I’ve always maintained that on a bike, any bike, it’s the bits you touch that make the biggest difference. Handlebars, grips, levers, footpegs and seats; change any one of these and you’ll notice it straight away. Likewise, if you’ve got a rock hard seat, or handlebar grips that spin on both sides, they’ll piss you off the second you leave the garage. So, with that in mind I’ve been tweaking some bits on the Suzuki GSX-R750 long-term test bike.
Isn’t it? Ahh, y’know, lovely.
The standard, silver aluminium front brake and clutch levers work perfectly. The one on the right stops the bike and the one on the left makes it do wheelies; there’s nothing wrong with the way they work. There’s nothing wrong with the way a fifteen-quid Casio tells the time either, but that doesn’t stop us from slapping swanky Breitlings on our wrists and feeling all special when we do. Breitling doesn’t make controls for motorcycles, but luckily Lightech do and, if I’m honest, I’m far more excited about Lightech bling than swanky watches.
These black anodised, folding brake and clutch levers came from the nice chaps at Reactive Parts and will set you back £154 for the pair. They’re stunningly made and the brake lever has adjustable span and reach so you can get it set up just right. Best of all, every time you touch the brake or clutch, you feel where your modifying money was spent. The shape of the lever feels, well, nicer and if you can’t imagine it, catch us at the NEC show in hall two and have a prod and an poke yourself.
Clutching at straws…