Long or short (levers)

[Betty]

Experts of all things motorcyclical,

Having realised from the course last week that I need adjustable levers, I was looking at getting some. For some reason the shorty style appeals to me and because I have little girly hands they seem to be big enough.

So can anybody advice good or bad experience with shorty levers, anything to consider?

TIA

[Big T]

I have the Pazzo's "long"..... I toooo have girlie hands and found these just right as they are actually smaller than the stock ones.

I tried Rusty's shorties but just not enough meat for me.....

I could have lived with a "shorty" on the brake but not on the clutch.......

Ooohh and some pics to give you an idea of what they look like....

Just my 2 cents worth.....

[R_usty]

I have the Pazzo's "long"..... I toooo have girlie hands and found these just right as they are actually smaller than the stock ones.

I tried Rusty's shorties but just not enough meat for me.....

I could have lived with a "shorty" on the brake but not on the clutch.......
Ooohh and some pics to give you an idea of what they look like....
Just my 2 cents worth.....

I have had both Long and short Pazzos and prefer the shorty style - I don't know what Big T is taking about - Long ones on the clutch - You only use your clutch going down gears anyway...

No really, I also have the MLP Tuning Clutch slave cylinder so my clutch is not too heavy and when I was at Eastern Creek the other day I was only using one finger on both the clutch and the Brake most of the time so a long lever would just get in the way, ie crush your other fingers.

Finally, I grew up on Dirt Bikes and fanning the clutch and tapping the front brake while still in mid corner or over a jump mean that you need full control of the handlebars more than the need to open your whole hand to grab a lever!

Really, it comes down to personal pref. 

Good luck  [moto]

[mattyvas]

I have long CRG levers, to me it seems they are made a little better than Pazzo.
Never really considered the shorty ones, just wanted the adjustable function.

[loony888]

i have long CRG's, top quality gear. the pazzo's i've never seen so i can't comment, but shorter levers might be harder work, especially on the clutch, one advantage would be less chance of them snapping in a spill.


paul.

[melvin]

size matters     ............. long one for me

[R_usty]

Another option that is available is the Rizoma levers

http://www.pjsparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=226&products_id=507&osCsid=2b5edc9eb8858ceb5978176384541835

I have bought a bunch of stuff from PJ and he offers great service - I have Rizoma Rearsets, bar grips and mirrors and they are all A1 quality!

I am just about to place another order with PJ for some other stuff - great gear

[melvin]

i've seen the rizoma in real life and i'm not convinced that they're "da shit" in a lever world; albeit they do take a crown as being the most expensive

.....each to their own

[dragonworld.]

Smarter brains than ours have designed lever to master cylinder to caliper ratio to optimise the system for best performance.
And of course us, the rider knows a lot more than than these collective intelligencia and go changing things.

Regarding the lever length and the number of fingers required?? How many fingers wide are the factory designed levers on almost any bike??? (Specials excepted)
But we know better dont we???

Ever had a stubby roll out from under the drivers seat and get stuck under the brake pedal??? Get into an emergency braking situation and have your fingers behind the lever and you could be in more shit than a sewerage farm duck.

Learn to use your brakes to the max the way they were designed, and once thats done you can start playing. [moto]

[Betty]

Dragonworld, was there more to what you are trying to say than use more than one or two fingers to brake?

Have to agree about the price of the Rizoma levers. I have a few Rizoma bits and pieces already and they ain't cheap but about $200 PER LEVER is a bit too much for me.

[tricolore]

I have an idea that you could try and it will cost you nothing, loosen the clamps on the levers at the bars and roll them down only 10mm or so(you may try a few different positions), I found it difficult to grab the levers in an emergency (practice) the tips of my gloves were just flicking the levers on the way through and I found that the angle is opened up slightly and your fingers can get over the levers a little quicker. You can practice getting a good grab of the levers with atleast three fingers. It also levels out you wrist when riding so they dont ache after riding.
It helped me. Try it and see if it makes a difference for you.
Cheers Steve...

[brimo]

of course us oldens wot grew up with drum brakes learned pretty quick what happens in an emergency stop with the brakes fading away and your fingers jammed between the lever and the bars. Levers are a full hand width for a reason, you got the fingers, use em all.

[R_usty]

Dragonworld, was there more to what you are trying to say than use more than one or two fingers to brake?

Have to agree about the price of the Rizoma levers. I have a few Rizoma bits and pieces already and they ain't cheap but about $200 PER LEVER is a bit too much for me.

As with al prices in OZ the prices are a bit much....

As to Rizoma - From PJsparts.com they are US$185 for a pair plus postage and Pazzo can be found for around US$159.00 again plus postage. Not sure on the CRG's on price but I am sure they are around the same price. Therefore price in not the issue, it is about which set you prefer.

As to Dragons take on learning how to brake using the std set of levers - True, you do need to be able to do that But those levers are made to a price and have very little adjustment which is why I went the Pazzo route plus the new slave cylinder - Much more 'feel' and much more comfortable positions available.

I chose shorty style because of my experience and would not recommend them to people who have not been riding for long. I think they are great as they enable you to hang on to the handlebars whilst at the same time have a finger or two ready to change gear or brake. Not really needed day to day on the main roads but great on the track and essential when dirt bike riding.... [moto]

[Betty]

Rusty I think you will find that the Rizomas are $185 per lever from PJs (checked their website). But I am interested to see where you can get Pazzos for $159US, can you point me in the right direction?

I do need to buy two sets of most things, so every little bit counts.

I am also getting the impression that even with my little girly hands I may not be able to get more than a couple of fingers on the shorty levers - would love to be corrected if anyone has first hand experience.

[dragonworld.]

My main point with the fingers thing is that a lot of riders operate their levers (brake) without thinking about what/how they are doing the job. They get into a comfortable everyday way of operating their controls and get found wanting when faced with an unplanned emergency situation.
On one course I did with an advanced group at Sandown Racetrack there was a guy on a Gixxer 750 and was taking way too long to pull up on the braking training. When it was suggested he use all four fingers on the brake he said he couldnt cos the lever was too short!!
He had bought the bike like that and, being a dirt rider didnt think anything of it, 2 fingers = no problems, nup.
He wasnt able to get full brakes on the front end at all. He wouldnt have it as he reckons he used to take the hacksaw to his off roaders levers all the time.(Mainly to clear his barkbusters!! Bugger the safety??)
One of the Instructors pulled the lever off his own Suzuki and put it on this guys bike and the fella couldnt believe how hard he could stop. 
Interesting comment was that he said that the brakes were "too touchy" and the shorter levers made them better. Ummmm 'scuse me??? We had an A grade racer there as a guest Instructor and I loved his reply to that one. "Would you take a hacksaw to the brake pedal on your car if you reckoned they were too touchy?? Course you wouldnt, you'd learn to use the tool properly."
It might appear that I've got a bit of a soapbox happening here but in my experience with training and being privy to a lot of crash stats, both locally and nationally, in almost all cases of a "traffic conflict" the front brake was either underused or not used at all.
And from observations from Instructors both at LP/licensing level as well as advanced, that brake lever was one of the most misused by either modification, technique or lack of thought (all of the above??) controls on the vehicle. And one of the hardest to teach.
I have real short fingers myself (No comments regarding finger length and another part of the anatomy thanks )
And can only get one fonger onto the lever initially, but as its drawn in I get the rest on it no problem. I use a couple of fingers when I'm dicking around turning into corners and generally riding around but when I want to stop specifically I use all four. I guess the point I'm making here is that one technique doesnt fit all applications, and your controls should never be operated without intention and thinking. Too many riders have got hurt and will get hurt unfortunately because they will unconciously get into an "automatic " mode of operation which can bring  them unstuck in an emergency.