Posted at: Apr 5, 2023
Shimano mechanical brake levers are now few and far between. The following is a summary of the current model lineup, specifications, and compatible components.
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Shimano’s brake levers for MTB and hybrid bikes are shifting toward hydraulic disc brakes not only in the higher grades, but also in the lower grades, leaving mechanical brake levers with few options.
The only Shimano mechanical brake levers that remain in current models are brake levers for flat-bar road use and some MTB-oriented components.
Shimano’s road-oriented components have a strong image of STI levers, in which the brake and shifter are integrated into a single unit, but in fact, Shimano also offers a wide lineup of mechanical brake levers.
Although the wire pulls are different between road calipers and V-brake/mechanical disc calipers, the mechanical brake levers of Shimano’s road bike components are equipped with a switching adjuster, so they can be used with either type of brake.
TIAGRA grade mechanical brake levers for road use. This is the highest grade mechanical brake lever currently available.
It has a switchable wire clamp and can be used with a wide range of brakes, from V-brakes to rim brakes for road use.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-4700 | TIAGRA | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
This mechanical brake lever has the same look and feel as the SORA version of the BL-4700, with SORA’s all-black coloring, making it ideal for those who want to unify their products in black.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-R3000 | SORA | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
A mechanical brake lever from a previous version of BL-R3000. The object would be the same as BL-R3000.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-3500 | SORA | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
Entry-level CLARIS mechanical brake levers for road use. The design and specs are the same as the higher grade BL-4700 and BL-R3000, but the coloring is the CLRAIS gray color.
It is also cosmetically appealing, as it can be purchased for less than $30 in actual sales.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-R2000 | CLARIS | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
One version before BL-R2000. It is equivalent to BL-R2000 in design and function.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-2400 | CLARIS | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
This mechanical brake lever is the only one of Shimano’s current MTB components with a two-finger design, as is typical of MTB components. It is not compatible with rim brakes and cantilever brakes.
The price is reasonable at around $20, making it the mechanical brake lever of choice for upgrading the brake levers on hybrid bikes and minivelos.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-T4000 | ALIVO | 2 | ◎ | ◎ | - | - |
Finally, let’s compare the current Shimano mechanical brake levers we have seen so far.
| Model | Grade | Finger | V-Brake | Mechanical Disc Brake | Rim Brake (NEW SUPER SLR) | Cantilever Brake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-4700 | TIAGRA | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| BL-R3000 | SORA | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| BL-3500 | SORA | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| BL-R2000 | CLARIS | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| BL-2400 | CLARIS | 2.5 | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| BL-T4000 | ALIVO | 2 | ◎ | ◎ | - | - |
Basically, the following points should be kept in mind
The only other differences are the fingers and coloring.
Prices differ depending on the grade, but there are no major differences in functionality, so you can decide based on your budget and preferred coloring while checking compatibility with calipers.
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