I was on the fence between Tektros and the SRAMs but thought the SRAMs looked a little stouter. There are some things I will skimp on and somethings I am willing to spend more for. And every part of the bike that touches my body tends to get preferential treatment. In case I missed it, is there another single speed lever (long or short pull) in between the sram and Tektro that is worth considering?
Thanks.

i'm curious, what brake calipers are you using these with? do they have to be with sram calipers or any will do?


they look much more comfortable than my tektros

if you have drops and hoods, youll be touching the hoods or the blades more than half the time so the price i paid for the 500s isnt outlandish.

any calipers will do.

Qr
 

I'd pass on non-QR Campys

I agree 100%

Tektro 926a mini-V's

i forgot about those.

these levers make you feel like a fighter pilot, and thats why i really like them.

I have Tektro levers on my bike, and I like them alot. They might only be $20 Tektros, but they are shaped just like pre-09 Campy Ergos, and they work well with my non-quick release Record caliper because the levers have a quick release built in.

I agree that you should focus alot of attention to contact points (bars/levers, pedals, saddle). But, I think unless you just really LOVE the shape of SRAM levers and HAVE to have them, I would use the money elsewhere.

If you are looking for something "in-between" as mentioned above, check out the Shimano BL-R600 aero levers. I think they consider them to be Ultegra/Dura Ace quality. I had them on a bike and they are nice. More of a retro (read, non-ergo) shape to them, but they are still nice:

http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...-levers/15-155

Or, the cheaper Tiagra version is another option.

http://www.rivbike.com/images/produc...45/15-164d.jpg

also, the reach adjustment is very nice.

That is a nice feature. Can't wait to intall my SRAM Rivals on my Soma...

That's unfortunate

they are great. also, its nice having continuity, if thats the right word, between multi and single geared hood shape with these new levers.

I believe Shimano R600 or even the cheaper R400 would fit the bill. They are very well built (though I personally find the R400 to be more than sufficient). You get great value/money with these levers.

I'd also look into some of Cane Creek's offerings.

Thanks everyone . I finally bought them at Directbicycleparts.com for $106 (no tax or shipping.) So far they're the priciest purchase of the project. (still need cranks and wheels though.) Now I'm like Ralphie checking my mailbox in the snow everyday.

Would have to agree, but then again I ride old steel steeds. just like the audio example, if i'm just listening to music am I gonna drop 2 grand on some speakers? Hell no, but if I were a professional audio engineer (and I have interned for pro audio techs in my youth) 2 grand would seem much less redic, its the difference of just doing somthing to do it and doing somthing for an end, be it winning a race or mastering a peice of music. incomparable even though they are at the heart of the matter the same.

You mean about $2,000 of actual value and $25,000 of heaping amounts of bull****?

I liked Cane Creek for my fixed since they also sold stoker levers that matched perfectly, so I had one full brake lever and another hood that didn't require me to do silly stuff with cabling.

The SRAM levers in question in the OP are for sale at Rivendell now for $65. Pretty good deal:
http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...-levers/15-164

no got's...
 

out of stock.

qbp has both aluminum and carbons in stock so you can get them anywhere.

yeah a whole lot of R&D goes into brake levers. the man hours that go into making a plastic bushing, a metal rod, and a lever with a hole in it are mind boggling. that's a well justified $120

seriously, tell me about it. don't get me started on rims! it's just ****in' aluminum. plain old aluminum!

i agree. i spent 5 dollars on mine


tell me how shaving weight on a lever makes any sense. a rim has rotational inertia, shaving grams there does count. if you're weight weenie-ing it makes sense because 120 for levers is no big. for the majority of people here building up a ****ing steel ciocc and wanting fancy levers it doesn't make sense to pay an extra 60 for carbon levers for weight.

it makes no sense, that why i agreed with you. but it really doesn't matter to me since i got my pair for free!

no but seriously, they are not worth 120.

I like the reach adjustment, and if I had a road bike with SRAM then I wouldn't hesitate to go for these, for the sake of carrying over the feel that I liked to my singlespeed. As is, I like my Tektro Campy knockoffs.