Brake Levers

BMX Brake Lever Buyer’s Guide

The brake lever is the small metal component mounted to the handlebar within reach of the grip. When actuated, the lever pulls on a cable that in turn activates the brake and slows down the bike. These little beauties come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and designs. A new brake lever can increase braking power, feel, and provide a more sophisticated look over the stock part. If a rider chooses to run a detangler, the choice of lever can affect the cable setup.

Things To Look For

Brake levers are one of the more personal components on a bike. Because a rider’s hand makes contact with it, the shape and size of the lever will influence the feel of a bike’s cockpit. Aside from feel, the appearance of a new lever can compliment the look of a bike by adding some flair to the handlebar. If the lever is to be used with a detangler system, it is important to choose a design that is compatible with the chosen cable routing style - a detangler setup that uses two separate cables, rather than splitting brake cables, requires a brake lever capable of pulling two cables. Pictured above is a single pull on the left and a dual pull lever on the right. A single pull BMX brake lever will work with any standard BMX brake.

Sizes

The lever blade itself (the part the finger pulls on) is most commonly offered in only one size per model, but there are some offered in up to three lengths. There are also different styles of lever that have small indentations to rest your finger in.

Materials

BMX brake levers are made from aluminum in order to save weight and eliminate the possibility of rusting.

How Much To Spend

Brake levers range in price from $10 to $75. In the $10-$45 range, they come in both single and dual pull styles, as well as many different colors and sizes. In the $45-$75 range, brake levers are lighter weight and use machined aluminum parts to provide stiffer feel and increase braking power.

Product Reviews

Before buying, be sure to do your research and read product reviews. Reviews are a great way to find out specifics about a particular model, user impressions, and things to watch out for. After you’ve purchased a product and had enough time to thoroughly test it, we encourage you to leave a review for other people to see when they are researching bikes and parts on the web.

We hope you’ve found this information to be helpful. If you have a question that isn’t answered in this guide, our BMX forums are a great place to get advice from knowledgeable riders. Your local bike shop is also a great resource.