These damn Avid levers [Archive]

BrettM

06-29-2005, 01:02 AM

So I decide that Avid rocks for my rear disk needs. Next thing I know I run 4 Avid levers on 2 bikes. 2 are bent and one is snapped. One is still good. It's all that stupid bend zone. I run my levers loose so they move around the bar when i crash. Well even with that they still bend. Not impressed so far...

CoppellStereo

06-29-2005, 02:07 AM

i run avids on 3 bikes, and none have bent, even with both levers on one side (on all my bikes now) :x:

Elan

06-29-2005, 02:54 AM

ive enver had any problem with any levers..do you throw your bike a lot?

tomacropod

06-29-2005, 05:25 AM

he's waynio !

I've never had a problem, except once when I crashed on an sd-5 lever and bent it. It wasn't loose - I bent it back and have used it for another 2 years until now. ultimates are fine.

- Joel

rtorrenga

06-29-2005, 08:06 AM

If you bend the lever back, make sure you heat it with propane torch or something first. I have cracked lever blades off trying to bend them back.

BrettM

06-29-2005, 09:28 AM

ive enver had any problem with any levers..do you throw your bike a lot?
No. I'm always attached. Yesterday I ended up bending it by getting my leg stuck between it and the bar somehow midway goin over the bars.

trialsian

06-29-2005, 09:43 AM

One year later... run the levers tight.... threw it yesterday (no kidding) and still not a single problem with my levers.

BrettM

06-29-2005, 10:01 AM

Throwing the bike is fine for the most part if its flat ground. It's pretty tough to hit a lever. All my bends have been from me or landing on something. Its that damn "bend zone" designed to keep you from breaking your whole lever. This way you only have to replace just the blade with some magical one that stores can't get in...I guess you have to talk to them directly.

Well my one good lever is going on the bike today. I better start emailing Avid.

dankilling

06-29-2005, 10:01 AM

heck- I even run those on my DJ bike....they sometimes get a little loose, but even when they bend, they go back easily....4+years now and only broke one

BrettM

06-29-2005, 10:19 AM

That was the other fun part. I went dirt jumping for the first time in a long long time after I broke it. Kinda fun with front brake only. First few runs were shady.

CoppellStereo

06-29-2005, 05:41 PM

That was the other fun part. I went dirt jumping for the first time in a long long time after I broke it. Kinda fun with front brake only. First few runs were shady.:rofl:

AgrAde

06-29-2005, 05:51 PM

damn, bad luck i guess.

i run cheap throwaway parts when it doesn't matter too much for that reason - cheap levers, pedals, derailers, things like that. even if a bit of function is lost it'll probably make me ride better anyway seeing i'm not scared of breaking all my mega ultimate bits.

Peace

06-29-2005, 10:29 PM

i have never ever bent a lever.... i have hit em but they just twist on the bar.... must be just bad luck...

Peace

BrettM

06-30-2005, 01:12 AM

O its definately bad luck. First bend was falling off a skinny and landing on it. I don't care how loose it is it will bend. Second bend was at a park. My bike tumbled down a quarter pipe the wrong way after I hit some kid on the top of it. Third time I ended up with my thigh inbetween it and the bar somehow. It fucking hurt getting it out of there.

This is over almost 3 years for one set and almost 2 for the other.

lucky13

06-30-2005, 04:29 AM

Does Dangerboy or GRC make aftermarket levers for Avids???

<looking>

lucky13

06-30-2005, 04:51 AM

nope.

airfruit

06-30-2005, 05:48 PM

avid levers, hehe, I've bend my left and my right sd7s. one from missing a side hop, the other, errrr... dont know, just became bent, lol. the bend zone, well, I think its too soft at the bend zone. I've landed on my 05 hs 33 lever like errrr, 3 times already and that thing is tough as a bitch. If it was a avid, it would have snapped off already, lol. yeah, careful when u bend them back. If you do bend them back, the lever actually become stiffer, due to the whole material work hardening thing. well, stiffer, but more acceptable to snappage.

Backgren

07-01-2005, 08:44 AM

i run avids on 3 bikes, and none have bent, even with both levers on one side (on all my bikes now) :x:
i might be getting this wrong, but do you run both levers on one side of the bars? like, your only using one hand for braking? if so... :wtf:

BrettM

07-01-2005, 11:25 AM

Does anyone live in Chicago and feels like punching Sram right in the face for me.

This is my response I get when I email aboots getting the replacement lever blades...

Hey Brett,

Thanks for contacting SRAM. Unfortunately, lever blades are no longer
available. However, you can order single levers for the SD 7, SL, and
FR-5. Keep in mind that these are ambidextrous levers and can be used
front or rear. Ultimates are not available as singles. Good luck with
the levers.

So ya. That has really made my morning. Sram makes levers designed to bend easy so you have to replace them with whole new ones. I don't really know what to think or do now.

Out of curiousity anyone tried out that FR-5 lever?

goose

07-01-2005, 12:29 PM

That blows, dude. It's prolly because they have massive capacity for manufacturing their lower end forged levers, but the CNCed ones they refuse to keep spares around to save cost. Maybe they'll send you the drawings so you can get them made yourself at www.emachineshop.com or something like that? Sortof a long shot, though:) I just looked at the lever design, looks like a 3 axis CNC couldn't do it, but I'm no expert.

Exactly what's the point of having a replacable lever blade if replacements aren't available? Beats the heck out of me. I wonder if this would've happened if AVID wasn't in the SRAM conglomerate, like before.

About the FR-5, Toosicks got em and loves 'em, perhaps he'll comment on them. I've tried them, but not long enough to make any intelligent remarks. They didn't feel as comfy and rounded as XTR's, though.

BrettM

07-01-2005, 12:35 PM

The reason I'm after the FR-5's is that I'm stuck on Avid now. The performance is night and day over Xtr. These FR-5 levers work out to just over 20 bux cnd per lever and weigh 10 grams less than a set of Xtrs and the same as the Ultimates. The catch is they don't have the speed dial but I don't dial mine down at all anyways so I think I'll be alright.

Tanner

07-01-2005, 12:52 PM

the fr5 is nice. Real nice.

RayChee

07-01-2005, 01:12 PM

I've been more than happy with the FR-5 levers. Nothing bad to say about them at all.

CoppellStereo

07-02-2005, 12:32 AM

so my avid SL is broken now, the lever didnt bend, my bike fell over on another and snapped body in half! what can i do! :(

eXtreme_one

07-02-2005, 06:14 AM

I have some shitty levers now because I couldn't find any avid when I wanted to buy . I stiil wanna buy some avid levers because they are stiff ! I don't think they'll bend if you take care of the bike and try to not hit the levers very hard. Do the avid levers bend so easy as you say ?? I thought that the levers where stiff (braking power).

BrettM

07-02-2005, 10:49 AM

Do the avid levers bend so easy as you say ?? I thought that the levers where stiff (braking power).
No I made everything in this thread up.

eXtreme_one

07-03-2005, 08:48 AM

nevermind I'll still buy avid levers :P
other levers that I can find here ar far under avid , well except xtr but avid ar fine :P
I can get avid easier and at 2 times cheaper at least.

xxxfr

07-03-2005, 11:40 AM

No I made everything in this thread up.
:bowrofl:

anyway, SRAM has a VERY good warrenty, i broke a caliper, and they sent me out a whole new brake, didnt even want the old one back, now if you dont work in a shop they might want to see the broken piece...

BrettM

07-03-2005, 12:28 PM

I'll give it a go I guess. I might be able to get the break warrantied, not sure aboots bends. I'm pretty excited to try the FR-5's right now.

dingus

07-03-2005, 12:50 PM

BrettM

07-03-2005, 02:43 PM

Have you ever felt an FR5? They feel... like a brake lever. Not very exciting, and though you may not particularly like the xtr I think its a better feeling lever, I also think the other avid levers are better feeling: 5, 7, ultimate...

I have some FR5s on my xc bike right now. Id replace them if something came along, but tell us what you think of them if you get em.
No I've never felt the FR-5. However I have ridden the other Avids and don't mind the feel at all. Yes the Xtr feels better in your hand. I got over that and realized that my entire brake setup feels much much better with the Avid lever than with the Xtr tho.

I was getting worried I'd have to run the Xtr's tho because the Avids haven't been that nice to me lately. With the FR-5's weighing in lighter than everything out there but the Ultimate (Xtr included) and costing a whopping 20 bux cnd per lever I got my hopes up again. I could care less aboots the speed dial as I don't use it.

CoppellStereo

07-03-2005, 09:25 PM

get Avid SL's :bigthumb:

BrettM

07-03-2005, 10:11 PM

get Avid SL's :bigthumb:
For their superlight brake lever it is kinda ironic that they are second heaviest of the 4. Its either the cheapies or the Ultimates for me.

such

07-04-2005, 04:52 AM

.. and realized that my entire brake setup feels much much better with the Avid lever than with the Xtr tho.
Why are you so into avid?
xtrs are top along with ultimates...

reading your posts some people may come to conclusion that xtr's are bad, the truth is you dont like them becaulse they dont "engage" as quick as avids, and that is your personal preference.

Im just saying you should say that avids feel "much much better FOR YOU"
:)

BrettM

07-04-2005, 07:32 AM

Why are you so into avid?
xtrs are top along with ultimates...

reading your posts some people may come to conclusion that xtr's are bad, the truth is you dont like them becaulse they dont "engage" as quick as avids, and that is your personal preference.

Im just saying you should say that avids feel "much much better FOR YOU"
:)
You got to be kidding me...

This whole thead is aboots me saying why I like Avid better and why it is just for me.

xxxfr

07-04-2005, 12:40 PM

xtr's suck

ive given up on avid levers, i cant get the sd's, which are the ones i love, the FR5's i dont like at all, i cant afford the ultimates, so im running $15/pr promax levers, or tektro, same things, love em, comfy, strong, cheap......

such

07-05-2005, 02:02 AM

You got to be kidding me...

This whole thead is about me saying why I like Avid better and why it is just for me.
Im sorry then.

I didnt understood that in that way

guumer

07-05-2005, 11:45 AM

i am a wimp but avid levers give me blisters on my finger

Giant1118

07-05-2005, 01:31 PM

^that was the SD's cuz they are more square, im not sure how the new ones are but i know the FR 5's have a more rounded lever blade.

I felt a set of FR'5s on a set of 6 inch avids and they didnt feel too bad...very grabby, which i think is what u are after. That wasnt with nokon or xtr housing though, which would only be better