SS5 versus SS7 levers, price curiosity

[jonnyboy666]

so for one of my projects, my 1991 Muddy Fox Alu pro, i wanted a set of SS5 levers as that's what i had on mine back in the day, so i've been looking for some, the prices are mental on them, especially if NOS or blue levers, SS7 levers which if memory serves were the more expensive model seem to go for a lot less by comparison, or am i wrong and SS5's were the more expensive model?

for example, this is cheap for NOS SS7:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12683428...HtFbC7+Od+H47ado7sPwTs3oo=|tkp:Bk9SR-KBq-X6ZA

comparible SS5:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/27517329...CsK8+AYBzvIn4GztVtW+PQ5h4=|tkp:Bk9SR9CTk-X6ZA

either way it's a huge amount for a basic lever!

 

[Camelos]

Yeah - just bought a pair of SS5’s on EBay and was a bit surprised by prices for both models

 

[doctor-bond]

As I recall it was chronological: SS4 (lovely if you can find them), SS5 with the rubber covers, SS5II without a rubber … SS7 as above and then …. SS6 - available recently ??
and weren’t Cannondale coda and Suntour XC Pro and prolly Ritchey the same thing?

Not much help, but they’re all great: maybe avoid NOS and go for GC used?

Edit SS4: personal fave.

 

[jonnyboy666]

yes, there is a cannondale version of the SS5, also, i think the old Xlite chicken stix were SS7 levers that were machined to take some weight out of the clamp and the anodized and lazer etched, then priced up a bit!

i hadn't looked for a set in ages, was surprised to see the prices, i'm kind of bummed out by it as obvs there's retro price rarity increase but it seems stupidly high for even simple parts these days

 

[Camelos]

There was a really nice set of SS5’s in the states last week coupled with some 987 cantis. One bidder only and went for less than £50. I wished I’d bid now but it ended in the middle of the I didn’t want to wait 2 weeks or more

 

[mk one]

I think a lot of people, myself included, regard the SS5 as the better lever, paired with the 987 cantis they are the best brake combination and used on all my bikes I actually ride hard, and also the reason the 987's fetch good money.

 

[benjabbi]

Chicken Stix were tarted up, rebadged Tektro 362A levers.
I was looking for SS-5s recently and was shocked as well, doesn't seem long since I bought a couple of NOS sets for £12.50 a pair. Both went on bikes unfortunately, Wish I'd kept a set. Ended up with some slightly tatty SS-7s for cheap.

 

[brocklanders023]

Yeah, noticed the same. Maybe it’s simply that the SS-5’s were the choice bitd, even if they were technically inferior to 7’s so there’s more of a market?

I had a mint pair of both for a build and chose the 7’s as I assumed they were tricker. Regret that a bit now as 7’s certainly have a nicer finish but 5’s seem to be the sought after levers.

 

[FluffyChicken]

The SS7 only the lever is cold forged, ss5 both clamp and lever are forged iirc.

No idea on the MK2 but the price of. A MK2 and SS7 was about he same.