vintage brake lever vs modern
 

the vintage lever is much more expensive than more modern ones.

is there performance difference to justify the increase price?

vintage
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43ec58f44.jpeg


modern
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1dee7cd4a.jpeg

it looks like the cable is further away from the pivot, on the modern levers than the vintage.

so the grabbing power should be different.

In my opinion, and generally speaking, newer components usually feel and work better. I don't see cable adjusters on that newer set and I feel that adjusters help...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4a9bfb1d09.jpg

To that add that I have installed a similar set of those Old School brake levers on an old Motobecane...
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f29d3fc5dd.jpg

The levers worked just fine but it would have been great to have the opportunity to adjust cable tension or slack without a lot of fuss...

Those “vintage” levers are still available new: https://velo-orange.com/collections/...-brakes-levers

If you don't mind black, Avid Speed Dial levers allow for more adjustments than just the cable.
https://www.amazon.com/Avid-Speed-Bi...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

You get what you pay for. Comparing the price of a quality vintage lever against that of a generic basic modern lever is not valid. I have a set of vintage Dia-Compe levers similar to your picture and have found them to be functional and reliable, but no more so than the modern Tektro levers that I have on other bikes. The vintage levers do not have adjusters, but instead rely on an adjuster at either the caliper or cable hanger. The big reason they started to mount adjusters at the lever was that it was difficult to mount an adjuster on a V-brake mechanism.

One thing that you have to keep in mind is that the vintage levers are short-pull and will not work for V-brakes. The more modern levers are typically long-pull, switchable between long and short, or less functionally somewhere in between long and short (Universal???).

It depends on what the goal is.

I think ATB levers look terrible on 70s style bikes with upright bars- but if the build gets more modern, the old Weinmann style look “cheap.”

On the other hand, if I were to do a “modern” bike with cantis or sidepulls- I’d use mid-80s/early 90s XT, XC Pro or upper level DiaCompe levers.

The pressed sheet metal bodies on many old, lower model brake levers were prone to flexing, which resulted in mushy, less direct/precise brake feel, plus the usually wide tolerances between the levers and the bodies on many of these, tend to cause rattles when riding on bumpy roads, which can get quite irritating. So if is better if you can find/use levers with better quality lever bodies done in cast aluminum alloy if you can.

I really like the old Shimano motorcycle-style 4-finger brake levers on my mountain bike. Shimano U-brake in back, SunTour RollerCam up front, KoolStop pads all around. Great braking power and control.

Those old style Weinmann/Dia-Compe city levers were very widely used for city bikes from ~ the late 60s into the early/mid 80s. If you're converting an old bike from that time from drop bars to city bars, these are the levers that look right. Some people will pay a premium for that.

I'm surprised those cheap, modern interpretations of the Weinmann/Dia-Compe upright levers would be more costly than any modern lever - and I'd be interested in knowing the source. Also, any co-op ought to have at least a few serviceable examples in the $5 brake lever bin.

I always thought they were cheap too and didn't have much faith in them - until the day that fate forced me to pair one with a Nuovo Record sidepull. I was shocked to see how well that stamped aluminum lever worked with a quality sidepull. The stiff return spring of the NR caliper is instrumental to the brake feel.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1def2fde58.jpg


-Kurt

I remember some of those "vintage brake levers" that sometimes cut the cables after a lot of use and that was due to the very sloppy fit of the housing ferrule to the brake lever body*. More modern levers don't seem to have that problem.

Cheers

* I had a bike that the rear brake lever broke the cable on as I was riding to meet someone. On the way home the front brake lever cut its cable. Had to walk the rest of the way as no way was I riding in Toronto, Canada without working brakes.