Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals

We’re not going to try and explain why you should ride flat pedals. You’re clearly already sold on the concept. That’s why you’re reading.

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By ben_haworth

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Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals

Still running my NS Radiance pedals bought after the last time you ran the pedals test (2017? They were one of the winners) and they are bullet-proof. Scratched and scuffed and not as pretty but still un-erring – winter and summer use. I tried clipless a few times in the interim but jsut never got comfortable enough so kept going back to flats. I picked up a spare set of bearings from the NS website a few years back when I thought they were squeaking but it was BB so still have them to use when needed. Fortunately I don’t need to invest in a replacement yet.

Nukeproof Neutrons on 5 different bikes here… if they die after a year, it’s £23 for a new pair…

work well, grippy, effective.

Ive found the Burgtec composites far more comfy and grippy than the Nukeproof ones.

I’m getting weird deja vu from this.

Aren’t ones with multiple pin solutions the best?

I’ve been running a couple of pairs of Welgo b143 for 10+ years and can’t kill them. Can’t see the point of fancy looking expensive pedals unless they’re purely for show. They’d soon look tatty after a few rock strikes.

One of those crank brothers links looks quite false.

Anybody tried the massive pedalling innovations pedals?

I’ve just replaced my MK1 Burgtec Penthouse Flats with a new pair of MK5s, hopefully they’ll last a similar amount of time.

Also run Gusset SlimJims and Superstar Nano pedals with no complaints.

I think my Burgtec and Easton Cully’s have been my overall favourites though.

I have to say that these articles undermine my faith in the whole review process

I own 2 sets of DMR vaults. The pins are easily pulled out. Eventually this process will destroy the thread. Inside a soft nylon bushing isn’t sealed from outside dirt. The pedal doesn’t spin smoothly until suddenly the bushings are loose. Yes they can be rebuilt but I’d like to think a pedal that cost £80 won’ wouldn’t need rebuilding quite so often

These shot coming after mentioned in many user reviews but no professional reviews

I have the massive pedalling innovations one. I really like them, but would think they’d probably be better if the were a little concave.

Interested in the Pedalling Innovations ones as I have size 12s but the lack of concavivity (yes that is a word, maybe) and the cost puts me off. Shame no mention of the UK made Unites in this article

For everyone asking about them… https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/review-pedaling-innovations-catalyst-flat-pedals/

Interesting theory about hollow pins, but my “core samples” are all full of dried mud within a couple of rides, so I’m sceptical.

Also run Gusset SlimJims and Superstar Nano pedals with no complaints.

The old sealed bearing Slim Jims that needed zero maintenance? If they could make a modern-shaped pair that reliable I’d bite their arm off.

Taiwan-made Nanos used to be almost as reliable (and a better shape), but the UK-made ones go through bushings like nobody’s business.

There was two versions of the massive pedalling innovations. The catalyst and the catalyst Evo. The evo addressed the grumbles about the first version.

The evo was made in the UK by Superstar. The wife has a set and I really rate them. Unfortunately, it seems like covid killed them off. My fingers are crossed that they come back but I believe superstar have no plans to do so.

I have to say that these articles undermine my faith in the whole review process

I own 2 sets of DMR vaults. The pins are easily pulled out. Eventually this process will destroy the thread. Inside a soft nylon bushing isn’t sealed from outside dirt. The pedal doesn’t spin smoothly until suddenly the bushings are loose. Yes they can be rebuilt but I’d like to think a pedal that cost £80 won’ wouldn’t need rebuilding quite so often

These shot coming after mentioned in many user reviews but no professional reviews

+1

I’ve had 2 pairs of Vaults and both went loose and rattly within a year or two. Switched to Nukeproof Horizons 2 years ago and haven’t had any issues.

The evo was made in the UK by Superstar. The wife has a set and I really rate them. Unfortunately, it seems like covid killed them off. My fingers are crossed that they come back but I believe superstar have no plans to do so.

Didn’t know about this, were Superstar doing a knock-off or in partnership with the inventor?

I wonder if Superstar are finding it more profitable to use their CNC machines to make non-bike stuff, because they seem a bit slow at restocking a lot of items and at picking up on new standards and products.

Ignore

I thought i would jump in here to explain the several questions raised about Superstar in the discussion above
The PI pedals we manufactured to their design for European sales, but the UK arm (supplied Europe) of the business closed its doors.

As a subcontract manufacturer we dont really have anything to do with them other than manufacturing parts for them. I think the USA guy is still going but not heard from them for a long time.

Yes as Chapaking has said we have been hellishly busy. We manufacture alot of parts outside of the cycle industry and for other bike brands, these normally get higher priority than making more bits for Superstar. We have been making medical parts for 4-5 years now and when Covid hit its been non-stop since then with insane volumes of 5 axis parts for DNA analysis machines. We have been running machines literally 24/7 to keep up and the maintinence time to keep ontop of making sure they run accurately and reliably round the clock ate all our man hours. I spent the first 12 weeks of Covid working 6 days a week staying in a caravan at the factory to make sure the Covid testing machine parts were made ASAP…

Next issue is materials have been a nightmare. We had quotes of 2 years payment up front for several lines which made making some products physically impossible. This is what caused the wheelbuilding side of the business to be sold, as I got an offer i couldnt refuse at the right time and it allowed us to focus on other projects. We are still manufacturing hubs and spare parts, but if you cant get spokes in 2 years you cant build wheels which made the huge capital investment impossible to justify.

Things are settling down finally and lots of the overdue jobs are getting back. The good news is…. Nanos are finally back in production and i expect to ship the backlog in the next 2-3 weeks depending on how fast the anodisers process the next batch. We have several other ranges of pedals in the works im hoping to get on sale by christmas if all goes well.

any questions let me know, Neil (Superstar Components)

Well it’s nice to be busy, that was my motto when I ran my own business.

If you’re taking requests, please get Shimano DM narrow-wide chainrings and Shimano GRX-compatible narrow-wide rings in the queue.

🙂

Looking to move back to flats from clips as my knees are packing up, I want something big and supportive for my size 12s, found my feet wanting to roll off the outside of my vaults last ride. Was looking at the Unites but think I want something bigger. Not that keen on the PIs for a few reasons, think I have found the ideal pedal in the Chromag Daggas but bloody hell, how much!?

^ I’ve had my Chromag Daggas for over two years now and they still spin like new and only lost one pin. I don’t know what’d they’d cost retail over there and I spec’ed them with my bike but they are great pedals if you don’t mind getting your legs ripped apart from time to time 😀

I’ve the HT’s, they’re a lot like the plastic Nukeproof Horizon’s I use to have but they stopped production so I’ve flipped to the HT’s – very happy with them.

WOWSER, i didn’t realise how much stuff like pedals had gone up in price in the last few years. Im just pricing up the business case for about 6 pedal designs i have had on my computer for the last 3-7 years…

Question for the big feet people, is length or width more important? whats your sweet spot for dimensions on your dream pedal?

Neil (superstarcomponents)

Pedals went up about a year ago – there were plastics for £60-70 at one point! Seem to have come down a bit from that now, which is good. I’ve got Nanos and they’re the perfect size for my size 10s.
That said, I do find pedals much of a muchness, I’ve got/had DMR, Bergtec, Superstar, FWE, Carboncycles, Shimano, Funn, can’t say they are that much of a difference once you get the right size platform. You can get flat pedals for £5 on Amazon, probably got shite bearings, but some of the “branded” prices are just silly.

Size 12s here, both dimensions for me. The Chromags look ideal, wider q factor as well but only seem to be a few pairs available on the continent for about 190 euro….
On the Vaults I have now I want more length to give support to my dodgy knees and more width as my feet are overhanging the edge by a good 10mm plus
Any idea how long it is likely to take to bring the new pedals to market, Neil?

In size 12. I prefer stiff shoes. Vaults are fine size wise. Bigger would just mean more person strikes. I just want more sealed bearing at that thickness. Maybe it’s not possible

Had loads of different pedals. Currently running Superstars Nanos on two bikes, I like the width of the platform with my size 10 Five Tens and Ride Concept shoes.

Hope F20’s for me and Cardertech for wifey,both made in the UK and both second to non.

I’m getting weird deja vu from this.