Tektro 984 BMX Sidepull Rear Freestyle Caliper Brake Black – good/compatible solution to replace the current v-brake (pictured)? Unfortunately the bike came with short pull levers even though those are for sidepulls and not v-brakes.

You need to be very sure that you have short pull levers. There are levers that are convertible (have a movable cable anchor) between short and long pull.

 

That said, not all linear pull brakes are long pull. There are short arm short pull calipers from [Box](https://boxcomponents.com/collections/braking/products/box-three-brake-kits?variant=35349222424743), [TRP](https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=45178), and [Shimano](https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/shimano/BR-R353.html), and others as well. There are also the Promax P1 85mm, they are the down market version of the Box three calipers linked above (same company, much like TRP and Tektro are the same).

 

You can also use [cantilever brakes](https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=6351&category=38), but you will need a cable hanger (you can get ones that use the [seat clamp bolt](https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=44939) as a mount point, and [headset mount](https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=49760) for the front).

 

Lastly, the 984 that you suggest would be compatible with a short pull caliper. You need to ensure that they have the correct reach (the distance between the center of your brake tract and the mount hole in mm). If the reach is correct then all is well. If not, then the best bet would be to use a short pull linear pull or cantilever brake.