Shorty Levers

[Bob_Defly]

Why the hate on here for shorty levers?

I now have shorter levers on my off-road bike, and they work well, allowing me to use both levers without letting go of the bars with my other two fingers.

On my past and current road bike, the brakes are so good that I only ever use two fingers, even for a panic stop. I feel like the levers are in the wrong place for two finger usage, yes I could move them in a bit. But what's wrong with going with shorty levers?

[Krikkit]

Actually quite appreciate them on off road bikes, but on road bikes I think they look a bit naff first and foremost.

Second, my impression is that if something really does happen on the road (if I'm not already covering the lever) I want maximum lever to get to. Like you I only use 2 fingers for braking, but getting some fingers to it as quickly as possible (especially on a bike with smart ABS where you can just grab a handful)

Third it's probably an association with the kind of person that covers their bike in cheap anodised tat.

[Steve Bass]

Bob_Defly said:

Why the hate on here for shorty levers?

I now have shorter levers on my off-road bike, and they work well, allowing me to use both levers without letting go of the bars with my other two fingers.

On my past and current road bike, the brakes are so good that I only ever use two fingers, even for a panic stop. I feel like the levers are in the wrong place for two finger usage, yes I could move them in a bit. But what's wrong with going with shorty levers?

Not sure there's "hate' per se but the majority of road bike short levers are awful looking anodised chinesium tat....
And the use case between off and on road is completely different. FWIW, you can/should set up standard levers on a dirt bike to emulate shorter levers anyway.
On my trials and enduro bikes, I keep the standard levers but adjust them to find the bite point I like and then move the whole assembly inwards along the bar and mount them on a couple of turns of plumbers HDPE tape. Now the lever ends are well inside the bar ends so in the inevitable dismount, the bar end hits first and the brake or clutch assembly is more likely to turn on the bar, saving the end. And by being more inboard, my 2 fingers are still applying pressure on the outside of the lever end... So no need for shorties..And having a longer throw at the bar end allows for much better fine control, something shorter levers sacrifice.

[KTMsm]

I fit them to most of my bikes

I only ever use 2 fingers for clutch or brake

We've covered it before on here but those with reasonable strength can easily lock the front wheel with 2 fingers on a decent bike - that's what caused my only crash, when I grabbed the brake of my Speed Triple and instantly locked it - with 2 fingers - when a car did an emergency stop in front of me

A few have reported issues with the Chinese levers applying the brake and locking the wheel when they heat up - I suspect they were poorly fitted / adjusted

[srob]

Levers are just that; levers. If they’re long enough to do the job then I can’t see why there would be hate. Brake levers are the same length now as they were when you had a 4 inch single leading shoe brake and in reality you don’t need all that leverage.

I’ve always wondered why inverted levers lost favour, to me they’re a really sensible idea!

[mrtomsv]

I love short levers and have them on all my bikes now. A short clutch lever on the Tiger800 transforms the clutch control, especially off road. Coming to motorcycles from mountain biking as a teenager meant I already only used 2 fingers on levers anyway, so even prefer short levers on road bikes.

[Steve Bass]

I'm not sure where this idea that "if you use 2 fingers, use shorter levers" comes from.

It's easy to use 2 fingers with standard levers, so that's not really a compelling reason.
If it's for aesthetics, fair enough, but there's no control benefits with them over normal length...

[Birky_41]

I only use 1 finger on the clutch off road and 2 pulling off/race starts

2 fingers on the clutch for road use and 2 for front brake

I dont like shorty levers though. Yes they have a bit of stigma mainly in the road scene as already said but for me I find almost always they dont give the same 'feel' as standard oem levers

I dont actually think I've ever ridden with 4 fingers as my old man taught me geared bikes from 1989

[Biker's Nemesis]

I don't like them, I think its because I have hands live shovels and fingers like cows tits. I've ridden friends bikes on road and track with short levers, its just not for me, if people like them, then so what is my thinking, saying that, I wouldn't have a Pop n Bang Map on my cars/bikes either.

Do Moto GP, WSB and BSB riders use short levers?

[RemaL]

I've had Shorty's and regular leavers, as for Hate not seen any but I don't give a crap what others like and want. Only thing that matters is what you want.

So each to their own

Much like the normal start of the summer " seen a guy with shorts, flip-flops and helmet on a sports bikes " thread.
I don't see an issues with that either as it's their own skin.

Make your own choice and pick what suits you the best

[black-k1]

I'm not a fan of shorty levers but I like to use all 4 fingers on the levers. I have no hate from them though. If someone wants to use them then fine.

[Waynester]

Not really a fan.. oem do the job. I had some on my old RSV Factory and the clutch was heavy enough before the fitting of even shorter levers. They actually induced pain whilst riding in traffic

[oneandone]

I put the touratech adjustable ones on my Tenere so you can shorten or lengthen them to hears content.

Edited by oneandone on Friday 17th May 20:40

[Exasperated]

Biker's Nemesis said:

fingers like cows tits

That paints a picture.