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Written by Wally Wallace
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Monday, 26 June 2006 |
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Grafton Re-Entry Brake Levers Circa 1992
Keeping the Brake Lever theme going we have on display in Bikeman's Museum a brand new pair of Grafton Re-Entry brake levers. High performance in a minimalist design, the Re-Entry's first appeared on the market in 1992. The levers retailing for $149.95 here at Bikeman. Compatible with Cantilever brakes only, the Re-Entry's tipped the scales at a scant 165.5grams and offered features not found in other levers of the day.
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One of the most interesting features of the levers is the lever pivot. The pivot placement is adjustable to allow the rider to customize the feel of the lever. There are four holes or placement options for the pivot that will change the feel of the lever modulation or cable pull. Unfortunately this is not an on-the-fly adjustment and does require a small screwdriver to remove the C-Clip that holds the pivot in place.
Like many aftermarket levers the Grafton's did not feature a return spring. They relied on the spring tension of the brake calipers to return the levers to a closed position after braking. The levers did offer a rubber lever / grip cover that was very popular on aftermarket levers, back in the day.
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Grafton Performance was the first small company to enter the high-end brake market in 1989 competing with the big boys. (Shimano, Suntour, DiaCompe) The original cantilever brake design, the Speed Contolers, was several years ahead of it's time and ushered in an era of high-zoot aftermarket parts. It wasn't until 1991-1992 that other companys including Marinovative, Critical Racing and Pauls Components joined the fray. A trend setter, John Grafton had plans of an All American component group to compete with Suntour and Shimano. This dream never came to be reality but the Grafton legacy remains in tact.
 
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Last Updated ( Monday, 26 June 2006 )
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