Vintage Components - Dia Compe Brakes

On this page: Royal Gran Compe black calipers | G500 caliper | Aero Compe levers | BRS 300 compact aero levers | Vintage Dia Compe lever hoods | SS-5 Mk-2 brake levers | Mark 5 cantilever brake levers | Power Control 7 cantilever brake levers

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Dia Compe is the brand name of Japanese component maker KK Yoshigai. The firm was stated in Osaka, Japan, in 1930. The first product off its production line was a brakeset. Though Dia Compe has long since branched out into headsets, suspension forks and stems, brakes and brake parts are what most people rightfully think of when they see the Dia Compe name.

It was Dia Compe who invented the famous "Safety Lever" extension levers that allow a rider to put his hands on the tops of a set of drop handlebars and still stop his bike.

Swiss brake maker Weinmann was was so taken with the invention that the two firms entered a design-sharing agreement. Weinmann could make the safety levers and Dia Compe could make its own version of the highly-regard Weinmann brakes. That is why those highly polished Dia Compe brakes of the bike boom look just like Weinmanns.

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Royal Gran Compe short-reach black brake calipers. used $70.00

Part# BR-41

Weight per pair: about 350 grams

Reach: 39-49mm

Dia Compe made these top-of-the line brakes in the 1980s. Initially they were produced in silver, but a few white and black sets were also produced. It is thought that the black anodized version is the most rare.

The quick release is incremental, as on a Campagnolo Nuovo Record side-pull caliper. You can open it just enough to get the clearance you need. The cables are clamped (a far superior method, that forestalls broken and frayed wires), rather than being run through a bolt with a hole in it.

Note: Our set does not have matching front lock nuts. Otherwise, they are in fabulous condition.

The finish level on these calipers matches the best by anyone, anywhere.

Note these have allen-key mounting nuts.

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Dia-Compe G500 brake caliper. New $25.00

Dia-Compe came out with many versions of this caliper with different part numbers, levels of finish and hardware. The G500 is nicely finished.

We believe this caliper was produced in the 1980s.

Come with quick release and wheel guides.

And from the back

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Aero Compe brake levers. Lightly used, $50.00

These aero levers were produced in the early 1980s and came with the Aero Gran Compe brake set. "Gran Compe" is stamped on the mounting straps.

A simple, nicely finished lever set.

Side view

A close-up of the hoods showing their wear.

And a close-up of the lever arms

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Dia Compe BRS 300 Compact Reach Aero Brake Levers. New, $80.00

• These are new, we removed from a new bike
• These levers have an internal return spring
• Compact design for riders with smaller hands

Both cable ferrules are included.

Front view

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Vintage Dia Compe brake lever hoods. New, $25.00

These are not copies, they are original Dia Compe factory-produced hoods. They will work on Weimann levers as well.

These will work on Weinmann levers as well.

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Dia Compe SS-5 Mark-2 brake levers. New

• Produced in the late 1990s

We have two sets of these levers: Blue | Purple

Blue Dia Compe SS-5 MK-2 brake levers. New, $125.00

Part# 82123

Beautifully made.

Flipped over they look just as good

They are new, in the box.

Purple Dia Compe SS-5 MK-2 brake levers. New, $125.00

Part# 82122

Ready for your bike

And the levers flipped over.

The levers are new, in the box.

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Mark 5 cantilever brake levers. New, $65.00/pair

Typical Dia Compe high-level finish

And the levers flipped over.

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Dia Compe Power Control 7 cantilever brake levers. New, $25.00/pair

Part# 82143

• Produced early to mid-1990s

Functional, clean design

The flip side

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