Topic: Got Rubber?

[Vintageguy]

Was just wondering if anyone knows what the purpose of the black rubber end pieces sometimes seen on 750 brake levers were intended to do? Sometimes you see them, sometimes not. Thanks for any response(s).

[ekpent]

Interesting question and first time I heard that one. Now I'm wondering also.  Maybe help to keep fingers from slipping off in an emergency ?? Dampen vibration ?? Protect other things from getting scratched ?? - Hmmm-  Looks better with them I think.

[Phoenix]

Scratching your car when pulling out of the garage?  Impalling someone in an accident?  Artistic.  Handlebars handguards are rubber and match the tips of the levers?  Easier to see the levers in low light?  So you don't walk into them from the front when the wheel is canted?  The list goes on.  How could they NOT be there.

[jgger]

I think the evolution of the levers was originally no ball on the end. Just kinda pointy. Then they came out with a small ball or bulb on the end around mid 60's or so. Then later, maybe 67-68 the ball got larger and naked for awhile. Then the rubber showed up. It was probably a manufacturing thing, harder to polish the end than it was to dip it. Plus the scratch thing when rubbing a parked car.

This is all a guess on my part based on my hit or miss memory of the 60's!

[BenelliSEI]

I recently came across a few sets of these in their original bags. They were available separately. Great way to cover up fresh scrapes?

Almost impossible to install until I dropped them in boiling water for a minute. Work fast, slip right on!

[Don R]

 I think the ball end is required for racing. Safety for the most part.

[ekpent]

I think the ball end is required for racing. Safety for the most part.

Makes sense. Guess its harder to get stabbed with a ball on the end in a wipe-out.

[bryanj]

Its a legal requirement on bikes in uk unless its a "veteran"

[MJL]

When I had my Buell I broke a lever and got on eBay looking for a replacement. Somebody was making brake levers that looked like knives. It was kinda cool looking, but imagine if you were in an accident and that lever hit something and sliced all your fingers off.

[TPIGroove]

I was curious about those, actually. My 550's stock levers had them but I switched them out for the "sport" levers since those are easier for my tiny hands to reach, and those didn't come with the rubbers. I've thought about dipping the ends in some kind of rubber to make them look "proper", but I didn't know you could buy the tips as slip-ons.