Reddit reviews SHIMANO BL-R400 Road Drop Brake Levers Set (Black)

these shimano road levers should match the build aesthetic and have enough reach. i run them angled on a porteur bar, similar to how you'd be using them here. you could also consider a city syle lever.

edit - here's the shimanos on my bike

I ran into the same problem. I tried the Dia Compe Aero hoods on my Dia Compe levers and they did not fit to my satisfaction. Honestly, you would be better off picking up a set of Shimano BL-R400 levers. Really nice and comfortable and should provide you with a nice boost in braking performance.

Edit:

Levers on amazon for cheaper

These might be worth trying if those are Shimano 600 levers

You'll want a shorter stem, but probably one with as much height. Tektro RL-340 (RL341 if you aren't a fucking 6ft+ giant), Shimano BL-R400, Cane Creek SCR-5 Brake Lever.

The stem you choose not only has to fit the clamping diameter of the bars you choose, it must also be the right length and rise to fit your bars.

It's probably easier to pick out a set of drop bars and buy the appropriate stem. Bars require a certain clamp diameter on the stem, so buy the bar first, then find the stem that's the right length with the right clamp diameter. Bars have different inherent reach, so you need to include that reach in your calculation of total reach (frame + stem + bar) before you can buy a stem.

Nobody can tell you every component to buy to make your bike do what you want. There are too many variables.

I think that if quantum_spintronic is going to go through the hassle of fixing their brake levers, they might as well replace them with modern, internally routed levers. They'll brake stronger, and these aren't that expensive, and and are probably in better condition than the levers currently installed.

Thanks for the reply.

The pads are hardened so I'll replace those. One of the levers is cracked and I feel like I have to use a lot of force to engage the brakes with the levers. They also have suicide levers on them so I would really like to at least replace the levers. Would the excessive squeezing be a problem with the levers or the cables? Anyway, levers like these or these would be what I'm looking for, correct?

Thanks for identifying the shifters. I'll probably go with bar-ends. When looking for a pair should I specifically be looking for 5-speed shifters?

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-BL-R400-Brake-Levers-Black/dp/B000F5LLWG

$36 and have cables.

http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-R341-Brake-Levers-Black/dp/B003U9ROHK/ref=pd_sbs_sg_9

$24 and don't.

Personally I prefer the feel of the Shimano hoods, but have ridden the Tektro's (the long-pull variant that is) on the Nature Boy and they ain't half bad at all!

Oh yeah, no worries. They’re called “brake levers for drop bar handle bars”. These are the specific ones I got an amazon. SHIMANO BL-R400 Road Drop Brake Levers Set (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F5LLWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_1qGxDbM1TY53M

To not though, these are just brake levers and have NO shifting capabilities since this is a single speed bike.