Brake levers that clear Silver 2 thumbies

[Kevin]

Hi all,

I'm currently using the upside down Shimano method but I'm about to move those levers to another bike. Who can help me find some silvery long pull levers with a clamp that doesn't interfere with the shifters? 

I know the Pauls do but I'd love a cheaper option if it's out there.

Thanks!

[Tristen Moss]

Hey Kevin! 

I know the Dia Compe SS-6 and MX-2 levers will clear based on personal experience. Here’s a couple links if you want to check them out! 

https://global.bluelug.com/dia-compe-mx-2-bl-limited-brake-lever-polish.html

https://global.bluelug.com/dia-compe-ss-6-brake-lever-all-polish.html

[Tristen Moss]

I apologize, the SS-6 levers are short pull only. The mx-2 can be used with short and long pull brakes. 

[Ray Varella]

The Dia-Compe SS-7 is the long pull version and they clear as do the Sunrace long pull. 

Ray

[Nick A.]

Hey Kevin, the Origin8 DuoTrigger levels will fit as well, I believe. Im running an upside-down sunrace thumbie mount with a shimano bar-end for my FD.

[DavidP]

I picked up a pair of the MX-2 levers a couple of years ago for a build because they looked the part and were decently priced. I was surprised by just how much I like these levers. The sculpted clamps are comfortable for resting hands on or in front of (I remove the reach adjustment grub screws so I can grab on/in front of the body). The fact that they can be set up either long or short pull is icing on the cake.

I just ordered another set this past week (I get them from Pork Chop BMX).

-Dave

[Eric Marth]

Kevin — Do you have a picture of your current problem levers? Is the clamp interfering with the sweep of the shifter lever? I think many many many of us on the forum run Silver thumbies with calmp-on levers and there are a lot of good options out there. Perhaps we can share some photos with different shifter installations and orientations to give you some ideas. I run vintage Suntour thumbies (my fave and still the best) so that wouldn't be especially helpful for your installation. 

The Blue Lug RBW builds page is a great resource for seeing how they approach it: 

• https://bluelug.com/bike-catalog/model/rivendell-bicycle-works

Here are a few pictures of the Silver 2 shifters with Dia Compe, Avid and Shimano levers taken from the Blue Lug Silver 2 page:

 

My personal preference is for the reverse-mounted style shown in the second photo with the shifters on the inside of the bars. 

Pauls look great and I love supporting a California bicycle manufacturer. But they don't work any better than the great and cheap Dia Compe SS-6 levers that Tristen mentioned above. Soma Fab recently came out with a machined aluminum lever that's similar to the Paul levers, it's under their IRD label and called the Cafam brake lever (Fun fact? That's the French bicycle component manufacturer MAFAC spelled backwards). Cheaper than Paul, low profile. Available at Rivendell, Blue Lug and directly from Soma. 

Cheers!

Eric

[Paul Donald]

The Avid FR-5 in pic 2 above is my all time fav brake lever and have had them on all my other bikes that require long pull levers for the last 15 years. Nice against the fingers (just 2 needed) and a very precise feel using v-brakes and mechanical discs, assuming your cable, housing, and calipers are in good shape! The barrel of the cable sits inside the lever without any extra pivot which might explain the "feel". Silver shifter fits in there quite well. But, the clamp is very unpleasant to hold if you (like me) like to move your hands from grips, to over the brake "hoods", and snugging-up in front of the lever itself (after removing the lever reach bolt). I use the Yokozuna flat bar levers from Soma on my Bubbe. My silver shifter does clear the clamp bolt on the Yokozuna, but it's very close. I prefer the shifter halfway between the two curves on my Toscos instead. The IRD levers are much nicer and will allow the shifter to clear the clamp a bit more, but I don't like that they don't (or at least mine didn't) have a split adjuster barrel/nut allowing me to remove/install a cable by popping out the cable at barrel end, and the lever is quite long - three/four finger? - and I prefer a slightly shorter one.