Bike brake levers for road, MTB, city and BMX

Which brake lever for which brake?

The lever turns the pressure of your fingers into pull on a cable or pressure in a hydraulic system. So it is never chosen on its own: it has to speak the same language as the brake it operates. This page brings together levers for flat handlebars, for mountain bikes, hybrids, city bikes or BMX, road brake/shift levers that also change gear, and spare parts such as lever bodies or blades. Above all, note the reference of your brakes, the type of handlebar and, for a brake/shift lever, the number of speeds of the drivetrain.

Long or short pull: matching lever and cable brake

A cable brake expects a precise length of cable with each squeeze. V-brakes, with their long arms, need a long pull lever, which pulls a lot of cable. Road calliper brakes, classic cantilevers and drum brakes work with a short pull lever. The wrong combination gives either a lever that touches the handlebar before the brake bites, or a brake that locks abruptly, with no modulation. A few levers have adjustable pull to suit both families.

The shape of the blade matters too. A short one or two-finger blade leaves your other fingers wrapped around the grip, an asset off-road. A three or four-finger blade spreads the effort over the whole hand, which is more comfortable for a weaker hand or a loaded city bike.

Hydraulic brake levers: a master cylinder matched to the calliper

On a hydraulic brake, the lever houses the master cylinder and the fluid reservoir. The diameter of its piston is calculated for that of the calliper pistons, and the fluid required by the brand, mineral oil or DOT, cannot be replaced by another. The safest option is therefore to replace a lever with a model of the same brand and family as the calliper, or with the exact spare part. Once the hose is connected, the system is bled to drive out the air. The replacement blades and kits on this page restore a lever bent in a crash without opening the system.

Road brake/shift levers: braking and gears together

On a road handlebar, the brake lever also changes gear: this is the brake/shift lever, called Dual Control at Shimano. It comes in a cable version for calliper brakes, a hydraulic version for disc brakes, and an electronic or wireless version that no longer pulls a derailleur cable. It is chosen according to the brand and the number of speeds of the drivetrain, sometimes according to a specific generation: the product name flags any compatibility exceptions. For cyclocross and gravel, additional levers fitted to the tops of the handlebar let you brake with your hands resting flat.

Levers for kids' bikes, city bikes and BMX

On a child's bike from 16 to 24 inches, the hand is small: choose a lever with a short or adjustable reach, which comes closer to the handlebar, and check that it suits the brake fitted, often a V-brake. City bikes with an internal gear hub often have a drum or roller brake, operated by a short pull lever. In freestyle BMX, the lever is short to leave the grip free, and often works with a gyro, the device that allows full rotations of the handlebar while keeping the rear brake working.

Levers by discipline and other brake parts

MTB brake levers cover hydraulic levers and how to adjust them, and BMX brake levers the short freestyle models. To rebuild a cable brake, pair the lever with new brake cables and housing; to change a whole hydraulic brake, with lever and calliper already connected, see the complete disc brakes. The bike brakes and parts section brings all these parts together.

Which brake lever brands should you choose?

Shimano covers every discipline: XT BL-M8100 hydraulic levers, with the I-Spec EV clamp that takes the gear shifter directly, and XTR BL-M9120 levers for mountain biking, Dual Control brake/shift levers for the Ultegra and 105 road groupsets, and Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifters.

Sturmey-Archer, a brand born in Nottingham, England, and a long-standing specialist in internal gear hubs and drum brakes, offers aluminium levers designed for these brakes, in right or left versions.

Sram offers its wireless AXS road levers for the Red, Force and Rival groupsets with hydraulic brakes, and its G2, Code and Maven MTB levers, whose Ultimate versions get a carbon blade.

Microshift, a Taiwanese drivetrain manufacturer, designs road brake/shift levers compatible with Shimano drivetrains, for double or triple chainsets; one of its versions excludes Tiagra 4700, as its product name states.

Odyssey BMX, a brand whose Gyro rotor was one of its first products, makes the Monolever, a slim BMX lever with a hinged clamp, compatible with the gyro and available in short, medium and Trigger sizes; the M2 also accepts the Gyro's double cable system.

Brake levers on sale

Levers from a replaced generation or a discontinued colour join the brakes outlet, which is handy for keeping a spare lever from the same family as your brakes. Recent products can be found in new arrivals, and Black Friday and the winter sales are good times to refresh your cockpit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you fit a road brake lever to a flat handlebar?

No: a road lever fits a handlebar with a larger diameter than a flat bar, and its pull is often different. On a flat handlebar, choose a lever designed for it, long pull for a V-brake, short pull for a road brake or a road mechanical disc brake.

Why does my brake lever not spring back?

On a cable brake, the most common cause is a cable sticking in housing that is dirty, rusty or too sharply bent: replace both. Also check the brake's return spring and the lever pivot. On a hydraulic brake, a lever that returns slowly often points to dirty calliper pistons, which need cleaning.

How do you change a bike brake lever?

Remove the grip and the shifter if they are in the way, unhook the cable, loosen the clamp, then slide on the new lever. Position it at an angle that extends the line of your forearm, reconnect the cable and adjust its tension. For a hydraulic lever, connect the hose and bleed the system.

Should you change both levers at the same time?

It is not essential, but two identical levers give the same feel in both hands, which helps you modulate. Brake/shift levers and most hydraulic levers are sold individually, right or left, so you can replace only the damaged one.

Does a four-finger lever brake harder?

Not on its own: power depends mainly on the brake and the lever ratio. A long blade does, however, let you squeeze with your whole hand, which makes braking easier for a weaker hand. Sporty riders prefer a short blade, which leaves their other fingers on the grip.