Shimano 105 SLR non aero brakes

[rolf f]

Dear all!

Last year I bought the Raleigh Randonneur below to replace my old Dawes Horizon which had been written off by someone right turning into my path. I've been gradually renovating it and at the same time accumulating parts for a temporary updating for a tour next year.

Anyway, one thing I've noticed with aero brakes is the greater mechanical advantage when braking from the hoods. So, as I won't be alone on the tour, I decided to get some aero brakes for the bike so that I'd be able to ride close behind my friend without being on the drops all day.

Now, I assumed that basically, a Shimano brake that looked like that below (ie the 600s on my Randonneur) would always be non aero and those with the hoods more integrated to the body would be aero.

Of course, I open up the parcel of my NOS shifters, less than £10 delivered, only to discover a holes in the top of the hoods!

So, the question is, aside from the springs, are these shifters basically the same as my 600s but with a more modern body or are they the same as the aero version but without the concealed cables? ie with the greater mechanical advantage from the hoods. Is it worth me fitting these (the springs should enable me to set the cantis to minimum tension which is probably a good thing) or do I go back in search of the aero version? I haven't found online a definitive answer to this. It's not going to be hard to swap these onto the Randonneur to find out for myself but before I do that it would be nice to know not to be disappointed when they don't make any difference!



Thanks in anticipation.....

 

[Jonny69]

They are completely different to the aero ones. I didn't even know there were non-aero 105 (SLR?) levers until quite recently when I bought a pair by mistake, assuming they'd be the aero ones. Non-aero pull the cable down from the top where it pokes in the ferrule. The aero ones pull the cable forwards from the rear of the body where the cable slots in the side and there is no provision for this on the non-aero model. They look very similar but if you hold them side by side they are actually quite different. The non-aero ones will almost certainly be a direct swap for your old 600's and they might even use the same mounting ring on the handlebars.

 

[rolf f]

Re:

Thanks for the reply Jonny69 - but it doesn't quite answer my question.

To put it a bit less complicatedly - am I going to get more effective braking from the hoods with these sprung, non aero 105s than I get from the unsprung 600s?