Lightweight(ish) V-brake levers

[Fatal Swan]

The new AESTs are currently a bit cheaper (£31.39 + paypal conversion charge) here too: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AEST-Aluminum ... 0943186165

And the gold ones are under £30! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gold-AEST-V-B ... 1312885232

I've seen reviews of the original AESTs and the main concerns seemed to be:

• the lack of spring
  
  the pivot bolt and the clamp bolt being the same unit
  
  the flex in the lever itself

At least the first two seem to be resolved with the new model and like Baulz says, by the look of the lever itself (the triangular frame design like the Extralites) you would imagine that flex is going to be reduced. The 12g extra per pair over the old model would seem a decent price to pay for the improvements but I suppose it remains to be seen whether the performance of a set of cheap Avid FR-5s would still be worth the 85g weight penalty over the new AESTs.

I think I'm talking myself into giving these a try, though I'd also be keen to hear any reviews!

 

[Fatal Swan]

Well, I went for some of the new Extralite-style AESTs in the end for £32. Can't seem to find any reviews online yet (maybe too new?) but will post some thoughts once I've got them. Thanks to all above for your help.

 

[Baulz]

Did you get the levers yet? I'm tempted to order a set, and the v-brakes as well.

 

[Fatal Swan]

Nope, slow postage from China so I don't have them yet. Looking forward to getting hold of them though!

 

[Fatal Swan]

Right, finally got hold of these though not yet installed them. Initial thoughts on unboxing are:

• They're light 34g per lever.
  
  The return springs absent from the original model aren't especially powerful, though I don't think it will really be a problem. Also the design means it looks like it would be easy to replace them.
  
  A minor flaw in the design seems to be that the lever reach grub screw fouls the cable adjuster when both are in the screwed out position. But the lever reach screw can easily be removed if not required, and if it is required it will probably be pushed in far enough it's out of the way of the cable adjuster in any case.

As soon as I can find the really tiny allen key required for the grub screws I'll get them installed...