Dual brake levers

[jim haseltine]

The Chang Star brand that was beloved by lower spec companies were made from a material alloy so flexible that I'm sure that latex was part of the alloy.

 

[dutchie]

A pit spongy

 

[Gazelleer]

I think the main reason they became known as suicide levers is the level of maintenance, or rather lack thereof, on 1970’s bike-boom bicycles. The problem is that as your brake pads wear the safety levers run out of lever stroke before the main levers do. So, if you are mainly using the main levers and the brake pads have worn to the extent that the main lever can be pulled close to the handlebars, that main lever will still to a decent job. But when you then switch to the safety levers they must be pulled so far up that you will hardly be able to slow down, let alone stop. If you keep your brakes well adjusted for brake pad wear they are quite allright though.

 

[non-fixie]

The problem is that as your brake pads wear the safety levers run out of lever stroke before the main levers do.

True.

But, if you choose your bar shape carefully, that can be avoided. I just mounted another pair on mrs non-fixie's DeVos:

 

[chickendrumsticks]

Yes I believe they have been referred to like that, I think their true function is probably just to scrub of speed, not fully brake.

Ray

There'll likely be other stuff to scrub off if you rely on them too much - mostly in the saddle area.