Drop bar V-brake levers

[Scott Garrison]

I'm contemplating swapping to a drop bar on my Sam. I love the V-brakes and don't want to switch to canti's. It seems to be quite the challenge to find a good set of long pull drop bar levers. I've seen reference to Tektro RL520's, Dia Compe DC 287V's and Origin8 Pro Force LP's but no one has any in stock (at least in the US). 

Any suggestions on other options? Is there a reason these aren't widely available? 

Thanks, -Scott

[Jay Lonner]

I’ve never used them myself, but the usual answer to this question is https://problemsolversbike.com/products/travel-agent.

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

Sent from my Atari 400

On Mar 18, 2026, at 3:37 PM, Scott Garrison <scotti...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm contemplating swapping to a drop bar on my Sam. I love the V-brakes and don't want to switch to canti's. It seems to be quite the challenge to find a good set of long pull drop bar levers. I've seen reference to Tektro RL520's, Dia Compe DC 287V's and Origin8 Pro Force LP's but no one has any in stock (at least in the US). 

Any suggestions on other options? Is there a reason these aren't widely available? 

Thanks, -Scott

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[Charles Staunton]

I’m using Tektro RL340  short pull levers with tektro Mini V brakes… works like a charm.. I did throw in inline barrel adjusters

Thank you

-Charlie 

Virgil Normal

4157 Normal Ave.

Los Angeles, Ca 90029

(323)741-8489

he...@virgilnormal.com

On Mar 18, 2026, at 3:37 PM, Scott Garrison <scotti...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Scott Garrison]

I've seen those before too. I can't seem to get over how ugly they are and they must lose at least some braking power. 

[Andrew Letton]

I would have to disagree. I find them better than the usual v-brake "noodle" and sometimes use them as a straight-through pulley (no ratio change) on v-brakes that seem to have too much friction or where there's a routing issue (eg my Bike Friday) that makes a noodle unworkable. IME, a cable running around a ball-bearing pulley has significantly less friction than a noodle. I've also used them to change the ratio on several bikes with great success. Do keep an eye out for fatigue failure of the cable where it rounds the small pulley. I've never had an issue with it, but I've heard others mention it.

cheers,

Andrew in Sydney

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[Conway Bennett]

I run tektro rl 520 long pull drop bar levers and v brakes on three bikes and think they are great.  I do also use compressionless  housing and kool stop thinline salmon pads, so they are tuned.  I have used travel agents--they are annoying to setup and make cockpit swaps a hassle.  Both products are now out of production, but I have some to sell for just such occasions, and the travel agents are a very Rivish silver!

[Scott Garrison]

Thanks for the feedback! I'd like to avoid the travel agents, even if they work just as good. Just can't get over the look of them. Besides, I'd like to set it up to make it (relatively) easy to swap back and forth between drops and upright bars.

I'd be interested in a set of RL 520's as long as they are new or near new condition.

[saintruggler]

I have a set of RL520 long pull levers, BUT perhaps you'd be interested in a set of Genevalle/Retroshift "brifters" with 9-speed shifters + RL520 brake levers.

Here is a photo album that shows the Gevenalles side-by-side with the RL520s: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2TCbXys26LduoCND7

Let me know!

Eric