Joined
·
4,429 Posts
I often get asked which levers are best for <X> type of riding so I thought I should finally put something down in one spot for it.
This will not cover brands as I will leave that to your personal preference. Rather I will discuss the different styles and the pro's and con's of each.
OEM Style
The ones that came on your bike from the factory.
PRO's
CON's
Recommendation
If you already have them and don't particularly mind them. Keep them. If you run a dedicated track bike I would suggest replacing OEM with a quality aftermarket unit. See below.
Standard length / Long levers
Usually made to accommodate the full hand/4 fingers
PRO'S
CON'S
Recommendation
I usually recommend standard length levers for bikes which see primarily street duty. The extra leverage comes in handy when working a clutch in traffic, the ability to customize the colors means you can make your street bike your own, and the con of possible breakage if the bike falls over is minimal.
Shorties / Short levers
Usually made to accommodate 2 fingers on the lever.
PRO'S
CON'S
Recommendation
I recommend these for bikes which see a lot of track use, for street riders who want a big "cool" factor on their bikes, or where the lack of leverage will not pose a problem.
Folding Standard / Long
Usually made to accommodate the full hand/4 fingers. These levers have a folding point which allows the lever to fold upwards in the event of a crash.
PRO'S
CON'S
Recommendation
This would be my #1 pick for track/race bikes. A rider gains the benefit of the finer control that comes with the longer lever without the risk of breakage due to the folding component. Also great for street riders who want more bling than a conventional standard lever without sacrificing function.
Folding Shorties / Short levers
Usually made to accommodate 2 fingers on the lever. These levers have a folding point which allows the lever to fold upwards in the event of a crash.
PRO'S
CON'S
Recommendation
For people who want the ultimate in "bling", these are it. All the cool factor of a short lever with the folding component thrown in for good measure. I would recommend these for track riders who do not necessarily need the finer control offered by a longer lever or for street riders who want the best of the best.
A quick note
Some companies will sell mixed sets of levers allowing you to choose short or standard lengths for each lever: i.e. you could buy a standard clutch lever and a shorty brake lever allowing you to receive the benefits of both where they are needed most and further enhancing your ability to customize your ride.
This will not cover brands as I will leave that to your personal preference. Rather I will discuss the different styles and the pro's and con's of each.
OEM Style
The ones that came on your bike from the factory.
PRO's
- Inexpensive: Your bike already has them and generally they are inexpensive to replace.
- OEM Fit/Finish: This can be good or bad depending on your brand.
CON's
- Ergonomics: Most OEM levers are not terribly welll designed with an awkward slope that our hands do not naturally fit on.
- Cheap: Due to manufacturing basics, they are usually made from cheap metal which breaks easily. Sometimes called "pot" or "white" metal.
- Lack of adjustability: Most OEM levers offer little to no adjustment.
- Lack of style: Let's face it. They just don't do much for the aesthetics of the bike.
Recommendation
If you already have them and don't particularly mind them. Keep them. If you run a dedicated track bike I would suggest replacing OEM with a quality aftermarket unit. See below.
Standard length / Long levers
Usually made to accommodate the full hand/4 fingers
PRO'S
- Finer control: The extra length means that you can have finer control over what that lever does.
- More adjustability: Typically will have a better range of adjustment than OEM.
- More Leverage: As the job of a lever is...a lever. The further away from the fulcrum you get the more pressure you are able to apply. Longer levers means it can be easier to to move a difficult control (cable clutch).
- Stylish: On a 1-4 scale I place these at a 4.
- Customization: Most aftermarket levers will allow you to dictate the color choices of the lever and/or adjuster.
- Ergonomics: These tend to fit your hand well, are wide and comfortable for extended use. They provide excellent feel/feedback of what the motorcycle is doing.
CON'S
- Expensive: As a general rule most aftermarket levers are more expensive than the OEM counterparts. A single lever can range from $25-$125 depending on brand/options
- More Leverage: This is a con as well as a pro. In the case of a brake control, if you panic and grab a handful of brake, it will apply significantly more force with a long lever than it will with a shorty.
- Length: The extended length means that the lever is prone to hitting the ground if the bike goes down. This can result in bending/breaking the lever.
Recommendation
I usually recommend standard length levers for bikes which see primarily street duty. The extra leverage comes in handy when working a clutch in traffic, the ability to customize the colors means you can make your street bike your own, and the con of possible breakage if the bike falls over is minimal.
Shorties / Short levers
Usually made to accommodate 2 fingers on the lever.
PRO'S
- More adjustability: Typically will have a better range of adjustment than OEM.
- Stylish: On a 1-4 scale I place these at a 2. They look "cool".
- Customization: Most aftermarket levers will allow you to dictate the color choices of the lever and/or adjuster.
- Length: Because of the shorter lever, it is less likely to contact the ground in the case of a crash. This can be beneficial to track riders/racers.
- Ergonomics: More comfortable than OEM but not as comfortable as standard length. They provide excellent feel/feedback of what the motorcycle is doing.
CON'S
- Expensive: As a general rule most aftermarket levers are more expensive than the OEM counterparts. A single lever can range from $25-$125 depending on brand/options.
- Less Leverage: Due to its very nature, the shorty lever cannot apply as much force as its longer counterpart.
Recommendation
I recommend these for bikes which see a lot of track use, for street riders who want a big "cool" factor on their bikes, or where the lack of leverage will not pose a problem.
Folding Standard / Long
Usually made to accommodate the full hand/4 fingers. These levers have a folding point which allows the lever to fold upwards in the event of a crash.
PRO'S
- Finer control: The extra length means that you can have finer control over what that lever does.
- More adjustability: Typically will have a better range of adjustment than OEM.
- More Leverage: As the job of a lever is...a lever. The further away from the fulcrum you get the more pressure you are able to apply. Longer levers means it can be easier to to move a difficult control (cable clutch).
- Stylish: On a 1-4 scale I place these at a 3.
- Customization: Most aftermarket levers will allow you to dictate the color choices of the lever and/or adjuster.
- Ergonomics: These tend to fit your hand well, are wide and comfortable for extended use. They provide excellent feel/feedback of what the motorcycle is doing.
- Folding: This can be a huge benefit to bikes which see sustained track use as it is intended to keep the lever functional after a crash.
CON'S
- Expensive: As a general rule most aftermarket levers are more expensive than the OEM counterparts. A single lever can range from $25-$125 depending on brand/options. Folding levers tend to be on the higher end of the range.
- More Leverage: This is a con as well as a pro. In the case of a brake control, if you panic and grab a handful of brake, it will apply significantly more force with a long lever than it will with a shorty.
- Quality is critical: If tolerances are not tight, the lever can quickly feel "sloppy" and you could experience a loss in feedback/feel.
Recommendation
This would be my #1 pick for track/race bikes. A rider gains the benefit of the finer control that comes with the longer lever without the risk of breakage due to the folding component. Also great for street riders who want more bling than a conventional standard lever without sacrificing function.
Folding Shorties / Short levers
Usually made to accommodate 2 fingers on the lever. These levers have a folding point which allows the lever to fold upwards in the event of a crash.
PRO'S
- More adjustability: Typically will have a better range of adjustment than OEM.
- Stylish: On a 1-4 scale I place these at a 2. They look "cool".
- Customization: Most aftermarket levers will allow you to dictate the color choices of the lever and/or adjuster.
- Length: Because of the shorter lever, it is less likely to contact the ground in the case of a crash. This can be beneficial to track riders/racers.
- Ergonomics: More comfortable than OEM but not as comfortable as standard length. They provide excellent feel/feedback of what the motorcycle is doing.
- Folding: This can be a huge benefit to bikes which see sustained track use as it is intended to keep the lever functional after a crash.
CON'S
- Expensive: As a general rule most aftermarket levers are more expensive than the OEM counterparts. A single lever can range from $25-$125 depending on brand/options.
- Less Leverage: Due to its very nature, the shorty lever cannot apply as much force as its longer counterpart.
- Quality is critical: If tolerances are not tight, the lever can quickly feel "sloppy" and you could experience a loss in feedback/feel.
Recommendation
For people who want the ultimate in "bling", these are it. All the cool factor of a short lever with the folding component thrown in for good measure. I would recommend these for track riders who do not necessarily need the finer control offered by a longer lever or for street riders who want the best of the best.
A quick note
Some companies will sell mixed sets of levers allowing you to choose short or standard lengths for each lever: i.e. you could buy a standard clutch lever and a shorty brake lever allowing you to receive the benefits of both where they are needed most and further enhancing your ability to customize your ride.
