04 GS500F Brake Lever - Brand?

[gironamo]

Hey guys,

Well I dropped my bike the other day moving it  and I bent the brake lever.  Can you tell me the specific oem brand of the levers?  I couldn't find it on the actual lever itself.  Thanks!

[Toledo Jim]

Suzuki?

[LimaXray]

The brake lever isn't really Suzuki.  Suzuki, as with most motorcycle and car manufacturers, don't actually make the brake system on their bikes/cars.  Not sure of the actual brand, but they're usually sold by the model of bike so it doesn't really matter.  I know you can find them on eBay and of course the dealer.  Maybe someone else knows other sources. 

[Chuck]

The OEM brake lever can be had for $12.49 at flatoutmotorcycles.com.  Part number 57420-0AE00.  That's cheper than eBay, brand new, guaranteed to be the right part.  It may be cheaper or more expensive at other dealers.  check ronayers.com, mrcycles.com, bikebandit.com (though they're usually most expensive on most things), and maybe some others I forgot.  And your local dealer (save shipping).

[phire]

My wife dropped my bike one day and it didn't bend... It just snapped in half, it looked like it was just made out of pot metal or something... Anyways, try a local bike shop (not the dealer), I picked up a cool adjustable one for about $14. Plus, they can show you other ones that will fit your bike if you want something other than stock... Now's the perfect time to buy that ultra light carbon fiber brake lever with speed holes!

[flyingbeagle71]

ultra light carbon fiber brake lever with speed holes!

  For a GS500? 

[OctaneMotorsports]

You guys want a cool tip?

This kind of carried over from my motocross days, but judging by the replies in this topic it's a streetbike problem too. If you drill a small hole at the end of your lever right before the ball, the lever will break off at that point instead of bending or breaking completely. You will still have to replace the lever, but it will get you home if you dropped your bike somewhere far away from home. Worth a try I'd say!

[phire]

You guys want a cool tip?

This kind of carried over from my motocross days, but judging by the replies in this topic it's a streetbike problem too. If you drill a small hole at the end of your lever right before the ball, the lever will break off at that point instead of bending or breaking completely. You will still have to replace the lever, but it will get you home if you dropped your bike somewhere far away from home. Worth a try I'd say!

Good idea..

But, when mine broke off, it did break off at the ball. I didn't even realize it until about after an hour worth of riding..... I was like, hey... was this lever always this short???

So then I went home and found the other part of my lever laying on the driveway.   

[scratch]

Another great idea is to loosen the bolts on all the controls, and then tighten just enough that they wont spin under normal actuation/operation/useage, that way if you do go down the controls will just spin on the handlbar instead of breaking.

[OctaneMotorsports]

The idea of drilling the hole at the end of the lever is that the energy will be transfered to the weak spot, which is where the hole is. Your levers would have likely broken off at the ball if they were drilled.

What scratch said is also a very good idea. If you drill your levers and carefully loosen the controls your setup will be bulletproof. The best part is both of those are free to do provided you have the right tools.

[D-Day]

Another great idea is to loosen the bolts on all the controls, and then tighten just enough that they wont spin under normal actuation/operation/useage, that way if you do go down the controls will just spin on the handlbar instead of breaking.

The only reason I would argue against this method is that you have to reguraly check if they are not too loose, or you risk the risk of crashing if they rotate while doing an emergency manuevers, and if they tighten up do to corrosion over time, they won't rotate in a crash anyway.

Just my $.02

[ducati_nolan]

When I dropped my bike on the right side (engine off and sitting on it while drunk making out with a girl) the brake lever bent near the end. When I dropped it on the left side (Moving about 15mph and hit a oily spot) the clutch lever broke right near the end. The solution? cut them bith down a little and round off the ends. I was meaning to do this right before I dropped it on the left side anyways because it interferes with my barend mirror. I think they're too long anyways.

And you know that as soon as you get new ones, you'll drop it again 
I like the hole idea too.

And the dealer usually charges more than everyone else too. Don't get OEM they're more expensive and no different than the cheap ones.
Later 

[OctaneMotorsports]

When I dropped my bike on the right side (engine off and sitting on it while drunk making out with a girl) the brake lever bent near the end.

[Chuck]

Don't get OEM they're more expensive and no different than the cheap ones.

Everyone keeps saying that.  Where are the cheap levers?  The OEM lever is 12 bucks. 

[phire]

Here's my two cents.



STOP DROPPING YOUR BIKES!!!