Dia-compe 290 Brake Levers ................... Help needed.

[Retro_Roy]

hi
picked up a set of these awhile back. thought they looked interesting and different. i hear they are nicknamed `batwings' because of the shape of the handles. i understand cables can be mounted to pull or push. is this true? doesn't look like they will take a standard mountaian bike cable end in them. can anyone tell me or show me how to cable these up? does anyone have a set of these mounted they could post pictures of? and how well do they work?
thanks in advance for all help.
roy

 

[walleater]

I've got a set of these (or maybe just one?!) and had one fitted to my Skull Skates cruiser for a while. They look cool but totally suck! I can't remember having any issues fitting a cable but I am a bike mechanic.... But I also can't remember how the cable fitted. Maybe they use a road cable? If I remember next time I am at my workspace, I'll try and find the lever/s and have a look again.

 

[Retro_Roy]

hi w
what a coincidence!!! i just sent you an email on a toatally unrelated topic.
roy

one one else have a set of these? or comments?

 

[walleater]

Ha yeah I just replied.

I seem to remember the cable threading through the barrel adjuster (the thing being held on by wire) and through the main lever, and reach adjustment is via the circular adjuster. Could be totally wrong though!

 

[mikee]

think ZIG ZAG has these on his shonkjumper

might be worth a pm

 

[shogun700]

These levers work great-they are designed for cantilevers/rollercams/u-brakes. You can use any cable, even road if you like. Hopefully the pic helps with setup. The cable exits are a lot different than most, lower and angled back. They can be adjusted for reach (with the spinning adjuster), for cable stretch (that's the black part you first put the cable through) and spring tension (the big round thing on bottom). If you have more questions just let me know.

 

[Retro_Roy]

These levers work great-they are designed for cantilevers/rollercams/u-brakes. You can use any cable, even road if you like. Hopefully the pic helps with setup. The cable exits are a lot different than most, lower and angled back. They can be adjusted for reach (with the spinning adjuster), for cable stretch (that's the black part you first put the cable through) and spring tension (the big round thing on bottom). If you have more questions just let me know.

hi
thanks alot for the input. when i decide what to put them on i may have a question or two for you. they are interesting looking levers. glad to hear they even work well.
any one have more pictures of them mounted?
are these after market pieces? or did they come as original equipment on any bikes?
roy

 

[longfinkillie]

I'm missing the cable connector on one of mine. Any suggestions for a replacement/hack?