Yeah, I really hope these aren't the cheapies just rebranded. I've heard they have safety issues.. Of course I've hear that from people who sell levers :culpability:
Think a lot of that is fear mongering to be honest. If you buy from a reputable eBay seller, I don’t think where the levers are made makes a difference. They are just lumps of aluminium cut to a certain shape by a CNC machine at the end of the day. I’m sure there are bad ones out there but plenty of good.
I suspect the same CAD drawings are shared around, which is why the same design of levers is seen everywhere.
I’ve used eBay shorty levers on 3 different bikes now for over 25,000 miles combined and never had an issue beyond my own incompetence when it comes to cable adjustments.
I always find it a bit amusing that people have a distrust for anything manufactured in China but I’m almost certain the standard bike levers (and a lot more besides) probably came from exactly there anyway.
Really annoys me that even on relatively expensive bikes you still get crappy levers, mirrors god awful number plate hangers.
Almost a given you have to budget to replace them all.