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[Closed] MTB brake levers for road callipers... do they work?

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[#2390038]

I want to put flat bars on my Specialized Langster. For the brake levers do i need to use flat bar road levers or will MTB V brake levers work, or even BMX levers?

Cheers all.


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 12:24 pm
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Won't work, amount of cable pulled for amount of lever movement is different.

But, flat road levers are cheap as, so could be worse.

APF


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 12:28 pm
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No not really. Different cable pull I believe. Shimano do make some flat bar road brake levers though. R440? R500? Something like that.... I got some off Fleabay for about £5 a while back


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 12:28 pm
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Thanks folks, thought the cable pull was different.
Will check eBay.


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 12:40 pm
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They work fine, i use v brake levers with ultegra callipers on my flat bar road bike. Might not be designed to do it as others have siad, but it does work in practice.


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 1:23 pm
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thought bars were different diameters also?


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 1:29 pm
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V levers will work in as much as they'll pull the blocks onto the rim quickly,but you lose feel (they feel very wooden) and you lose power.
A good shop that knows the difference will be able to sell you some non-v flat levers quite cheaply.


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 1:36 pm
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they are at the point the stem clamps them but im pretty sure they would be the same at other points otherwise shifters and grips wouldn't be compatible from MTBs. i use mtb bar and stem so doesnt effect me.


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 1:37 pm
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Quite a few flat-bar levers have a switchable cam including these cheapies from DiaComp which I can recommend:
http://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=BLDCX2LK

(The "Canti" setting is the one you'll want for road calipers)


 
Posted : 21/01/2011 1:47 pm