Shortened Clutch/Brake Levers?

I was wondering, do they exist?

I generally use the clutch & brake levers with 2 fingers. The problem arises where the clutch lever bangs into my knuckles when I pull it.

I have the clutch cable adjusted so the clutch is disengaged before the level hits my knuckles. My worry is that I am not fully engaging/disengaging the clutch with the lever's newly limited motion and am causing premature clutch wear.

I was thinking that shorter, two-finger levers would be a good solution.

Is a two fingered lever a safety concern? I'd like to hear your thoughts. Also, I'd like to know where I can get some for my bike.

Take a look at the Pazzo (sp?) levers and similar brands. I am not aware of any safety concerns. I believe there was some sort of group buy or discount thread posted some time ago. Try a search for that thread and you may find some useful information there.

I found the Pazzo levers thread. They look really nice. They don't have SV650 levers, just SV1000, is there any difference?

do a search on ebay for "crg levers". These are prety much the same a Pazzo, but the finish is way better. I got mine for 180 shipped, which isn't bad. Here's a pic... They do make shorty's by the way. i just like the longs ones better and I only use 2 fingers as well.

They do make them....

Not sure about your year... but here's some CRG (http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/CRG_Roll-A-Click_Lever_Anodized_Gray_Suzuki_SV650S--16-CRG-11.html)

http://www.kneedraggers.com/html/CRG/crg_lever.jpg

Perfect! How hard are they to install?

alot of the drag racing guys just cut the clutch lever down... cheaper alternative, but those are some really nice looking levers posted above

Yeah, I was thinking about just cutting mine down and rounding them off. I have a Dremel. :dthumb:

I wish there was a cheaper alternative though, like simple cast levers like the stock ones, just shorter. I'd rather not cut mine off.

yea, if you dont hack em up, they look relatively stock wen ur done to
:cheers:

I only use two fingers on the brake and clutch also. I don't care too much to pay that much for the shortend levers tho, although they are really nice levers.
Also, I wouldn't chop off the stock levers.:2cents:

Are the aftermarket levers an easy install? It looks like they'd just bolt on. I can't imagine I'd be losing any brake fluid or anything.

I can get a stock set and cut them myself for about $25 shipped. Why not cut them, round them off and shine them up? I don't think it will affect the structural integrity or anything.

I've never replaced a set...but I know its not hard... jsut disessmble and re-essemble.

i changed mine in about five mins, i cant imagine a newer bike takin too much longer

Are the aftermarket levers an easy install? It looks like they'd just bolt on. I can't imagine I'd be losing any brake fluid or anything.
Piece of cake. One bolt for the break and one bolt on the clutch (if cable clutch) loosen the lock bolt on the clutch cable and loosen the clutch cable adjuster. There is a guide to rotate the lever and slide cable out. Self expletory once you see it.

If you decide to hack it off. It looks better to do both sides.:2cents:

Yeah, I'm definitely doing to do both sides.

just remove the lever and place them on a table vice. You can bend them to your liking. I have a bunch of custom bent levers from crashes...

It will really be hard to adjust for small hands. I'm fortunate to have long fingers and can adjust the stock levers accordingly. One finger braking, but I use 3 fingers for clutching. Damn, I miss having a hydrolic clutch.

-a|ex

Yeah, I'm definitely doing to do both sides.
I hate the way it looks when people chop the ends off. It looks like you dropped your bike and broke the ends off. :2cents:

I fully agree. However, for 1/10 the cost, being on a budget...

I'd be more than happy to drop $200 on levers if you were buying. :cheers:

I fully agree. However, for 1/10 the cost, being on a budget...

I'd be more than happy to drop $200 on levers if you were buying. :cheers:
I won't drop that much down on some small levers.:lol:

Yeah you might be able to just bend them out of the way... like BM said!

just remove the lever and place them on a table vice. You can bend them to your liking. I have a bunch of custom bent levers from crashes...

It will really be hard to adjust for small hands. I'm fortunate to have long fingers and can adjust the stock levers accordingly. One finger braking, but I use 3 fingers for clutching. Damn, I miss having a hydrolic clutch.

-a|exThe stock levers are cast aluminum, though. I thought they'd just snap off.

It's not that my fingers are too short. It's just that I'd rather only use two fingers on the levers, and when I squeeze the clutch lever, it squashes my pinky and ring finger. Sure, I can avoid the finger squishing, but having my clutch cable adjusted to where the clutch will work with that short of a pull makes me wonder if I'm really fully engaging/disengaging the clutch, or just causing it to slip.

Two finger levers are just natural to me. It comes from mountain biking. Heck, most of the time on my mountain bike, I used one finger. My mountain bike levers are nice & short.

I'm concerned about comfort, and premature clutch wear.

So, there's no cheaper alternative, huh? I don't need all the bling-bling of anodized levers. If they look just like the stock ones, only shorter, that would be perfect.

I bought a spare set of stock levers, for $20.

I then took them to a machinist to have them cut down & reshaped.

My fears were proven, he says since they're cast aluminum, you can't shape them; they just snap off.

So, I had him cut them down and round them off, then polish them up. He did it for free.

They look decent. Later on, when I have the coin (and my other mods are finished - new can, hugger, etc.) I'll spring for a set of the nice shorty levers.

Ok...so lets see some pics of these new ones? We want to see how they turned out... :tt:

Will do. I'll have to take some. Check back in a day or so.

Will do. I'll have to take some. Check back in a day or so.
:tt: its a new day.:lol: :nopicsbs:

Sorry! Later, I promise!

Sorry! Later, I promise!
Its later:lol:

Gosh! I'm a busy man!:cry:

Gosh! I'm a busy man!:cry:
Well you're online right now... WHAT ARE YOU DOING? :lol:

Well you're online right now... WHAT ARE YOU DOING? :lol:Paperwork.:sorry:

Ok, right now, I just finished summerizing the snow blower, getting the mower, trimmer, and blower running, mowing the lawn, washing the dogs, and cleaning out the garage. Now, I'm going to take a shower, and then go take some pictures of my bike and blog them.

I know the feeling... its good to get those things done but it sucks when they interfere with :whore: and riding!!! :damn:

Finally, the pictures! Please forgive the bug guts. :dthumb:

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7786/1145/1600/P4151117.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7786/1145/1600/P4151115.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7786/1145/1600/P4151116.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7786/1145/1600/P4151118.jpg

Granted, they're not nearly as nice as a good aftermarket set. But, on a budget, I'll take em!

Actually they don't look half bad at all!... did you cut them so you only use two or three fingers?

2 Fingers.

Dude...watch how you have the clutch adjusted,you could easily have it too tight and It'll slip !!! You may not even notice it,make sure theres a little freeplay in the linkage/system before you can feel the "cam" engage!!!

Dude...watch how you have the clutch adjusted,you could easily have it too tight and It'll slip !!! You may not even notice it,make sure theres a little freeplay in the linkage/system before you can feel the "cam" engage!!!It's all good. I put the clutch cable back where it was stock, now that I have 2 finger levers.

Actually they don't look half bad at all!... did you cut them so you only use two or three fingers?
:withstupi that turned out really good.

Good call probably on having somebody else aka a pro do it!

Also, love the little headlight fairing!

:withstupi that turned out really good.

Good call probably on having somebody else aka a pro do it!

Also, love the little headlight fairing! The fairing is stock. I'm doubtful it does anything at all to deflect the wind. I'm happy with it though. The wind is part of the experience!

The fairing is stock. I'm doubtful it does anything at all to deflect the wind. I'm happy with it though. The wind is part of the experience!
Come up here and say that! :lol: 45* with a good 10mph head wind... going 70-80mph!... I wish I had a double bubble shield!:willy:

have you tried them out yet? did you get the cut right?

JT... I know all about wind. Trust me.... I got mad wind on the chopper!

Ebbs...I've done 34 degrees on the chopper. And trust me you know nothing about wind on a typical fairing sportbike!!!

JT... I know all about wind. Trust me.... I got mad wind on the chopper!

Ebbs...I've done 34 degrees on the chopper. And trust me you know nothing about wind on a typical fairing sportbike!!!

Yeah F that! I had to run out an get a textile jacket with a liner so I'd stop shiver'n long enough to shift! :lol::h17:

Yeah... I had the fleece under my leather jacket with the liner in. my thinsalate power trip gloves, blue jeans and chaps, with boots. It wasn't that bad...

It's not uncommon to have 15-20 mph winds here. Blows you all over the road.

have you tried them out yet? did you get the cut right?The cut is just right. I like them a lot.