SHIMANO BL-R550 Flat Bar Road Brake Lever Set

My bike had a matched set of Shimano GS200 components. When I had to replace the shifters because they failed, I found that the stock (plastic) levers were just too wide to allow for adequate reach to the the replacement shifters. I ended up purchasing this set and couldn't be more pleased. They are very sturdy, have a nice action to them and are very lightweight. The package was comprehensive and included all cabling, housing, ferrules and cable ends. Installation was very simple, even with my cantilever-style brakes. Some other reviewers had mentioned that they didn't receive cables - that was not the case with Amazon fulfillment - mine came in full retail packaging with everything needed for install.

You know exactly what you'll get with a Shimano product. Mechanically, their products are excellent, reasonably weighted, workmanship and quality control pristine. The main variables are price and where to buy. The pricing from Green Mountain Outfitters doesn't get any better... I've checked around... several times. The service doesn't get much better... ordered on a Sunday... delivered by the next Saturday. An earlier reviewer mentioned that they didn't get a complete package... you should have contacted them to have the problem rectified. I got a full,factory packed retail package with all cables, housings, ferrules, etc. This is not the easiest component in the world to find anymore. This vendor delivered it very quickly at a very good price. Can't get much better than that.

Good product and works as described, but I wish the tightening screws and adjustment tighteners were metal and not plastic... Gives it a cheap feel and not sure how long they will last on my mtb

So a few people asked if they work with V-brakes. I ordered these before checking if they were compatible with them and was about to return them after reading that they weren't, decided to give them a go anyway and to my relief they did!Apparently there is a plastic "tab" that can be switched around so that they work with cantilever/disk brakes, but this is above my skill level, I took them out of the box and put them straight onto my wife's bike that is equipped with v-brakes and they work fine.

i used this lever in conjunction with some bb7 road calipers. it's a very simple, nice looking black lever. installed easily, and works great. i would definitely get this again if i had a need for a short-pull lever.

New bike came with some really cheap brake levers. They worked - but didn't feel that great.Swapped in these guys - and oh what a difference!These are not fancy - but they are solid. Really smooth motion. Just feel good in the hands.

One of these levers snapped in half when I was trying to get it on my handlebar. The fact that they are not hinged makes them extra difficult to get on. Buy something that is hinged and save yourself the hassle.

These are great for older, thin steel bars but won't fit my bigger diameter, light weight aluminum road bars. I used them on a friend's older bike and they are great. Installed they feel just like a nice mountain bike lever. Great quality for the price.