Right, well quick background, i'm 17, from NZ, and in the pursuit of my final 80gm to go under 5kg (on alloy wheels) i decided to tune my SRAM red levers... (viewtopic.php?f=10&t=100739 here's the thread on the bike) so i will post you all some pics of it as i go...

So today i busted out the drill and dremel, i like my tuned bits to look original, flow in the component, and not look like a Muppet with a drill went willy nilly on some expensive carbon bits, plus im only 17 so i cant afford to buy a new lever if i F@#$ it up... So i worked away at it, about 3 hours on the one lever so far. I regularly check for stiffness irregularities. I have used the two side parts of the lever blade as the strength part to the tune, they act like an I-Beam essentially. So far the lever has gone from 22.41gm to 14.21 (8.2gm so far!) and i plan to take another gram out yet. Paired with some BTP hoods these will ride nice me thinks









Next up ill take to the body of the lever, there are bits around the hood (the little lip for those familiar) that ill cut down...

What do you all think so far? Suggestions?

And does anyone have some BTP clamps they want sold?

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http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=100739

Oh my, those are very nice!

Can't wait to see how it sweet it will look on the bike!

Hat's off to your skill and patience

That has got to be one of the last places I would ever try to shave of a few grams.

Nice weight save nevertheless.

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2013 S-works Venge Di2 6.73kg

@cloudnine i like to spend the time, and with two weeks off at the moment (big crash!) i have the time to tinker...

@nagge risky but even like this i cant flex them in my big vice here at home, they are still VERY stiff!

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http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=100739

Wow you really are a weight weenie. In fact it's not WW it's 70's retro. Next you will be drilling chainrings.

Good work.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

I tuned mine .I drilled some small holes in the line of where my fingers sit on the shifters.
Not sure how comfy these shifters will be to just rest on with such big holes. Keeps us posted on the performance .

You can remove more:

Just kidding. Love what you've done and keep up the good work

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My Renovo R1 wooden bike project

Check it out: the most amazing vintage Colnago, Merckx and Pinarello collection

Every SRAM item i've ever owned (bar brakes but i never used them) has now been tuned! hahaha

@artray, i planned exactly where these holes went, i dyed my fingers then rode some hills, when i got home i had the exact spots where my figners went, and i made sure that i had the cut outs there! the two middle fingers are in the middle cut out with a finger either side. Actually pretty comfy!

@SWijland, they are potentially cooler looking than mine!

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http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=100739

Very cool, most 17 y/o's where I live are playing video games and smoking weed. Glad to see such a cool tune from such a young gent. Keep it up!

Thats a bit of a generalization about 17 y/o's.

Oh tu meke bro!

Very nice tuning job, those levers look excellent!

Excellent.

Good job! I can't wait to see what you do with the bodies.

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Trek 5500 - 13.75lbs on a $1400 Budget
20 gram 1x10 chain guide

They look so awesome!!!