Tocayo (Dave C!): I've used all of the above items on various bikes, including a 287V/ linear pull set up karate monkey with mustache bars, and they all work. I have to say though, that even in comparison with travel agents and normal levers, the 287V levers were my least favorite. I did use them successfully (with plenty of stopping power for a 200lb rider) on my Atlantis during a month-long, loaded tour. The 287V's do seem overly sensitive to cable routing issues and the rear brake never quite met my expectations for a smooth pull - though it stopped fine. Without looking at your bike, I wouldn't suppose to tell you what's wrong with your set-up.
The tektro levers and the identical Cane Creek Drop V's do work great. As Jim says, you just hook them up and they work. The only thing they are missing is the adjustable brake noodle that comes with the dia- compe 287V set up. Without some sort of adjuster, you have to adjust the brakes by undoing the anchor bolt and pulling cable to adjust for pad wear - not a big deal, but I prefer the fine adjustment of an in- line system. So, you could buy some of the tektro levers and use the dia-compe noodles or use Jagwire in-line adjusters to do the job. Switching to canti brakes is certainly another option, but with the Karate Monkey, you'll have to add some brake cable hangers to make it work. Again, not a big deal. Setting up canti's is a little more challenging depending on the brand of brake. Mustache bars with aero levers can present an addition problem when you try to route the front cable housing to the front cable hanger. If you have cut your steer tube short and have a stem with little rise and reach, it's tough to make the cable run smoothly depending on how you've taped your bars/ cables. However, there are ways! This is my first foray into trying to help someone solve a bike issue online and I hope I've been helpful. I'm teaching a bike course currently and I'm checking out the online bike scene as my personal project this term. My students are definitely into the on-line community deal and I'm trying to become less of a Luddite. I have an Atlantis and will soon receive a Bombadil frame for a build this spring, so I thought I'd check out this forum. Standing by. . . On Feb 25, 8:07 am, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thill....@gmail.com> wrote: > Nothing special with the Tektro long-pull levers. Just hook them up as > usual. > > On Feb 25, 8:40 am, Dave C <david.charles.carr...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > I believe they are 287V brake levers. I'm at work, so I can't check, > > but that was what I intended to say. > > > Jim, are the Tektros better at this out of the box, or do you have to > > do something special? > > > I have a bunch of cantilever brakes lying around, and I'm considering > > just using one of those. I think the road levers I have will work for > > that, at least. But I'm intrigued by the Tektro brakes. > > > On Feb 25, 5:08 am, CycloFiend <cyclofi...@earthlink.net> wrote: > > > > on 2/24/09 8:44 PM, Dave C at david.charles.carr...@gmail.com wrote: > > > > > I was setting up the front brake on my newly built-up Karate Monkey > > > > frame. I have never used moustache bars, V-brakes, nor the DC 287 > > > > brake levers. Please take that into consideration. I set up the V- > > > > brakes this evening, the pads are fairly close to the rims and > > > > parallel, but the levers don't seem to pull enough cable to stop the > > > > rim when riding. There is little to no tension when I apply the > > > > levers. > > > > > I got the DC 287 levers from someone several years. I was wondering > > > > if they are supposed to come with any others parts besides the basic > > > > levers. Is there a trick or special method to setting up V-brakes > > > > with these levers? > > > > > Any help is appreciated -- I am not very experienced with brake set-up > > > > and adjustment. > > > > The 287 does not pull enough to be used with V-type brakes. There is a > > > 287V > > > which is designed to pull the proper amount. > > > > You can get standard levers to work with V-brakes by using an adapter such > > > as the "Travel Agent" > > > > Good reference on brakes and their workings - > > > AASHTA:http://sheldonbrown.com/brakes > > > > - J > > > > -- > > > Jim Edgar > > > cyclofi...@earthlink.net > > > > Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries -http://www.cyclofiend.com > > > Current Classics - Cross Bikes > > > Singlespeed - Working Bikes > > > > Your Photos are needed! - Send them here > > > -http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines > > > > "I threw one leg over my battle-scarred all-terrain stump-jumper and rode > > > several miles to work. I'd sprayed it with some cheap gold paint so it > > > wouldn't look nice. Locked my bike to a radiator, because you never knew, > > > and went in." > > > -- Neal Stephenson, "Zodiac" --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
