Brake levers for trekking/butterfly handlebars?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Brake levers for trekking/butterfly handlebars?
Hi everyone,
I'm new on this forum (from Sweden) and totally new at touring and not very knowledgeable about bike mechanics (yet). I have a brand new surly long haul trucker, but I bought an entire "bike set", not just the frame, and I wanna replace the drop bars with butterfly bars, but I assume I have to replace the brake levers since the ones I have now seem to be specifically for drop bars (" Tektro, RL340/341 drop bar levers").
Question: any recommended brake levers (cantilever brakes) for butterfly handlebars (the BBB Multibar type, if that makes any difference)?
Thanks!
I'm new on this forum (from Sweden) and totally new at touring and not very knowledgeable about bike mechanics (yet). I have a brand new surly long haul trucker, but I bought an entire "bike set", not just the frame, and I wanna replace the drop bars with butterfly bars, but I assume I have to replace the brake levers since the ones I have now seem to be specifically for drop bars (" Tektro, RL340/341 drop bar levers").
Question: any recommended brake levers (cantilever brakes) for butterfly handlebars (the BBB Multibar type, if that makes any difference)?
Thanks!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: North Attleboro, MA
Posts: 229
Bikes: 2011 Steamroller; 1998 Cannondale F-400; 1981 Motobecane Jubilee Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hi Termy,
If they're hooded levers, no they won't work. There are few ways you could go, if I were switching to a trekking bar, I'd go with in-line levers.
Similiar to these:https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SearchD...in+line+levers
If you're not familiar with them, they mount on the flat part of the bar, on either side of the clamp.
If they're hooded levers, no they won't work. There are few ways you could go, if I were switching to a trekking bar, I'd go with in-line levers.
Similiar to these:https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SearchD...in+line+levers
If you're not familiar with them, they mount on the flat part of the bar, on either side of the clamp.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hey, thanks for the quick reply. Yup, the ones I have now are hooded. That link you posted doesn't seem to display any specific brake levers, but I seem to get the point from googling in-line levers. I've been looking at some tektro brakes, for example: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/tektro-rl720...-brake-levers/ , are those the type you were referring to?
The problem there seems to be that the diameter is different than the trekking handlebar... the part of the trekking bar closest to me (the flat/straight part with the ends) seems to be 22.2 mm or something, and those brakes there are 24mm and wider.. does that still work? I can't seem to find any smaller ones anywhere.
The problem there seems to be that the diameter is different than the trekking handlebar... the part of the trekking bar closest to me (the flat/straight part with the ends) seems to be 22.2 mm or something, and those brakes there are 24mm and wider.. does that still work? I can't seem to find any smaller ones anywhere.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just found another set of brakes: https://www.rosebikes.se/artikel/shim...600/aid:520064
"SHIMANO Road brake levers BL-4600. Suitable for road bike and cantilever brakes, for handlebar Ø 22.2 mm"
Would these perhaps be compatible?
"SHIMANO Road brake levers BL-4600. Suitable for road bike and cantilever brakes, for handlebar Ø 22.2 mm"
Would these perhaps be compatible?
#5
Real Men Ride Ordinaries
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,723
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Hi Termy,
If they're hooded levers, no they won't work. There are few ways you could go, if I were switching to a trekking bar, I'd go with in-line levers.
Similiar to these:https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SearchD...in+line+levers
If you're not familiar with them, they mount on the flat part of the bar, on either side of the clamp.
If they're hooded levers, no they won't work. There are few ways you could go, if I were switching to a trekking bar, I'd go with in-line levers.
Similiar to these:https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SearchD...in+line+levers
If you're not familiar with them, they mount on the flat part of the bar, on either side of the clamp.
There are lots to choose from, and they are priced about the same as the in-line levers. I like the Tektro FL750. I just think they look nice. You also have the TektroFL740. If you have a trust fund, or a very nice job, you can get a Paul lever. The quality is fantastic, and so is the price
#6
Banned
A cantilever [not V brake] mountain bike lever will work.. that BL-4600 will be fine..
I have seen what may be called Mustache bar setups,
road brakes all the way on the front of the bar..
I happen to prefer them at the back-center open end of the bars..
my favorite rim brakes, now, the German Magura HS33.. hydraulic rim brakes..
they were the OEM pick on my 04 Koga Miyata WTR .. came with trekking bars..
I have seen what may be called Mustache bar setups,
road brakes all the way on the front of the bar..
I happen to prefer them at the back-center open end of the bars..
my favorite rim brakes, now, the German Magura HS33.. hydraulic rim brakes..
they were the OEM pick on my 04 Koga Miyata WTR .. came with trekking bars..
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-12-12 at 07:10 PM.
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Alright. I failed to mention however that my cantilever brakes are "Tektro, CR720" ones. Those Shimano BL-4600 I found seem to be only compatible with "BR-4600/ 5700/6700/7900/R451/CX50/70". Is there no compability between Tektro and Shimano? Do I have to change the entire brake system?
#8
Senior Member
Termy, How about these brake levers? https://www.tektro.com/_english/01_pr...r&sort=1&fid=3
Brad
PS I forgot to mention that you should measure the outer diameter of the handle bars where the levers will mount. The above levers are available in two additional clamp size choices.
Brad
PS I forgot to mention that you should measure the outer diameter of the handle bars where the levers will mount. The above levers are available in two additional clamp size choices.
Last edited by bradtx; 07-13-12 at 07:18 AM.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is there no compability between Tektro and Shimano? Do I have to change the entire brake system?
22.2mm is a standard size for bars with straight sections.
#10
missing in action
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,483
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times
in
29 Posts
Tektro made trekking levers that work great with those bars, but I don't think they're in production currently. You might be able to find a set with a bit of luck... Here's a set of them that I found at a flea market:
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the tips. Those levers do look appropriate bradtx. I also measured the handlebar diameter of the butterfly handlebar, which is 22.2mm. mikhalit: ah yes, obviously shimano wouldn't be listing tektra products there.. silly of me
I did order those Shimano BL-4600 today though, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed that I'll get one step closer to finishing my bike, and one step closer to riding out into the misty twilight of new adventures!
I did order those Shimano BL-4600 today though, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed that I'll get one step closer to finishing my bike, and one step closer to riding out into the misty twilight of new adventures!