Shorty Clutch and Brake Levers

[Guest]

Has anyone installed these? I don't think I have small hands or anything, but the clutch and brake levers feel so far away sometimes. I know my hands would be more comfortable if I had levers a little closer to the grips. Looking at switching to these as a solution....

[Rob S.]

Not me. I don't think it's the length of the lever as much as the angle of the dangle. Like most, I usually keep at least one or more fingers resting on the brake lever. You can't do that comfortably?

[JTGS850GL]

Shortening the lever will also increase resistance. I'd keep that in mind.

[growler]

Not really. I don't have little nubbin fingers, I swear. Maybe I should try to just adjust my existing controls, maybe a different angle will feel better. I just feel I have to stretch out my hands a bit to grab them with my fingers. Hasn't bothered me on other bikes, though. Strange.

[growler]

Good point. Noted. I'll play with adjustments first.

Shortening the lever will also increase resistance. I'd keep that in mind.

[Grimly]

Try some span-adjust types on your brakes, if your master cylinder will allow it.
I've recently developed an appreciation of the Deauville master cylinder, which comes with a dog-leg and click-adjust span - excellent design of conventional length but allows just about anyone to fit it nicely.
I'm not a fan of short levers, because if you use them all day, you really feel the strain. Alternatively, you might end up with ferociously developed fingers, which will enable you to crack walnuts between two knuckles. Hey, there's always a bright side
On bikes where they've been designed in, with hydraulically-operated clutches and where the hydraulic leverage is sorted out properly, yes, they can work, but an older mechanically-pulled clutch is at the mercy of the basic laws of leverage as expressed on your fingers.