Non-Integrated brake leaver upgrade options

Tom_Harding

Hi Guys

I’m new round here so first off good to meet you all.

I’ve recently bought a Genesis Day One 20, it’s a great bike but I’m not getting on with the stock Promax BL-253 brake leavers and I would like to replace them. The bike has a Nexus internal gear hub with a bar end shifter so I’m after non-integrated drop bar leavers, this reduces the options as the majority of road leavers seem to have integrated gear shifters.

I’ve been looking at either putting SRAM S500’s or SRAM Rival 1 leavers on but from what I understand neither have a return spring in them. Will these play nicely with the mechanical disk brakes (Promax DSK-717)? I’m concerned that there won’t be enough force created by the brakes to push the leavers back and I will end up with flaccid floppy leavers. Also do people think it’s worth spending the extra money to get rival 1’s or are the S500 pretty good?

Thanks in advance.

Nick Payne

I have a pair of the S500 levers. Quality seems ok, and they definitely don't have a return spring in the lever. I'm using them with canti brakes, so can't say whether the cable pull - they're designed for use with short reach rim calipers - will be compatible with your disc calipers. Whether the return spring in the caliper will be strong enough to pull the lever back to off position depends mostly on the friction in your cables, not on the lever per se.

Matthewfalle

Morning and welcome!

I use simple Cane Creek ones on the single speeder and have some Tektro ones kicking around that I was going to fit but didn't however they are nicely made and can't see why they should cause any issues. I have never had problems with the Cane Creek ones though.

Cane Creek work perfectly with Tektro calipers.

Those SRAM ones look like they will do they job perfectly and there may be Shimano options as well?

Big caveat though is the pull ratios but someone else may well confirm better from the technical side.

imposter2.0

I can't see there being an issue. A good cable run is important, as pointed out, but even with no return springs, the springs at the brake end ought to be sufficient, although you haven't said what calipers you are using.

'Levers' by the way - not 'leavers'.