Flip up levers
 

Bugger:smt076, just dropped my bike whilst stationary at a sharp off camber right hand turn. overbalanced and down it went snapping off the brake lever which made the ride home interesting.

Does anyone know where I can get some flip up levers for the SV? I've had a look at various accessory sites and can't see any.


Thanks,
Rob

Re: Flip up levers
 

I'm sure some people will be along with more specific advice re: particular makes etc. but have you considered fitting a new master cylinder that takes (or comes with) flip up levers, if none are available for the SV?

Re: Flip up levers
 

To be honest they arent worth it. They range from £60 ish right up to over £200. There is no guarantee that if they impact the ground they will fold and they could still break. Replacement levers are as little as a tenner. Thats potentialy about 20 sets!!!!! Save your money.

Re: Flip up levers
 

I thought the main purpose was to enable you to ride immediately after a crash (without having to carry spare levers), rather than to save cash? That said, I certainly see your point re. the cost.

Re: Flip up levers
 

Fair one. I'm just coming from a racing/track point of view. But still how F****D off would you be if your new bling £200 bendy levers snapped. You have to draw the line somewhere with carrying spares with you but levers hardly take up much room. You can tape em to the inside of the inner fairing. Never did it personaly but I know couriers etc who do.

Re: Flip up levers
 

Definately. Personally I just keep spares in a box at home. Most front levers I've seen have had a notch by the ball so that the ball shears off in a crash, but the brake is still useable for a "get home" ride.

Re: Flip up levers
 

Whats the point of the ball on the end anyway, on my clutch lever its quite annoying

Re: Flip up levers
 

Its to do with safety. Just like car bumpers have to have a certain radius. I think its so it can penetrate you... ooh er missus!

Re: Flip up levers
 

We carry spare levers under our seat. When our mate Tilt had an off on his Tuono while we were down in Devon, we managed to cobble him together a replacement clutch lever using our spare and some cable ties. It not only enabled him to continue with the weekend, it also meant his wife never found out he'd had another off!:D

Re: Flip up levers
 

How often are you thinking of crashing?!!? ;)

Unless you intend to go down as often as a $10 hooker, I think flip up leaver/s might be a little OTT … :mrgreen:

As someone else said if you are really that concerned, have a spare set in/on the bike somewhere!! :smt023

On my old racebike I cut (using a grinder – so a fat cut) a ‘fail point’ on the inside edge of the front brake leaver, at a point past where my fingers operate the leaver (just over 1/2 way down). The idea being that the leaver will then most likely snap at this self made weak-point in an off (or in a 'biff and barge'*), as I put the weak-point at a place where the lever is still operational its … er still gonna be operational :D

Make sense?

*I fitted a weak-point to all subsequent leavers; after having my leaver snap off in a ‘biff and barge’ situation – sure enough it ended messy when at race pace I had no front brake and couldn’t make the turn - that was costly and painful!! #-o :cry: