really didn't want to reach down for the caliper release but I could easily flip off the lever release and ride the rest of the race with full braking power. (Got back on and placed. One of my last races. Felt good.)

Ben

ryansu

Big fan of these levers

Lascauxcaveman 

They are grotesque. But, I understand functionality has a deep beauty for some people.

I've never met brake lever that didn't feel just fine in my hands, and riding on the hoods is my third or fourth* favorite position, so I don't need a big fat comfy chair for my hands in that spot.

Those colored Modolos are the business! Imma get some of those some day.

____
(*maybe fifth, actually. I like to sit up straight and ride hands-free when it's practical)

Lascauxcaveman 

Just for some chuckles, howabout some of these fancy double-slotted Shimanos with, ah, turkey levers? Bone stock, 1986 Univega:

Kontact 

Funny how an "entry level" road bike from the '80s is now an elegant lugged classic in hindsight. Lovely bike.

The Golden Boy 

Thanks! 10 speed Command Shifters, baby!!

speedevil 

I recall reading that you had picked up some 10 speed indexing discs from a guy in japan. Nice.

rccardr 

Really like those olber Tektro R200's, have them on five bikes. Also a fan of the R600's if you're looking to match up a later DT component group. 6207's are workhorse non-aero levers and they appear on a pair in my stable.

Two grail-ish faves: Shimano 6400 non-aero levers, which I believe were only released in Europe, and Dura Ace 7400 non-aero's, which are truly grail because the hoods are so fragile and generally gone kaput. Plus the DA's are smaller in the hand, easier to wrap around when descending & have excellent leverage for single pivot brakes. Little known fact: Rustines hoods intended for Record/Super Record levers fit like a glove. 'Tis true!

The Golden Boy 

It’s great to be able to use those shifters in a “modern” sort of manner.

I really only trust Accushift to 6 speeds.

Salamandrine 

I love the old MAFAC Racer levers because they look like Babar the elephant. Beautiful industrial design IMO.

Also I have big paws and they are the only levers that feel like they are correctly sized for me.

That said I do like the new TRP RRL levers quite a lot, despite them being relatively short reach. Apparently they are comfortable for people of all hand sizes.