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What are these brake levers?

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What are these brake levers?

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Old 07-18-10, 04:54 PM
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Technochicken
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What are these brake levers?




These are the levers that came on my early 70's (I think) Bottecchia, but they have no markings on them whatsoever. The calipers are made by Universal, but I have not been able to find levers like these anywhere. I can post some closer up pictures if needed. Thanks for any info!

-TC
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Old 07-18-10, 05:22 PM
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Those are so unbelievably cool looking.
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Old 07-18-10, 05:46 PM
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Universal 61's, or a Galli brake lever design perhaps. I'll put my money on the former, considering the Mod. 68 brake calipers.

-Kurt
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Old 07-18-10, 06:04 PM
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Thanks. So would they have been custom drilled? Looking them up, I did not see any pre-drilled ones.
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Old 07-18-10, 06:16 PM
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What a nice, classy fence you chose for your background!
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Old 07-18-10, 06:22 PM
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I know, right!
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Old 07-18-10, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by cudak888
Universal 61's, or a Galli brake lever design perhaps. I'll put my money on the former, considering the Mod. 68 brake calipers.

-Kurt
Mod. 61s and mod. 68s used the same lever. These look like they've been "custom drilled" though.

Robbie Nitro on the CR list makes replica hoods for these.
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Old 07-18-10, 06:30 PM
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Universal. I think they may be home-drilled.
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Old 07-18-10, 06:36 PM
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Universal without the hoods. I have a pair without the hood. The cable length adustment is the give away other than the calipers. I like the length and shape of the levers. The body is prone to failure if it is tightened too much, or if really tight and hit hard. They slip a lot too, so getting them just right is a challenge.
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Old 07-18-10, 06:47 PM
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Another problem with Universal levers is that they have low leverage. They make braking difficult. Calipers are excellent, however. They were a really good value. They looked boring, but they worked like champs.
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Old 07-18-10, 06:49 PM
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Looks like good ole 70's drillium tech applied liberally on those levers....
It survived intact this long, so maybe you don't have to worry about lit being up to the job of braking the bike.

Chombi
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