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Is there any downside to the DMR Vault Magnesium pedals? Tend to batter my pedals so keen to know if they are as durable as the standard set.
Glitch bump?
Seem to be for me , had a biggish off on rocks, bent the vault axle and crank arm but pedal body seemed pretty unscathed, amongst other lack of skill pedal clonking escapades they’re looking ok for 2 year old pedals
Magnesium pedals tend to be super soft, and I’ve not read great things about durability when it comes to pedal pins being ripped out etc.
From what I've heard, the standard vaults aren't exactly the height of durability. They're also not super-light at 400g a pair. Burgtec MK5s (same sort of price) might be worth a look if they fit your foot-shape. They're are lighter (even with a steel axel) and selectively well regarded when it comes to shrugging off rock strikes.
Have a set of the Vault mags, not a huge fan, had to replace an axle and bearings in 6 months, they have taken a beating though, but i won't be rushing out to buy another set when these finally go.
Oh yeah, vault axle and bush bearing! Pain in the arse!, when this set die again I'm getting some pembrees.
Sounds like it's not worth the risk for the mags and possibly Vaults in general.
@rockandrollmark currently have Burgtec mk4s, I find them a tiny bit too big and miss having pins on the inside edge.
I had some Mags for a while and they were always loose on the axle from brand new. Messed around with them and nipped them up a few times then swapped them for regulars which have been fine ever since.
take a look at the Xpedo Spry pedals. They don't get a huge amount of attention against the 'Youtube-endorsed favourites', but I have been riding a pair on my Enduro bike out here in Madeira for the past 6 months. I am heavy, clumsy and rock-strike the pedals on countless occasions each time I ride (easily done out here). I have been riding two or three times a week, mainly on EWS routes, so pretty heavy usage. The pedals have had absolutely zero-attention and spin freely with the pins still intact (amazingly). They are also VERY light.
I have a new pair of Vault V2's waiting for me back in the UK to put on my Transition Smuggler, so I will see how they compare after a summer of smashing around the UK.
Magnesium on a rock strike will give off sparks* the like if which you've never seen and start massive wilderness destroying fires.
*Or maybe they won't.
^^😂
Weren't people replacing the stock Vault bushing with Igus or metal bushings with good results some time ago?
Most people I know with vaults were replacing the Vault bushing with one from a completely different pedal. Whilst simultaneously replacing the rest of the Vault parts with the rest of the parts from that pedal.
Love most DMR stuff, but the bloody bushings on most of their pedals have put me off for life.
My plastic Burgtecs seem to be going the same way after minimal use as well.
My Vaults have been fine for ages. If anyone can be specific about which parts you can use to upgrade them I might give them a service.
Weren’t people replacing the stock Vault bushing with Igus or metal bushings with good results some time ago?
I've done this. You need to do it before there is any play in the bushing really otherwise they'll always be a bit of play and rattle, even with the metal bush. The metal bushings last far far far longer than the plastic ones as you'd expect.
If buying Vaults again I'd swap the bushings to metal from new. I wouldn't buy Vaults again though, the internal bearing is tiny and doesn't last that long. I've had one strip and fly off, leaving the outer race embedded in the pedal.
Most people I know with vaults were replacing the Vault bushing with one from a completely different pedal. Whilst simultaneously replacing the rest of the Vault parts with the rest of the parts from that pedal.
Lol. Basically this. Theres so much choice with pedals, there's no need to stick to any that aren't up to the job.
That's what bothers me about flat pedals, it seems you just can't find a model with both a great platform and really good internals.
Nukeproof Horizons have a great platform (could be a touch wider tho) and the internals are indeed very good, but that seal is a joke, so frustrating
If you found your MK4 Burgtec a bit big then aren’t the Vaults even bigger? Once had Mk1 ms and Currently use Mk5 Penthouse flats and they’re not the biggest (although feel fine with my 5Ten shod size 10s.
I looked at Vaults when I was changing from my old Penthouse flats and Superstar Nanos but didn’t like the stories about reliability.
And I don’t like the idea of buying a product that needs ‘fixing’ on the first day you get it.
The Pembree pedals look nice but I couldn’t find any long term reviews of them
Most people I know with vaults were replacing the Vault bushing with one from a completely different pedal. Whilst simultaneously replacing the rest of the Vault parts with the rest of the parts from that pedal.
🙂
Mine lasted 3 months on the bushings - and by six months were so bashed on rocks I couldn't get any of the pins out or the threaded holes were highly deformed and wouldn't hold a pin in. I ride in the Lakes so it's rocky. They had fantastic grip though and were really lightweight- so if you were somewhere less rocky they could be great.
Unite instinct are a good alternative to vaults.
There's nothing quite like the grip and platform of the Vault.
If you pull them off the bike, clean and grease them once a month or so, they'll last as long as any other pedal. They just need a bit more love to keep them going perfectly.
The seals on Hope F20s are better, but the platform is awful. The Burgtec Penthouse have the best sealing by miles, and a good platform, but just aren't as grippy as the Vault.
I'll take the minor inconvenience of a monthly clean and grease over a poor platform any day.
I have 4 sets of vaults, and no problems at all, I’m fairly light and the kind of person that never breaks parts.
One pair on my commuter has more than 10k km on it and haven’t replaced bushings or bearings, and still work fine.
“There’s nothing quite like the grip and platform of the Vault.”
Yes, they feel like home to me!
“If you pull them off the bike, clean and grease them once a month or so, they’ll last as long as any other pedal. They just need a bit more love to keep them going perfectly.”
I’ve got three pairs, the first from 2011, the second from 2014 and the third from 2018. I’ve greased the newest pair once I think, and I guess the others have been greased every year or so - I know I don’t do it terribly often. The oldest ones have had the bearings and bushings replaced a couple of times (bearing failed on a ride) and the axle once. Middle pair might have had a service but I can’t remember, newest definitely haven’t.
They haven’t done tons of mileage but they’ve had a fair bit of use in all weathers, about 12,000 miles between them. They’re not mag or ti, just plain aluminium and steel. Newest set are the Brendogs but I replaced the moto pins with the standard ones because the latter grip better whilst not tearing your soles up as much!!!
For those who used both, do the Vaults feel much wider than Nukeproof Horizons under the foot?
I have had Vaults on my bikes for about 6-7 years one set for the duration of that, I have changed the bushings once, zero studs replaced and only greased them when I changed the bushings.
The pedal feel is perfect for me , all others seem to have bulges or axles in the wrong place.
The burgtec seem to sit very close to the cranks on some bikes, not great for the ankles.
All DMR pedals seem to need more maintenance than other brands
Ive had various DMR pedals for over 25 years and all needed regular maintenance
Decided last year to give some Hope F20 pedals a go, the sealing is much better, in a year Ive not had to touch them and they still spin as good as they did when new
They have hit plenty of rocks and large flints with no major damage
Some people complain about the pedal body shape and/or the grip level but for me they feel perfect but i do like to be able to move my foot around freely but still feel planted when needed
I tried some Five Ten's on the DMR's and Hope F20's and hated the amount of grip the Five Ten's gave, felt like my foot was glued to the pedal, they have now been demoted to going out trainers
A few people have mentioned Pembree, I'd ruled them out due to cost but seen the D2A is similar to any other.
Anyone have any real world experience of them?
Replacing the original Vault bushes when they wear out with Igus W300 ones is the best option. W300 is harder wearing than standard Igus ones and way better than the originals.
https://www.igus.co.uk/product/7
If anyone is interested, I have a supply of them, message me for STW rates.
The easiest thing to do is just replace the whole pedal with a Horizon.
Which are gripper & don't fall apart.