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Koski Engineering Power Curve Brake Levers

MSRP $
Weight
# of Reviews 11
Average Rating 3.64/5
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Description:
  • Ergonomic "2 1/2 finger" design
  • Light weight
  • Black body with silver blade
  • Adjustable reach
  • Weight: 76g



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    Submitted by Steve a from Wisconsin
    Date Reviewed: August 12, 2005
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:-Lightweight
    -Fairly strong
    -Good looks
    -Comfort
    Weaknesses:-The lever wobbles a bit
    Bottom Line:These are pretty strong levers for how lightweight they are. I have taken some pretty nasty falls on them and they are just fine. I had trouble with one of them after I crashed, but it was nothing a little tinkering couldnt handle. (routine maintainance if you ask me) I have a disc in front and regular ol v's in the back and the levers work good for both. The wobble is not really a problem with me, since it gives me something to play with on the straights. All in all they are good XC levers for the price. However I wouldnt use these for DH or FR.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Mark a Cross Country Rider from Wolfeboro, NH
    Date Reviewed: July 31, 2004
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Purchased At:Stock with V-brakes.
    Strengths:Light. Good finger hold (ergonomically optimised).
    Weaknesses:Look somewhat flimsy. Small amount of up & down play.
    Similar Products Used:Various
    Bike Setup:GT Avalanche (2000).
    Bottom Line:These levers came with rear v-brakes as stock components on my steed. The v-brakes were changed out for an avid mechanical, and the levers stayed on the bike. I like them.
    They do the job, and my fingers have never slipped off at inopportune times. Lots of riding + a few endos/crashes = koski levers still going strong, but I will upgrade when they break. 5 burning Christmas trees for value, 4 for overall (due to flimsy feel/look).
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by El Julioso a Cross Country Rider from Fredericton, NB, Canada
    Date Reviewed: October 20, 2003
    Favorite Trail:O'Dell Park
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Purchased At:Lakeshore Cycle and Sports
    Strengths:Light, inexpensive, comfortable
    Weaknesses:Weak, limited range of adjustment
    Similar Products Used:Avid, Shimano
    Bike Setup:'00 Schwinn Moab 1
    Bottom Line:I've had these levers since August '00, and finally broke them today. A regular five-year-old could bend them. I've had to bend them back parallel to the handlebars a few dozen times, and after a rather nasty endo today, the right lever was bent down about 60 degrees. When I bent it back, it snapped.

    They were pretty good levers up until now, but there's no excuse to use such crappy metal in lever blade construction. The housing is good, though, and I haven't had any problems with the pivots that some other reviewers have mentioned.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Fake Name a Cross Country Rider from Louisiana
    Date Reviewed: September 19, 2002
    Favorite Trail:your mom
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:jensonusa
    Strengths:INexpensive, functional, light
    Weaknesses:Lose, unrefined, ugly
    Similar Products Used:Avid SD 7, Shimano LX, Tetro, promax,
    Bike Setup:Gary Fisher kaitai
    Bottom Line:Im going on record as a brake lever snob here...I refuse to ever get hydraulic brakes because the levers generally suck. I have some Avid SD 7's with some Avid mech discs and its the best stopping ive ever had. Anything Avid Makes, from the SD 7 on up, is the pinnacle of lever design. Tight, smooth, easily adjustable function, slightly textured levers, unmatched durability (unless youre an inept rider, then everything is easy to break) Anyway, these things arent really bad, especailly considering the price. They are just really rough arounf the edges. The adjustment feels awful, and has a range that is only a fraction of the avids, the levers are lose and have a fair amount of up/down play, which I really hate, but doesnt really affect my riding, the metal used is really light, but is very slippery. Short fingered gloves are a definate liability. The metal also feels kinda flimsy. I might be concerned if I endoed more often. A Shimano brake cable doesnt fit into the lever without a bit of sanding, though this is probably as much Shimanos fault as Koski's. Also, they look cheap, especially with the adjustment window. But, that having been said, they pull cable pretty well. The action is smooth (once you get through the millimeter or so of up-down lever play) and the hold well. The modulation controls suck at staying set, but with a careful eye on maintainance, the modulation is effective (if somewhat limited). These are a good buy for someone looking to build a custom bike with cheap components that wont kill them, or for someone who wants levers with modulation but without a 35 dollar price tag.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by keen a from bay area, ca
    Date Reviewed: August 24, 2002
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:e-bay
    Strengths:Fully adjustable, inexpensive.
    Weaknesses:loose levers, cheaply made.
    Similar Products Used:tektro levers.
    Bottom Line:You get what you pay for. I had to tighten the lever set screws before I installed them on my bike and will probably have to continue until the bushings or levers wear, whichever comes first.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Steve a Weekend Warrior from Fremont
    Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Purchased At:came on bike
    Strengths:Cheap, light, powerful
    Weaknesses:does look a little flimsy
    Similar Products Used:bunch
    Bike Setup:Diamond Back XSL pro, XT/XTR throughout 'cept Koseki Brakes
    Bottom Line:These are pretty good levers. They came stock and I'm not planning to change them. Love the ininately adjustable thing. Helps overcome the fact that the brakes are so damn powerful. Pins were coming out at first but once i tightened the hidden screws in the blades I've had no issues. Overall a good product. 4 turds overall coz they do look a little flimsy. First major wipeout will tell
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Nicolas Allen a Weekend Warrior from Edmonton, AB, Can
    Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Valley
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:ebay
    Strengths:Light, nice looking
    Weaknesses:levers are loose
    Similar Products Used:other levers
    Bottom Line:I agree that the brakes are a little flimsy, the lever bounces around, however the pins are not coming out of mine, besides what do you expect for 15 bucks with shipping!!!!!! I like them, light, good looking, and hey if they do the job, who cares.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Eric a Cross Country Rider from Seattle, WA
    Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:Cheap I suppose
    Weaknesses:P.O.S. the pins are always loose and vibrate out of the housing and levers on the trail.
    Similar Products Used:Shimano
    Bike Setup:'00 Moab 1 These came stock on my bike and started coming apart on the second ride, they are nothing but crap
    Bottom Line:These levers are cheap and they show it. They are loose and vibrate all the time, the pivot pins have begun to bak out of the housing, I have to push them in while I am riding so the lever stays on. The only reason I still have them is cause I am saving up for discs. Don't waste your money (even a little of it)...these will no doubt dissapoint you sooner or later! Even schwinn switched to avid for the 2001 bikes.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Brendan a Cross Country Rider from PG, CA USA
    Date Reviewed: December 10, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Pebble Beach
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Purchased At:Sport Center Bicycles
    Strengths:Light weight, smooth braking, feels nice
    Weaknesses:Blades look alittle flimsy
    Similar Products Used:Shimano
    Bike Setup:GT XCR-3000 stock
    Bottom Line:Good Brake Levers
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Mountain Man a Cross Country Rider from Ontario, Canada
    Date Reviewed: November 7, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Bird Sanctuary
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Purchased At:Lakeshore Cycle and Sports
    Strengths:Light, stiff, comfortable, smooth action, good looking
    Weaknesses:???
    Similar Products Used:Avid SD 2.0L, SRAM 9.0SL(POS!!), Shimano crap
    Bike Setup:'00 Schwinn Moab 1, Judy Race, LX/XTR, Syncros, Titec, Koski Levers and Brakes
    Bottom Line:Absolutely the best levers I have ever tried. Only slightly heavier than SRAM 9.0SL plastic levers, but more comfortable and flex-free. These levers are great, and are probably pretty cheap. Buy yourself some!!!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Kyle Hume a Weekend Warrior from mission, B.C, Canada
    Date Reviewed: October 3, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Bair mtn.
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $25.00
    Purchased At:freind
    Strengths:very stiff, very resposive, a 100x better then my avids.
    Weaknesses:no adjustable levrage
    Similar Products Used:shimano XTR
    Bike Setup:shwinn moab 3, XTR mavic D521 ano rims, XT v brakse, koski levers.
    Bottom Line:I bent up my old avids and my friend who ownse a small bike shop had these sitting aeound. so i decide sincs i was getting a good price know would be a good tiime to replace the broken levers. Well when i replaced them i had know idea how muth better and more instant braking would be with just knew levers, they are grate and well worht 45 can. I dont know what they are in the states but that is a good price for me consider ing they out perform my friends XT's and those cost near to 100 can. another plus is that there light.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5






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