How to Install Break Levers on a Bicycle Handlebar

Video Transcript

Now what I'm going to do is put the bike on the floor and stand over it to make sure everything is where I like it. In this particular circumstance because I have the grip and brake lever on the left side of the handle bars I have something to work with. Usually that is not the case. So what I do is I start off by adjusting my grip with these lock on style grips notice I have bolt heads I want to adjust it where the bolt heads are not anywhere near where I'm going to be putting my hands cause that is not very comfortable. So I take my 3 millimeter wrench or a 2.5 millimeter wrench if you are using the ODI brand grips. Tighten this to a good tork, I'm going to tighten up the other head so now I have my grips install and I'm ready to set up my brake lever. For me brake lever positioning is a lot more critical then shifters positioning because brakes are the most important tool you have in arms when it comes to controlling your bike. So I like to set things up so I have a nice even angle down my hand to my wrist to wrap around the brake lever, I also personally like to be able to read ch the brake lever when my hand is on the handlebars like this. Just one finger cause these brakes are good enough that I won't need my whole hand to brake. Some people prefer to use 2 fingers or other fingers to brake and they may end up sliding there brake lever out this way so that it is more natural to have there hand on the end of the bar pull the middle finger with 2 fingers but that is not my preference. So I'm going to find the angle it feels good, this feels pretty good, so I'm going to hold that grab my 4 millimeter wrench and tighten these up sort of finger tight. This is a really light application your still want to be able to reach down and adjust these cause that means if you crash they would move out of the way instead of braking.