Short Levers

[pizzle]

Basic physics says a longer lever is easier to pull

 

[SFSV650]

Some of the people in here don't have a flippin clue! It is not aesthetics, unless you are lame. Who in the fuck says "Nice shorty levers dude. Wish I had a set.".

That's why I'm asking!

We live in a world where people extend their swingarm for aesthetic purposes - without you fine people to set me straight how would I know whether short levers are about using fewer fingers or compromising performance to add bling?

 

[louemc]

a little tangent, but i heard that the motogp levers have holes in them because they go so fast the wind resistance would actually push the levers in otherwise

Ya heard wrong...The holes are where material doesn't have to be,
for strength reasons.

Now if the manufacturer is making levers for poor people..they aren't about to go to the expense of highest grade material and CNC machining the un-needed material out.

Cost is no object projects like MotoGP bikes..get the best there is.

 

[dowlinginchico]

a little tangent, but i heard that the motogp levers have holes in them because they go so fast the wind resistance would actually push the levers in otherwise

or they are a bunch of weight weenies. "Guess what.... I found a way to save 0.0000001 gram"

 

[fast4d]

short levers are contoured for better grip with two fingers.

with long oem levers and two fingers I sometimes find my fingers slipping while holding the clutch.

 

[louemc]

Basic physics says a longer lever is easier to pull

Long lever? For what? Farm equipment?

I use one finger for braking, I up-graded my brakes to work that strong. Some day (but it hasn't come up yet) I might want to add a finger for a special occasion...But I sure don't need the length of lever that came on the bike...And the long lever just looks dorky as well.

Now on the other hand...Harley brakes (mostly because of the pads, and rubber brake lines) are so sorry, Ya need all the lever the bike came with, and some time wish ya had more, even.

 

[SuperMike]

It's getting expensive to replace my broken ASVs.

Umm... Aren't ASVs "guaranteed unbreakable" or some shit?

 

[Sharxfan]

For me the shorty levers have a different geometry than the crappy stock Zuki ones so it allows me to clutch and brake the way I like without smashing my fingers. I just like the looks of the shorty levers versus the long levers as well. It is a personal choice go with what feels good to you.

 

[silenthavoc]

Umm... Aren't ASVs "guaranteed unbreakable" or some shit?

That's true, they are strong. But it depends on the crash. When my R6 hit the guard rail, the blade of the brake lever was broken from the impact. I had a lowside with my 675 at around 48mph, no impact, just sliding. The brake lever didn't break, but it was bent. I bent it back but the pivot bolt was warped and I think the integrity of the lever is gone. I just didn't feel safe using the same one again.

 

[Bassem]

Basic physics says a longer lever is easier to pull

You're not pulling at the end of the lever. The 'arm' of your moment is from the pivot to your index/middle finger. The rest is extra.

 

[carries an axe]

No..I can't give a verbal picture of what the members on the ZX-10 site were saying in responding to the members that had the lock-up happen, but...it sounded like the part on the OEM levers wasn't replicated accurately on the made in China ebay levers..that does the pressure release.

And the reports of lock up, didn't all happen with hard brake application
(just ham handed braking would be suspect then).

There were reports of the brakes locking up...after (kinda well after) the brakes had been used.

I had a lock up problem once, I used the asv unbreakables on my monster. The part that was defective was machined too long Compared to the stock brembo one. It was the tumbler/pin or whatever they call it that conects to the master cylinder. It was always slightly engaged Causing the brakes to eventually lockup. I ended up filing it down with a metal file.

 

[SFSV650]

I had a lock up problem once, I used the asv unbreakables on my monster. The part that was defective was machined too long Compared to the stock brembo one. It was the tumbler/pin or whatever they call it that conects to the master cylinder. It was always slightly engaged Causing the brakes to eventually lockup. I ended up filing it down with a metal file.

Thanks!

Is there a good way to check? Measure the pins when you have both levers off the bike?

 

[carries an axe]

Thanks!

Is there a good way to check? Measure the pins when you have both levers off the bike?

With your bike in neutral try and push it if it's sluggish the brakes are probably engaged. Also the lever might get really stiff after you pull a few times.

Oh yeah, and measure with the original

 

[Reli]

Stock levers = crap

Shorties are much easier to one-or-two finger, much better looking, and much less likely to break in a fall. Plus they are easy to install, and you can re-sell them when you decide to sell the bike. It's really a no-brainer.

 

[clutchslip]

a little tangent, but i heard that the motogp levers have holes in them because they go so fast the wind resistance would actually push the levers in otherwise

I am really tempted to do the math on this, because it seems very unlikely. The surface area of a lever is zilch. And even at 200+mph, I doubt the pressure is enough to overcome the return force of the levers.

 

[squidworth]

its true.. data acquisition showed the brake lever engaging ever so slightly at the end of long straights while riders are still on the gas

 

[Yo!Joe!!!]

Waste of money OP. Just stock up on stock levers. They are way cheaper.

 

[clutchslip]

its true.. data acquisition showed the brake lever engaging ever so slightly at the end of long straights while riders are still on the gas

Wow. That is some sensitive brakes, I would say. Now, I might do the slide rule work to see how light the pressure is on those suckers..... or just go "wow, sensitive", a couple more times.

 

[corndog67]

Stock levers = crap

Shorties are much easier to one-or-two finger, much better looking, and much less likely to break in a fall. Plus they are easy to install, and you can re-sell them when you decide to sell the bike. It's really a no-brainer.

Nothing wrong with stock levers. The Magura one on my KTM is real nice, and the stock Brembos on both the KTM and Ducati front brakes are pretty nice pieces. Why would you say they are crap?

 

[SummerLove]

I have short fingers and Multi's stock levers were were not very adjustable.