Author Topic: why are shimano DX brake levers so unloved? (Read 4491 times)

meticulous · « **on:** March 20, 2013, 06:12 PM »

nobody seems to like them or have them on there bikes...

compared with tech 3's they look just as good and are era correct for old schoolers, and they are dead cheap!

so 'why?' i ask....

adenough · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:19 PM »

imo, they look like folded cardboard

crazycraig · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:24 PM »

They work far better than tech III . I like um

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:27 PM »

I don't use them Sam as I don't remember them BITD. Also they look cheap IMO.

In2 bmx · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:31 PM »

Apart from I never had one bitd . The lever is to small , and I don't like the two tone colours . ..

NORTY40 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:42 PM »

I don't mind them , Carl has a point on the two tone variations of the same colour though . I also think that people as daft as it sounds don't use them because they are cheap and readily available . Shame, as like you say Sam they are early 80's levers . I dare say as supplies run out and the price creeps up , more and more people will start to use them . Im pretty sure they were dearer than tec3's bitd

meticulous · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2013, 07:22 PM »

at £10 for a nos pair its a no brainer ... if your not too bothered about the expence snobbery.... $:-\$

diesel · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2013, 07:26 PM »

I have some, however performance wise they are a little spongy in comparison.

They work well when using brand new !00% straight wheels (something I never had back in the day)

midschooljon · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2013, 07:29 PM »

Quote from: diesel on March 20, 2013, 07:26 PM

I have some, however performance wise they are a little spongy in comparison.

They work well when using brand new !00% straight wheels (something I never had back in the day)

I agree, they are super spongy and didn't work as well as DC's offering back in the day. Given most bikes they go on these days wont be raced or ridden hard I guess it doesn't really matter, but BITD they were rubbish to actually use.

animal · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:11 PM »

I had them bitd 4 a while and they work better than Tech 3's till they r worn. I prefere the SX with the chrome lever and coloured body

boofy44 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:11 PM »

they work better than any DC lever and look cool.some people must have been clueless
as to how to set there bikes up bitd.end of.

meticulous · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:14 PM »

watch the price of these levers double now after this thread....

anybody want to buy some mint blue ones for £40....

crazycraig · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:22 PM »

What they work better than DC ? Not on mine they don't . I think you get more pull on the lever . The spongy is the cable stretch . They stop my better

boofy44 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:24 PM »

give the cable a good pre stretch before use.jobs a good un.

hunterdubber · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2013, 09:56 PM »

Quote from: meticulous on March 20, 2013, 06:12 PM

nobody seems to like them or have them on there bikes...

Really ?

I have a Shimano set up on my Nora

Dx lever and Tourney caliper

Because I like to have something different on each of my bikes

I had a DX lever for a while BITD but found it didn't peform aswell as a DC ,,, spongey

but I think the Tourney calipers are ace, with their selfcentre-ing mechanism

, far better than the DC MX self centre bobbins

ozone · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2013, 10:06 PM »

Don't those levers work by moving the outer cable rather than pulling the inner? $:-\$ That could account for the difference in feel.

I could never get away with them personally as their fugliness is impossible to ignore.