Shimano 105 brake levers?

[Mick F]

I have Shimano 105 brake callipers on Moulton operated by RL320 Tektro levers.
http://www.tektro.com/products.php?p=72
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/?s=tektro+rl340

The lever operation is a bit "stiff" as I reckon the mechanical efficiency is wrong for the 105 callipers as the "pull" is insufficient although they are excellent levers nonetheless.

If I were to fit different levers for better feel, which ones should I fit?
Very very happy with the 105 callipers.

Would these be better?
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-tiagra ... ke-levers/

[reohn2]

I never got on with the shape of the Shimano levers in the link.

These from PX get good reports:- https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BLTRPRRLS ... ake-levers

[Mick F]

They look fantastic!
Thanks!
Will they pull correctly for Shimano 105 callipers?

The Tektro levers I have were originally for the Tektro callipers that came with the bike, but they were bendy and flexed under braking hard and lost any efficiency they may have had.

No doubt you remember my complaints about them, and how they were probably the guilty party for my rims overheating. No issues or complaints about the 105 callipers, just that the levers don't match the pull requirements ....... I think.

[Brucey]

which exact caliper model do you have, Mick?

Didn't you buy BR-R650, or am I imagining that?

cheers

[Mick F]

Just looking that up!

R650 bought from Ribble in July of 2017 for £60
Sold as 105 but maybe they are in reality Ultegra.

Found this thread but it doesn't help my issue though the "20% harder" seems about right to me.
viewtopic.php?t=95669

Compared to Mercian with Chorus/Athena, the Tektro/105 feel wooden. Mercian's are light and easy and can be operated strongly with one finger.

I wondered if using Shimano with Shimano would be like Campag with Campag.

[Brucey]

there is more than one brake MA used by shimano. The problem may well be that the calipers are meant for the 'old' style of brake lever (for all dual pivot brakes from ~1990 to 2008) but the levers you have (like the ST-4600 originally fitted to your bike) are really meant for New Super SLR (NSSLR) brakes. This combination is permitted but indicated with a dotted line in shimano's compatibility charts, indicating 'reduced power'.

There are lots of older brake levers which will work perfectly with your calipers; anything shimano for dropped bars from the 1990s or early 2000s will be fine.

Of currently available brake levers shimano BL-R400 will work perfectly. So will campag and SRAM brake levers I think; they seem to have stuck with the 'old' cable pull.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-levers/shimano-blr400-slr-aero-road-brake-levers/

cheers

[Mick F]

Thanks Brucey.

The Tiagra STIs were horrible to use, so that may be because of the Tektro brake callipers.
I sold the Tiagra and bought the RL320 Tektro levers, then later sold the Tektro brake callipers coz they were bendy and spongy and bought the Shimano R650s.
Suffering from mis-match all the time eh?

Does the pull requirement exist in non-Shimano levers?
Are my Tektro levers pulling insufficiently and would just loosening off the adjustment help?

[Mick F]

Cheaper on Amazon with free delivery too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shimano-Tiagra ... B000NORM04

[Brucey]

Are my Tektro levers pulling insufficiently and would just loosening off the adjustment help?

the MA (Mechanical advantage) is too low in NSSLR levers. Low leverage = longer cable pull. Unless you can somehow remount the cable nipple inside the lever (closer to the pivot) there is nothing you can do which will improve the lever MA.

You can estimate the MA of the brake levers by measuring the distance from the pivot to where your fingers sit (A) and the distance from the pivot to the cable anchor point (B). A/B = MA.

For your brake calipers to work really well the lever MA should be ~3.5 or a touch more. NSSLR levers have a lower MA than this.

cheers

[Mick F]

Quick measurement.

75mm from pivot to finger position
20mm from pivot to anchor

= 3.75

I'm not that far out with these measurements, so why do my brakes need so much of a hard pull?
Good job I have big strong hands.

As I said, Campag on Mercian can be used with one finger.

[colin54]

Would these work, Dia-Compe Gran-Compe ? They need some form of screw in cable stop/ferrule which are missing.You would be welcome to them if they're any good to you Mick, the hoods clean up ok with a bit of soapy water. I got them for free with a bike from another forum member.

[Brucey]

Quick measurement.

75mm from pivot to finger position
20mm from pivot to anchor

= 3.75

I'm not that far out with these measurements, so why do my brakes need so much of a hard pull?
Good job I have big strong hands.

As I said, Campag on Mercian can be used with one finger.

OK in which case the levers are not NSSLR ones and the brakes ought not to be badly lacking in MA. Down to pads, cables etc then...?

IIRC the Dia Compe levers that Colin has will have the correct MA (about 4:1) even for single pivot calipers. They need special ferrules in the back; SJS sell the correct ones I think.

cheers

[reohn2]

They look fantastic!
Thanks!
Will they pull correctly for Shimano 105 callipers?.....

Yer welcome,I dunno about the cable pull but PX's blurb say they're for caliper and canti's.

[colin54]

They need special ferrules in the back; SJS sell the correct ones I think.

cheers

These ones Brucey ? Does the radiused end just sit there ? I wonder why the hole is threaded .https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cables/diac ... ke-levers/
Only 2 in stock I might buy them even if Mick doesn't take the levers.
They're a fiver with the postage.

[Brucey]

yes I think they are the ones; they fit to the upper hole (not threaded?) in the back of the lever. The radiused ferrule matches the radius in the lever body.

cheers