Kids might not have had the money for high end stuff but there was still plenty of it around. BITD we started out upgrading our M737 XT stuff to M739 V brakes and they were awful. The levers were great but the brakes themselves would wear out in less than 1000 miles to the point where no amount of their rebuild shim kits could fix the linkage system. Then we started using XTR calipers, starting with M950 and later M952. These would last closer to 3000 miles with rebuilds of the pivot bearings and the addition of shims, but they were still crap (and still are if you actually want to slow down). Then I moved to discs and my dad switched to Magura HS33's - oh how we wished we'd discovered the Maguras earlier, they were night and day in the reliability stakes and nearly 20 years on his original silver set is still going strong.I would say unless its some high end bike then LX m600. Which were the standard everyone pretty much had back then.
Who bitd had money for XT ? and certainly not XTR. You might have maybe afforded an XT front, maybe from a swop, then cherished it, but not a bikes worth and not a bikes worth with levers, that would have meant you'd a rich Dad or money falling out your arse.
XTR was shop window stuff
I'm a canti fan, I prefer them aesthetically, and the bikes I like the most come from the canti era. However, I bought a bike that had V-brakes fitted and was surprised how much better they seemed to be than even my best set up cantis.I don't want to open a can of worms and start a Cantilever v V's argument.
But if you had to put new V Brakes and levers on a Retrobike which if any new ones would you choose, are there any that are acceptable looking. It's not a high end build, but towards the top of its range.
I have another build that's 'period correct' but this one that's suits the use it's going to get and that means V's.
I’ve got these on the back of my Gary fisher - the blue is an almost exact March for the frame! Nice looking, very solid and the adjustment screws actually do something…not always the case, especially with ‘tired’ springs in retro sets; then you’re into bending the spring by hand!I rather like the look of the Box three v brakes
https://crucialbmxshop.com/box-three-v-brake
but otherwise whichever Avid SD or Deore v brakes are available. I think the avid levers still look pretty good.