Shimano SLR aero levers vs. Dia-compe BRS?
06-26-21, 02:31 PM
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Shimano SLR aero levers vs. Dia-compe BRS?
Another minutia question:
Shimano SLR levers have been recommended for use with Tektro 559 and 650b wheels.
The bike I am converting has Dia-compe Alpha levers that look like all black versions of these:
They are "BRS" levers which I gather is the same sort of return spring set up as the Shimano SLR's.
The question I have is whether they will be as effective with the Tektro brakes.
I have a set of Shimano 105 SLR levers and form follows function, but would prefer to keep the bike matchy matchy, as much as possible.
Thoughts?
Shimano SLR levers have been recommended for use with Tektro 559 and 650b wheels.
The bike I am converting has Dia-compe Alpha levers that look like all black versions of these:
They are "BRS" levers which I gather is the same sort of return spring set up as the Shimano SLR's.
The question I have is whether they will be as effective with the Tektro brakes.
I have a set of Shimano 105 SLR levers and form follows function, but would prefer to keep the bike matchy matchy, as much as possible.
Thoughts?
06-26-21, 02:35 PM
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Maybe install one of each and ride it for a while, so you can compare? (shrug)
06-26-21, 03:23 PM
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Shimano SLR 105’s every day.
Dia Compe BRS brakes were not their best offering.
John
Dia Compe BRS brakes were not their best offering.
John
Likes For 70sSanO:
06-26-21, 11:09 PM
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I don't have the original Dia-Compe BRS 500 levers on my '93 Trek 5900 anymore (I've switched to brifters), but still use the BRS 500 calipers (that bike was a mish-mash of the lightest components Trek could find, so there's some Dura Ace, some Dia-Compe, some Chris King, White Industries, Ibis, etc.). I prefer them to the early/mid 2000s Shimano 105 calipers I have on another bike. Nothing wrong with the 105, but the Dia-Compe BRS 500 calipers are smoother and lighter operating while still braking positively (as rim brakes go). But the newer 105 is easier to align and adjust. With some tweaking I might be able to match the BRS 500 braking feel.
06-27-21, 05:38 AM
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Both levers operate on the same principle and the two samples that I measured have the very similar, if not identical, mechanical advantage. Consequently, the performance should be almost identical. In which case I'd choose whichever one was most comfortable to your hands.
06-27-21, 10:03 AM
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I avoid use of any DiaCompe aero levers having the swiveling "bullet" ferrule inside.
What was perhaps intended to spare the cable housing from a tight bend instead tends to create a very sharp bend in the cable wire where it exits the ferrule, thus creating sawing action against the 2mm ferrule opening and with massive friction resulting.
I think that originally these early-generation levers were intended to have the cable housing ideally entering a drilled hole in the handlebar, sparing the tight exit bend at the ferrule.
Later DC aero levers used fixed inline ferrules, but lined cable housing had little trouble with coping with the sharp bend in the housing. Still less than ideal and I think that Shimano designed their levers around this to a somewhat better degree.
What was perhaps intended to spare the cable housing from a tight bend instead tends to create a very sharp bend in the cable wire where it exits the ferrule, thus creating sawing action against the 2mm ferrule opening and with massive friction resulting.
I think that originally these early-generation levers were intended to have the cable housing ideally entering a drilled hole in the handlebar, sparing the tight exit bend at the ferrule.
Later DC aero levers used fixed inline ferrules, but lined cable housing had little trouble with coping with the sharp bend in the housing. Still less than ideal and I think that Shimano designed their levers around this to a somewhat better degree.
