Aftermarket Levers = WOF Fail?

[pritch]

I had a set of CRG leavers on a Honda - very nice. Got them form these guys - good international service. http://www.kyleusa.com/

Previously I used Dan Kyle on a number of occasions and would have suggested him this time but when I checked he didn't seem to be offering all the levers. I was told by someone who has connections in the industry that Dan Kyle wakes up every morning wondering how he can beat Hardracing today. There used to be very good specials available when they were competing hard out.

CRG are great but here are other good brands, Gilles Tooling comes to mind but you'll have to find yer own link.

[Swoop]

Titax are very good also, in my opinion. Check 'Fastbikesgear', might not have the second 's'?

Yes, I'd looked there.
A bit pricey for 2 levers. $295-

[AllanB]

The question is what is aftermarket?

At a silly price I can buy genuine Ducati Performance levers - no doubt Ducati get someone to make em and brand them as such. That will be a fact as I hunted down on the net the identical DP LED indicators without the Ducati logo significantly cheaper ....

So if I buy 'Ducati' branded ones they would be OK with the WOF Nazi the OP encountered even though they are made by one of the 'aftermarket' suppliers?

Taken to the extreme a fair amount of anyones ride is 'aftermarket' in that the brand manufacture did not actually make the parts in house ........

I have my eye on a set of Evotech levers ......

ASV is another popular brand.

[jellywrestler]

I suppose there has to be some 'after-market' coverall regs otherwise there's nothing stopping Johnny Clever-Pants whipping up a replacement lever out of a piece of old steel he found in the garage.

probably better than some of the muck metal they make some levers from. to me it's not a bad move having levers certified, as an electrician everything i touch has to be, it's a pain in the arse but it stops a lot of shite coming in and being connected.
god only knows what some shit is made of these days.

[Akzle]

Ducati Performance

...so, not very good then?

[Jeeper]

There's a big difference between being contract manufacturer for a brand (i.e. oem supplier) versus any non-branded copy. That difference is quality control and materials.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

[manxkiwi]

Yes, I'd looked there.
A bit pricey for 2 levers. $295-

Did you get a price on CRGs? I think they offer a high end race version and a slightly cheaper option (still good though). ASV as mentioned are also extremely good, not sure how much they are?

[AllanB]

There's a big difference between being contract manufacturer for a brand (i.e. oem supplier) versus any non-branded copy. That difference is quality control and materials.

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

Ah but Grasshopper in the world we live in often the same factory that produces 'Excellent Bike Brand X' part A, also runs off an identical 'Different Brand Y' part A.

Then there is a cheap arse, ,we made a copy mold off 'Excellent part A' then we picked up all the loose bits of metal off the side of the road, melted them down and make 'Really shit Part A' companies. Usually Asian.

Possibly they have no morals, or soul. I do not know.

[Swoop]

Did you get a price on CRGs? I think they offer a high end race version and a slightly cheaper option (still good though). ASV as mentioned are also extremely good, not sure how much they are?

Yeah some high prices around. The other end of the spectrum is EvilBay's $20- sets.
This fullah ain't going anywhere near them! (probably turn out to be perfectly OK though!).

[rastuscat]

I took a Troll bike (R1200RT-P) to VTNZ in Lichfield Street a few years back.

There was only one guy on duty who had a motorcycle licence, so he did the exam. He was a little Asian guy, struggled to get on the bike, let alone ride it.

As I sat in the waiting room looking out at what was going on, I could see him scratching his head at which one of the very many switches did what. I gather he was looking for the horn.

He turned the siren on (not a WoF issue), then the flashing lights (also not a WoF issue). He transmitted on the Police channel, but of course, he wasn't wearing my helmet, so he couldn't speak on it.

I seriously doubt that he knew more about that bike than I did.

But here's a thought. It's asking a lot to have a guru at every testing station who knows everything about every bike and accessory, every time, all the time.

In regard to telling if it's a factory original lever, I've seen a lot of accessory ones that look a long way from factory. Pink, blue, bronze. It's like the guys who fit them want people to know they have after market parts fitted. It appears to be some sort of pissing contest.

I kind of like factory stuff myself.

[mossy1200]

I wonder how much better aftermarket levers perform during an emergency stop.

[AllanB]

I wonder how much better aftermarket levers perform during an emergency stop.

Given they tend to be adjustable if you have replaced a non adjustable set with a brake lever you have adjusted to your preference then possibly 'better'

Shit cheese-metal ones of course may actually break before you brake..............


CRG do make several styles now - the original roll-a-click is still around then flasher ones including carbon!

http://constructorsrg.com/levers/index.html

[FJRider]

I wonder how much better aftermarket levers perform during an emergency stop.

That would depend a lot on who made them ... and where/how they were made.

[mossy1200]

Shit cheese-metal ones of course may actually break before you brake..............




http://constructorsrg.com/levers/index.html

The old BByB is a possibility. You do not know what your buying unless you snap one to look at the ally quality.
I think lever brand wont effect brake performance when pulled on a modern abs bike. Snap a lever could have a negative effect though.

[manxkiwi]

I wouldn't be surprised if stock levers are made to only just meet any given standard. They are universally crap die cast aluminum. I doubt anything machined from solid would be any weaker, cheap Chinese or not. Clearly stock cast ones are more than up to the job of heavy braking. Billet ones would resist breaking better in an off.
I'm not saying the Chinese ones are great (I have Titax). But really doubt there's a safety element to the issue.