70s and 80s Road Bike Brake Levers
04-18-23, 05:45 PM
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70s and 80s Road Bike Brake Levers
For say the 70s and 80s, are all the different road bike brake lever brands compatible? Could you use Campy levers with Dia Compe brakes? Could you use Dia Compe levers with Universal brakes? Shimano levers with Campy brakes? I've been searching for an answer and not had luck finding one. Thanks in advance for any responses.
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04-18-23, 05:53 PM
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Yes. I never used Campy but used DC with Universal, DC with Modolo, etc.
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04-18-23, 06:32 PM
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Campy goes with everything. 
But if you have a full Campy bike, I wouldn't put Dia Compe levers on it.
But if you have a full Campy bike, I wouldn't put Dia Compe levers on it.
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04-18-23, 07:37 PM
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Yep, until Shimano SLR was introduced in 87, everything was pretty much interchangeable.
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04-18-23, 07:44 PM
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There's one setup that doesn't work very well, and that's using an aero lever for the front, mounted on the normal, left side paired with a much older side-pull that has its cable entry on that same side. If you wanted to do this, it's almost better to switch the levers, front-to-right, British style.
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04-18-23, 09:23 PM
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Another one that someone pointed out today is pairing a lever without a quick release with a side-pull also without a qr. It's doable, but you might need to deflate the tire to remove it.
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04-18-23, 09:56 PM
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Or wind up the adjuster, aka slow release, if there's enough thread available.
On one of my bikes I need to deflate the (25c) tyre to get it out of the dropouts due to the close proximity of the seat tube. Two birds, etc.
A common problem here in Australia where the convention is to have the front brake on the right side which creates a dicky cable arc. Hence why I set my bikes up 'Euro' style - left lever to front brake.
On one of my bikes I need to deflate the (25c) tyre to get it out of the dropouts due to the close proximity of the seat tube. Two birds, etc.
There's one setup that doesn't work very well, and that's using an aero lever for the front, mounted on the normal, left side paired with a much older side-pull that has its cable entry on that same side. If you wanted to do this, it's almost better to switch the levers, front-to-right, British style.
Last edited by P!N20; 04-18-23 at 10:01 PM.
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04-18-23, 11:08 PM
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04-19-23, 04:39 AM
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Form over function? Right to the front for me. Been that way for 50+ years. Dave Moulton does the same.
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04-19-23, 05:53 AM
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Since the topic is current... I need to replace some dia compe aero levers that are in nasty shape. Taking recommendations for aero levers that have the vintage look... be they 80's/90's or new production. Wouldn't hurt if they're italian but hey.
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04-19-23, 06:08 AM
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https://www.amazon.com/Dia-Compe-Dri.../dp/B09HXJ35P9
04-19-23, 06:23 AM
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04-19-23, 06:35 AM
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04-19-23, 06:45 AM
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@P!N20 - For me, being right-handed and a former motorcyclist, the right hand is preferred for front wheel braking, functionally.
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04-19-23, 06:53 AM
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04-19-23, 07:02 AM
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Only in the sense that SurferRosa mentioned above that the Deltas don't have a quick release, so it's good to have one on your lever. Other than that it's just pulling a cable. Remember Campagnolo invented the 'gruppo', and prior to that riders mixed components as they saw fit.
04-19-23, 07:11 AM
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04-19-23, 07:20 AM
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04-19-23, 07:26 AM
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04-19-23, 07:30 AM
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For say the 70s and 80s, are all the different road bike brake lever brands compatible? Could you use Campy levers with Dia Compe brakes? Could you use Dia Compe levers with Universal brakes? Shimano levers with Campy brakes? I've been searching for an answer and not had luck finding one. Thanks in advance for any responses.
04-19-23, 07:31 AM
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04-19-23, 11:05 AM
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