Pazzo levers

[BuellxBandit]

I know there have been a few posts about these levers already but there seem to be a lot of questions associated with them so I thought I'd clarify all in one place.

If you are considering aftermarket levers for your Buell, consider no more. Buy Pazzo, and Buy form PJ's Parts. They can get you any color combo you want and have the best price around at $149.99 shipped. http://www.pjsparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24_31_426&products_id=1702

I ordered my levers through PJ's last Tuesday; within 15 minutes I received an email from them informing me that the specific colors I ordered were not in stock, but that they would get them shipped directly from the supplier. I received my levers that Friday morning. Pretty impressive for free shipping.

To clarify, these levers are a DIRECT FIT. There are no modifications or new bushings to be installed. Fit is immaculate with less slop than the factory levers (yes, with the clutch adjusted properly).

BUY [F-21/B-55] For:
XB12 all 04-08
XB12 X/XT (Ulysses) 2009
XB9 all 03-09


BUY [F-14/B-55] For:
XB12R/Ss/SCG 2009
X1 Lightning 98-02
S1 Lightning 97-98
M2 Cyclone 97-02


BUY [F-14/C-777] For:
1125R/CR 08-09

I went with black shorty levers with blue adjusters


The levers are high quality and robust in construction. They have a very nice machined look and are anodized so will never fade. These levers feature 6-position adjusters and a return-snap dampening spring. The geometry of the levers are extremely ergonomic and increase control significantly.


Color match? Yes sir!


Just pic showing my forward control setup (LSL superbike bars yum)


Install is straight forward and took less than 20 mins. Clutch side has a 10mm pivot bolt up top of the perch and a 10mm lock nut at the bottom. Brake side is a flat head bolt on top and another 10mm nut on the bottom. Just rotate the clutch lever 90 degrees and lift up to get the cable free. Reverse for install. I used silicon lubricant and some Q-tips to clean any dirt and grime out from inside the perch before installing the new levers. They are buttery smooth and feel great. *Note* Lock nuts should be snug but not over tightened. This can cause your brakes to hang and prevent the clutch from full engagement.

Overall I am extremely satisfied with this purchase. Yes, they are on the more expensive side but I can tell you they are well worth the investment, especially at the price offered on PJ's. Product quality is really top notch and the fit is even better. Beats hacking on some levers that aren't made for the bike and risking brake lockup or dragging.

If you have any questions regarding the levers themselves or install let me know.

 

[AZmidget91]

Looks exactly like, and uses the same part numbers as the $40 Chinese ones. I bet they are the same Chinese levers.

 

[Cooter]

I wonder if you're right? The finish machining is terrible.

Sorry to be a hater BuellxBandit:upset: and thanks for the detailed review:up: But I love me some $40 disposable levers... Maybe someday when I'm rich and famous (I'm already too good looking) I'll try a high end set. Until then I'll buy 4 chinese sets for the same price and keep them on the shelf.

 

[BuellxBandit]

Canadian company, made in Canada, by Canadians, using US CNC machines. Correct me if my geography skills are lacking but I think that's a relatively large distance from China. The finish is actually smooth to the touch, I have a love for finely machined parts so I guess I like look? To each his own.

 

[AZmidget91]

Even the machining marks are the same

 

[wickedchop]

I have the $30 Chinese levers and they are identical and flawless....on both my bolts. I HATE to buy Chinese but I rolled the dice and love them. If it was a small dollar difference between the two I would've bought the pazzo levers. But it is what is. I just can't justify dumping that much extra coin for identical levers.

 

[Cooter]

I wonder what the requirements for "Made in Canada" or even "made in USA" really are now-a-days? It's not like there's a 100% american machine anymore.

Can a company purchase the existing CNC programs from china (so the R&D cost is nil, and why re-invent the wheel), then get a bar of 6061, press play, and claim "Made in..."?

I'll quit messing up a good review thread, Sorry...

 

[BuellxBandit]

Hey it's all good in the hood. The purpose of this thread is to aid other people in their decision making. Now they have a side by side comparison with Chinese versions and they can make up their own mind. I will say it strikes me as rather strange that many of you are concluding that Pazzos are Chinese copies. Guys.. China is the clone capital of the world. They are REALLY good at stealing patents (that don't pertain to their laws) and recreating a low-cost knock off that appears very good. Cooter you pretty much hit the nail on the head, just reverse it. The primary reason the Canadian levers are four times the cost is because it was engineers from Pazzo that put in the R&D to actually produce the product. Any Chinese machine shop with a CNC machine can now buy a single set, 3D laser scan them, and covvert it into a CAD file to mass produce. Are the Chinese levers bad? Not at all. Are they the best? Not at all. I do my best to buy from the guys who actually engineered the product. Plus, mine say "Pazzo Racing" on them so that's good for at least 15BHP right?

 

[Cooter]

20hp, If they came with a sticker too:eagerness:

 

[BambamXB12r]

Good to see you back cooter:applause: it was much too quiet around here.

 

[wickedchop]

Ok, bit of an update here on the Chinese knockoff levers.....the set that I praised were gun metal grey in color....I decided to change colors and get an anodized orange set. I installed them and off I go for about a quarter mile, bike starts acting up, seems like now power and it's getting slower and slower but more violent! Well it dies in the middle of the road, get it into neutral and it will not move..ok, now I get it, brakes locked up, rotors damn near blue. Call the wife and she brings the race stands so I can roll it out of the road and onto the shoulder. I run back home get the ten mm socket and flat head screwdriver and re install the grey lever, good as new sans a cooked rotor. The machine work between the two levers varied a bit, nothing radical....well enough to lock my front rotor up and damn near cause me a get off.........LIVE AND LEARN. I rolled the dice and almost got jacked up. Figured I would let everyone know as to not make the same mistake.

 

[rchuff]

You must always look at them real close to make sure everything is the same on them or you will have problems.

 

[Cooter]

As with anything Chinese, you can't assume the fittment has been tested. Assume you are the R&D guy for them, haha.
It has been posted all over about the first gen chinese knock-offs that used GSXR pivot brackets, were pushing the master cylinder piston in slightly. Sorry you missed that, I did too and had the same thing happen to me years ago. Not a fun time.

What you DO get with the North American sourced products (besides the higher price) is faster shipping, and usually much better product application testing. I love this country and try to support it, but 300%-400% more is hard to swallow sometimes, so I'm selective about things. My Snap-on tools are great, but that truck will sell you the same (identical) Chinese specialty tools you find at Harbor Freight too if you aren't careful:black_eyed:

 

[wickedchop]

no doubt, it wasn't fun. Amazed I kept it upright and thank god for the race stands which were still a pain in the ass to roll on rough asphalt but they saved my ass, and I was close to home. Nothing worse than a locked up bike in the middle of the street.

 

[BuellxBandit]

Glad to hear you (and your bike) weren't hurt. I have friends that suffered similar incidents but didn't manage to save it. Buddy of mine took a spill when his chinese 'racing' clutch lever actually fractured at the pivot point on a hard shift into 3rd gear. Left him near the top of his revs with no way to disengage the engine. Locked up the rear wheel trying to force downshifts with no clutch. Obviously this was a rare and extreme manufacturing defect that left the part structurally flawed, but it goes to show the kind of quality control and variation one might expect from clone parts.

 

[wickedchop]

Crash breakaway

 

[GregoXB]

If we are talking about a locked up front rotor, I will pay a 300% premium on reputable levers to save my bike and my ass. Maybe the Chinese levers attempt to copy levers like Pazzo? That would explain why the machining marks are so similar. Meanwhile, your murderer is lurking right bellow your fingers.

 

[au-rora]

When I bought my 2009 XB12SS, it had red Pazzos already fitted by the previous owner, so I didn't have to fork out the money as such. I do really like them, but can't give any opinion as to whether they're worth the extra bucks compared to the chinese ebay ones. Here's a pic - check them out.

 

[Cooter]

The caliper locking up is a very old issue that rears it's ugly head occasionally now. Blame China? Yep. Blame the installer too? Yep.

It was originally caused by people using GSXR application levers. Word got around on the internet (I know, I know) that GSXR and Buell levers were 'the same'. Some unscrupulous companies (Chinese...) adjusted their fitment list to include Buell without doing any R&D. You would buy 'Buell' levers, you would get 'GSXR' levers and if you didn't pay attention= problem.

Rule:
You can not trust ANY aftermarket part regardless of country of origin, or cost.

Rule:
You can not assume that paying more gets you a better part.

It's your ass, be responsible to it. No one else will.

 

[GregoXB]

Previous poster also said Chinese levers fractured and broke during shift. I bet, based on sight and feel, that lever looked just as good as a Pazzo though.