Best bike brake levers
Keep your speed in check with our pick of the best bike brake levers
Whether you're replacing a broken lever or building a bike from scratch, the brakes are undeniably the most important part of your bike. Aside from making sure your brake pads are replaced when they're worn, it's vital that your bike has working brake levers that fit your hand size and are easily within reach from your natural riding position.
Most importantly, it's always a good idea to replace plastic brake levers with metal ones, since they're a lot stronger and more durable, whereas plastic levers can bend if there's an impact.
That's why we're making it as easy as possible for you to choose the best bike brake levers, regardless of whether you're buying them for a road bike, hybrid, mountain bike, or kids bike.
Timoo Bike Brake Levers
Simple metal brake levers that work for caliper and side-pull rim brakes and disc brakes
These aluminum alloy brake levers are incredible value for money, offering a pair of sturdy and durable levers which are easy to install, light in weight, and offer good spring quality.
The digital paint coating is hard-wearing, looking like new for longer, and they can even be paired with road disc brakes for a flat bar conversion.
Tektro Fl750 Canti/Clpr Sl
Brand-name silver levers that work with cantilever and caliper brakes
These Tektro levers are designed to work with caliper and cantilever brakes alike, and are very easy to set up.
They feel good in the hand, are made of durable metal for long-lasting use, and the silver finish would look great on a vintage bike with silver components.
Shimano BL-R400 Road Drop Bar Levers
Big name component for a drop bar road bike
The aerodynamic design of these Shimano brake levers makes them ideal for a drop bar road bike using caliper brakes.
They're compatible with both single- and dual-pivot brakes and feature a comfortable hood shape so you can rest your hands on them for as long as you need to.
Avid FR-5 Bicycle Brake Lever Set
Built-in bend zone for crash protection
When you're mountain biking there's always a risk of falling, so it's important to protect your bike and components (as well as yourself!) as much as possible from damage.
Brake levers can often be a casualty of this, snapping or braking on impact. These brake levers from Avid have a specially-designed 'bend zone' that means rather than shattering under force, the levers will absorb and bend so it can be fixed afterwards.
Vorcool Kids Bicycle Brake Lever
Easy to operate with small hands
It's easy to replace broken brake levers on your little one's bike. These simple levers from VORCOOL are easy to set up and small enough to work with their hands.
These universal brake levers will work with all kids bikes and handlebars with a diameter of 2-2.3cm wide.
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Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all forms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-running by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a mechanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.
Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing more coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycling more accessible overall.
Height: 156cm (5'2")
Weight: 75kg
Rides: Stayer Groadinger UG, Triban RC520 Women's Disc, Genesis Flyer, Marin Larkspur, Cotic BFe 26, Clandestine custom bike