Canti Brake Lever Recommendations

datmony · Mar 5, 2015

Building up a few frames I have with mostly M900. The main exception to that will be that I am just not a rapid fire shifter fan and will be using M732 Top Mounts instead.

To mate with the XTR Cantis, what would folks recommend lever wise that would look nice with the rest of the parts and have the best modulation and braking power? I have a couple sets of M733 in black but wondered what some of your favorite levers were to pair with m900 cantis.

Thanks as always.....

super_stein · Mar 5, 2015

To date, my favorite levers have been the 2-cable position REAL. Uber light, look and feel good, and work well.

longfinkillie · Mar 5, 2015

I'm running Dia Compe SS-5 MK IIs. Perfect for my big ass paws.

Shayne · Mar 5, 2015

Second the Dia Compe SS5

Also I always liked the XTR levers. You just have to dremel the shift pods off.

70sSanO · Mar 5, 2015

Can't say if they are the best, but I am using Dia Compe PC-11's.

With over 3-1/4" of contact area you can almost mount them by the stem and still run 580 bars...lol!

John

Austin Dave · Mar 5, 2015

longfinkillie said:
I'm running Dia Compe SS-5 MK IIs. Perfect for my big ass paws.

I like these too. In case anyone is interested, Cannondale's old Coda levers are just re-badged Dia Compe SS-5 MKIIs. Sometimes these go very cheap on the auction site of record.

zygote2k · Mar 5, 2015

I have a left side dremelled M900 shift pod that I used with a M732 thumbie so I could use a Mountain Tamer Quad.

jeff · Mar 6, 2015

Anything Servo-Wave.

Next Question?

AKamp · Mar 6, 2015

I'll third the SS5's. Still have a couple sets and just put pair on my daughters bike to handle some TRP Spyres. Feel is pretty good.

ric-the-mountainbike · Mar 6, 2015

paul love levers. made in america. durable, serviceable design

jeff · Mar 6, 2015

I run SS-5's, XC-Pro's, Ritchey's, Pauls, Real's, Avid Ultimate's and Shimano's of various models. Of all of them the Servo-Wave Shimano's provide the best modulation and power by far.

chefmiguel · Mar 6, 2015

SS-5's, Ritcheys, Suntour XC Pro, and XT would be my recommendations.

AKamp · Mar 6, 2015

It is funny how big SS-5s feel now in the day of single finger shimanos.

70sSanO · Mar 6, 2015

Here is a good site that has info on older components. You can click on brake levers and there is a comparison chart.

BikePro.com / Bicycle Parts at discount prices - Bicycle Parts at discount prices / the Buyer's Guide / Bicycle Parts at their finest! / Professional Bicycle Source / Bike Pro

John

Mad Dawg · May 1, 2015

The SS-5's are the best levers/canti's I've ever used!!!!

fatchanceti · May 1, 2015

I have a set of the last DeoreXT SLR shift/brake levers before they went to V-brakes (ST-M737 maybe). They are pretty phenomenal with canti brakes. My Paul canti levers are nice - but the SLRs.....whoa.

datmony · May 1, 2015

Funny that you bring those up, I just actually sold a pair of those SLRs yesterday and was looking at them close for the first time. They basically from a lever perspective are the same as a m900 with the roller mechanism inside. I stumbled on a set of the 900s off the bay that had no pods and as a result I didn't feel the twinge of guilt I normally would have cutting the pod mounts off. I put those on my blue Bontrager and have to say that I am blown away. Your "whoa" sums it up. They might be the best modulation and brake feel of any brake setup I have.

Anyone know if that same style 737 was ever made as just a stand alone lever?

colker1 · May 1, 2015

datmony said:
Funny that you bring those up, I just actually sold a pair of those SLRs yesterday and was looking at them close for the first time. They basically from a lever perspective are the same as a m900 with the roller mechanism inside. I stumbled on a set of the 900s off the bay that had no pods and as a result I didn't feel the twinge of guilt I normally would have cutting the pod mounts off. I put those on my blue Bontrager and have to say that I am blown away. Your "whoa" sums it up. They might be the best modulation and brake feel of any brake setup I have.

Anyone know if that same style 737 was ever made as just a stand alone lever?

I have those m737s .. i didn't even bother filing off the pod hangers and paired them w/ thumbies when the rapid fire died. It looks wrong but works right w/ dia compe 987s and suntour xc pro cantis.

Canti Brake Lever Recommendations

datmony

super_stein

longfinkillie

Shayne

70sSanO

Austin Dave

zygote2k

jeff

AKamp

ric-the-mountainbike

jeff

chefmiguel

AKamp

70sSanO

Mad Dawg

fatchanceti

datmony

colker1

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