What's this lever? Shimano 1051 variant?

[trail-blazer]

I have a spare set of white 1051 hoods and I'm looking for a set of levers to use them on. Found a set of bars on the Bay which have SLR levers that look just like 1051s apart from the fact they dont have 105 logos and they don't have the diagonal lines near the tops of the blades.

The levers and hoods look the same as 1051s, though? I can only assume that they might be a lower spec lever based on the 1051.

Pretty sure my hoods will fit, going off the pictures...

 

[Jonny69]

Yeah they are basically the same. I think they were a later variant to distinguish between the new 105 set and they called it SLR. The same thing goes on with the calipers - there's the 105 caliper and the SLR caliper, both the same except one has a chrome bezel and the other is black. I didn't even spot the difference until I had both on the table next to each other. I'm pretty sure the Exage levers will fit under the hoods as well, but they've usually got anodised levers and the hinges aren't bushed as well.

 

[trail-blazer]

Re:

Thanks for the reply. I have since discovered that they are a non-series lever, model BL L331 and my hoods are supposed to be a perfect fit. (According to what I have read onlne, the fact the hoods look identical, and a naked set of levers also look the same..

Just need to get the bar setup, that they are attached to, for the right price. The original 1051 levers are doing decent money now, even without hoods, so these would be a decent compromise. Also, I can polish the cr@p out of the blades without having to worry about screened-on 105 logos

 

[trail-blazer]

Re:

Got the bar, stem and lever setup for ten and a half quid. Levers polished, ready for their new hoods...

 

[Jamiedyer]

WOW! What a bargain and what a transformation. They have polished up lovely, as well as the stem. besides elbow grease what did you use? as I have a set of calipers I need to polish in the next couple of weeks for the Jack Taylor and I always feel lately when polishing away that there must be an easier way to get this finish.

Jamie

 

[trail-blazer]

WOW! What a bargain and what a transformation. They have polished up lovely, as well as the stem. besides elbow grease what did you use? as I have a set of calipers I need to polish in the next couple of weeks for the Jack Taylor and I always feel lately when polishing away that there must be an easier way to get this finish.

Jamie

I had to rub the levers and stem down with a light wet and dry paper, then gave them both a buff up with a polishing wheel.

Drill mounted wheels and compounds are reasonably priced and very handy to have. Don't use your best drill, though.

Caution! Once you polish one item, you'll have to do everything on the bike to match, then all your other bikes, then you'll start buying more random stuff to polish.

I've fitted the hoods to the levers now and they look great but felt a little guilty breaking open NOS hoods from the 80s.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Thanks, looks like I will be polishing a lot in the near future
Don't feel guilty busting open the hoods. I know what you mean, though really, they are just bike parts and they were made to be used, not to degrade on a plastic bag. Someone needs to use them

Jamie

 

[trail-blazer]

Thanks, looks like I will be polishing a lot in the near future
Don't feel guilty busting open the hoods. I know what you mean, though really, they are just bike parts and they were made to be used, not to degrade on a plastic bag. Someone needs to use them

Jamie

These are a good way in for very little money.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/brv/Wolfcraf ... +polishing

You only really need to sand things down, if you want to remove defects, or you're going for the mirror-polished look. Buffing things up as they are is good if you want to retain a bit of character. That kit is absolutely fine for tidying up parts which are in decent condition.