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Hydro's w/ short levers ?

419 Views 5 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  etal
I currently have Avid BB7's w/ XT levers, which are short in my opinion . Gonna go hydro - Tried my buddies Hayes Mag's and felt the levers were a tad long. What Hydro's use a lever comparable to my XT's ? Thanx
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Yeah, I can't run Hayes' levers either..

I'd recommend taking a look at either the Shimano series of Hydraulic brakes (and the levers are the same across the entire Hydro line - Deore and XTR levers will be the same size) or Avids.

I know for certain that you can adust the distance from the lever to the bar with the Shimano's as well. Mine are pulled in pretty tight to get the feel I was after.
Or you could swap out your levers for some of these...
http://www.bikebonz.com/images/prod/levers/levers.htm
Shawn595 said:
Yeah, I can't run Hayes' levers either..

I'd recommend taking a look at either the Shimano series of Hydraulic brakes (and the levers are the same across the entire Hydro line - Deore and XTR levers will be the same size) or Avids.

I know for certain that you can adust the distance from the lever to the bar with the Shimano's as well. Mine are pulled in pretty tight to get the feel I was after.
You can adjust the reach with alll brakes... And you can just buy a set of aftermarket levers. Dangerboy makes them, Bonz makes them, I'm sure a bunch of other companies make them as well. If not, machine shop will make you a set.
The Mags (like all brakes) have an adjustment screw for reach.

BTW I just put Dangerboys on my Mags and although when set side by side you can see the overall length is the same as the stock ones, they "feel" sooo much better, ergo wise. Plus the 2 finger grips are perfect for me. Gives the brakes a whole new feeling...
Shawn595 said:
Yeah, I can't run Hayes' levers either..

I'd recommend taking a look at either the Shimano series of Hydraulic brakes (and the levers are the same across the entire Hydro line - Deore and XTR levers will be the same size) or Avids.

I know for certain that you can adust the distance from the lever to the bar with the Shimano's as well. Mine are pulled in pretty tight to get the feel I was after.
Me neither, I find the hayes levers strange and uncomfortable. It seems last year even Hayes realized the problem and released what they call BFL levers that have a more conventional shape. I am still trying to figure out why they don't actually put them on their brakes.

As far as levers go the Avids have the best ergonomic design in my opinion ,I just wish their brakes would stop giving me so many other problems so I could recommend them.
Other then Avid and Hayes I find that all the other levers feel sort of the same, I would recommend shimano just for the long term reliability, have mine over 2 years without a hitch.
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