front tire slipped off a log at n* yesterday and my rear brake lever landed right on the log and snapped off. Is it worth upgrading to something like the razor rock levers (are these even made anymore?) or should I just replace with an OEM part? I never really had a problem with these levers but I do think it would be nice to have shorty, 1-finger levers because that's all I ever use.
broken hayes lever, worth upgrading or just replace with origional part
- Thread starter dfinn
- Start date
Good thing you didn't come get my bike yesterday. 
I've got plenty of hayes levers, I'll give you one. I don't know if you've noticed what's on my bike but I've got some levers that are pretty similar to the razor rock ones. They're called Bonz. They don't have the extra adjustment screw like the razor rock ones though.
They're really thick and I put them on just to avoid bending the stock ones. They're beat to hell but they haven't bent and have yet to cause a failure on another part of the brake so I'm happy. I got sick of replacing stock ones and this has certainly fixed the problem. They don't flex like the hayes ones either.
GRC and dangerboy make aftermarket ones that are thinner than the ones I have but cup your fingers better.
EDIT: someone beat me to it.
I've got plenty of hayes levers, I'll give you one. I don't know if you've noticed what's on my bike but I've got some levers that are pretty similar to the razor rock ones. They're called Bonz. They don't have the extra adjustment screw like the razor rock ones though.
They're really thick and I put them on just to avoid bending the stock ones. They're beat to hell but they haven't bent and have yet to cause a failure on another part of the brake so I'm happy. I got sick of replacing stock ones and this has certainly fixed the problem. They don't flex like the hayes ones either.
GRC and dangerboy make aftermarket ones that are thinner than the ones I have but cup your fingers better.
EDIT: someone beat me to it.
I have the dangerboy levers and they feel and look killer. I have left and right levers off the stock Hayes Mag brakes that I'll send to you free.
Send me your address and I'll mail em to ya!
joel_cmyk@hotmail.com
Send me your address and I'll mail em to ya!
joel_cmyk@hotmail.com
Personally, I'd love an excuse to get some aftermarket levers...
I'd get them and save your remaining Hayes lever against the day when you bend/brake one of the nice levers...that'd give you a backup so your riding day doesn't suffer too much from it.
MD
I'd get them and save your remaining Hayes lever against the day when you bend/brake one of the nice levers...that'd give you a backup so your riding day doesn't suffer too much from it.
MD
Take joel hester's offer.....but if you want aftermarket stuff:
www.GRcomponents.com has short and long versions for Hayes. O am running the long version and really like them. I could tell the difference over stock as far as stiffness.
Danger Boys look nice too.
Not familiar with the BONZ levers but the old RR levers I never liked....only cool thing with the RR levers was the reach adjustment. I never warmed up to the shape.
It is all personal preference. I would go stock if you don't want to spend the $$ and if someone is willing to give or sell their stock ones cheap that is the way to go. I keep mine in the tool box just in case.
Do you have your levers clamped down pretty hard? If you do loosen them up alittle bit so if you do crash the lever can move and lessen the chance of breaking. I have used teflon tape on my bar below the clamp to allow me to clamp a little harder but still allow slippage.
Rhino
www.GRcomponents.com has short and long versions for Hayes. O am running the long version and really like them. I could tell the difference over stock as far as stiffness.
Danger Boys look nice too.
Not familiar with the BONZ levers but the old RR levers I never liked....only cool thing with the RR levers was the reach adjustment. I never warmed up to the shape.
It is all personal preference. I would go stock if you don't want to spend the $$ and if someone is willing to give or sell their stock ones cheap that is the way to go. I keep mine in the tool box just in case.
Do you have your levers clamped down pretty hard? If you do loosen them up alittle bit so if you do crash the lever can move and lessen the chance of breaking. I have used teflon tape on my bar below the clamp to allow me to clamp a little harder but still allow slippage.
Rhino
I love my GRC levers, but also really liked my Razor Rocks when I ran 'em. Much better feel than the stock Hayes in my opinion.
i think what I will do then is come over to pick up one of your stock levers, and then at the same time try out your Bonz and see if I like them. It's hard for me to justify spending $60 on brake levers w/o even having tried them first.kidwoo said:Good thing you didn't come get my bike yesterday.
I've got plenty of hayes levers, I'll give you one. I don't know if you've noticed what's on my bike but I've got some levers that are pretty similar to the razor rock ones. They're called Bonz. They don't have the extra adjustment screw like the razor rock ones though.
They're really thick and I put them on just to avoid bending the stock ones. They're beat to hell but they haven't bent and have yet to cause a failure on another part of the brake so I'm happy. I got sick of replacing stock ones and this has certainly fixed the problem. They don't flex like the hayes ones either.
GRC and dangerboy make aftermarket ones that are thinner than the ones I have but cup your fingers better.
EDIT: someone beat me to it.
joel hester : thanks for the offer but kidwoo lives near me so it will probably just be easier for me to grab them from him.
Hi guys,
Sully from GRC is a friend of mine and he just released his revised Hayes shorty. I have a pair and they are sick! They're a bit longer than the old shorty's, so you don't feel as cramped. They still have the same great positioning that gives you increased power. As always, they come with a fat rounded hook on the end for one-finger control. I highly recommend them, huge difference over stock levers.
Sully from GRC is a friend of mine and he just released his revised Hayes shorty. I have a pair and they are sick! They're a bit longer than the old shorty's, so you don't feel as cramped. They still have the same great positioning that gives you increased power. As always, they come with a fat rounded hook on the end for one-finger control. I highly recommend them, huge difference over stock levers.
Dangerboy leversjoel hester said:
I too have OEM levers I'd part with for no more than buying me a beer.
I have run both the GRC stock length and shorty's. They are made from better grade aluminum than stock and feel really good. My only minor complaint is that I can't seem to get the front one close enough even all the way in. I have the brake bled perfect and still it's just a hair too far out. This is more than likely a Hayes issue and not due to the levers.
Sort of related,
I am having trouble finding the perfect solution for Hayes levers. Lately I have been getting extreme soreness in my fingers/knuckles after repeated and prolonged DH runs (Whistler late last month and Downieville this past weekend). My joints ache and my fingers are swollen and don't bend very well. I am really getting fed up! I've tried moving my levers way inboard (1-finger) but since the levers move away from the bar towards the ends, it makes it harder to reach and the throw becomes longer because of the additional leverage. I felt some Avid Juicy's and the lever felt really light and linear. Maybe I should consider those but I've heard other negatives about them. I'm thinkin' El Caminos for '05...
I know, I know... BUY HOPES!!! well, maybe but most likely not with so many other good options.
anybody else got ideas???
Sort of related,
I am having trouble finding the perfect solution for Hayes levers. Lately I have been getting extreme soreness in my fingers/knuckles after repeated and prolonged DH runs (Whistler late last month and Downieville this past weekend). My joints ache and my fingers are swollen and don't bend very well. I am really getting fed up! I've tried moving my levers way inboard (1-finger) but since the levers move away from the bar towards the ends, it makes it harder to reach and the throw becomes longer because of the additional leverage. I felt some Avid Juicy's and the lever felt really light and linear. Maybe I should consider those but I've heard other negatives about them. I'm thinkin' El Caminos for '05...
I know, I know... BUY HOPES!!! well, maybe but most likely not with so many other good options.
anybody else got ideas???
I'd get a Shimano deore disk lever (master cylinder)....way better quality and super cheap.
I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one but I've never had this happen before even after long stints so why now? I am 26, not exactly a spring chick no more...