[Closed] What are the best levers for BB7's?

avid sd7

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22387

I like Avid SD levers with mine, as you can fine-tune the pivot-point, therefore the lever feel, modulation, bite-point and all that guff. They're also a really nice shape.

I've got a pair of SD5's (that I swapped put for some slightly blingy SLs) going spare if you're interested.

EDIT - These aren't mine, but it's what they look like

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Avid Speed dial definitely.

I have these on both mine - nice and smooth.

you can often pick them up for about £100 on ebay:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8891

I had avid speed dial 7's on my bb7's: they were pretty great.
Old lx levers are also worth a lok if you find them cheap enough: they look a bit 'dated' if you are worried about that sort of thing, but have a three position 'servo wave' adjustment much like speed dial levers, except speed dial had whatever position you want.

I like the SD7's, the older shape looks nicer too IMO, more like the ultimates above.
I also have a pair of the older style LX's up for grabs too if youre interested, £12!

thats great thanks, i think id keep an eye out for the ultimate levers, be interesting to here if anyone uses xtr levers though,

cheers

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You'd have to be bloody mental

I have a friend that uses XTR levers. He likes them but I'm pretty sure he disables the servo wave. I use XT levers. They're good but the click as the servo wave changes to higher leverage is mildly annoying. I like them for control and power though.

I've used LX & XTR and currently use XT & SD5s with my BB7s, all work perfectly well and can't honestly tell the difference.

I have used XTR and Avid ultimates on mine.

Prefer the XTR for tactile and finger feel, sits nicer with my fingers, but prefer the Avid ultimates for power and actual brake feel, even if not quite as comfy.

The ultimates are so adjustable you can get them just right, and they work really well with BB7s. You'd have to be mad to pay full price though... I got mine SH for £40 and even then I thought that was expensive for a pair of brake levers.

top tip - pay attention to your cabling, if you can stomach the cost use Nokons.

top tip - pay attention to your cabling, if you can stomach the cost use Nokons

Twice the cost of jagwire and goodrich 😯

Do you get twice the performance in your experience of these?

My dad's XTR levers look to have exactly the same pivot point adjust as the SD7s? i.e. a threaded rod moving the cable carriage closer or further away from the pivot. Even if the XTRs aren't as good as the SD7s, they'll be better than my XTs, and they feel great.

Also using bog standard shimano outers, filled with finish line Dry lube. I might splash out and fit some rubber concertinas from a set of V-Brakes to the small exposed section of cable at the calliper, as I think mud can work its way in from there.

amedias - Member
...top tip - pay attention to your cabling, if you can stomach the cost use Nokons.

I prefer Avid levers.

That is a top tip from amedias, but there's a cheaper way to do it.

Use aluminium tubing from B&Q for those parts of the outer that are static. You'll recognise it when you see it because it's the same diameter as outer tubing. Run a nylon or teflon liner and you're set - much better brakes because there's no cable travel being wasted compressing the outer.

double post.

Those Ultimates are a total waste of money in terms of funktionality. Speshly considering SD7s are less than tenth of the price! They offer no advantage whatsoever.

S/H ones might be a good bet, cos they are undoubtedly lovely.

In fact, I have a pair here, to sell on behalf of Psychle....

Run a nylon or teflon liner and you're set

What liner do you use epicyclo?

avdave2 - Member
What liner do you use epicyclo?

Anything I can run an inner cable through that feels smooth enough. 🙂

You can buy Nokon or Avid liner and use it for this, or you can get something similar from a dealer in air tools down your local industrial estate and pay much less per metre.

Or you could dispense with the liner and simply fill the alloy tube with grease.

If you want your BB7s to feel smooth like hydros then every little helps, hence the ultimate levers which run on sealed bearings.

+1 for what epicylco said about using ally tube, I have done that on the straight bits too, but not found a better alternative for the bendy bits, or on full sus with funny routing yet other than Nokon or equivalent bead style outers.

Twice the cost of jagwire and goodrich - Do you get twice the performance in your experience of these?

pretty much...I have found the jagwire kits* I have used to be a bit crap, never feel as smooth as Nokon style bead outers and no where near as flexible. I am also still using a Nokon outer that must be over 5 years old so longevity is second to none, just replace the inner sleeve if needs be.

*never tried goodrich

Thanks epicyclo I'll give that a try.

BTW one advantage of the aluminium tube over the Avid FMJ is that it is easier to curve it gently with thumbs to follow the lines of the frame.

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great cheers!