Pedals

BMX Pedals Buyer’s Guide

Pedals are the platforms that allow a rider to stand up with his or her feet firmly planted on their bike. Pedals come in all shapes and sizes. Once a rider has found a pedal that works for them, they will likely use the same style of platform for a long time. Pedals are extremely simple components, and all follow the same recipe: there is the body that supports your foot, within the body are the bearings upon which it spins, and the bearings are attached to a spindle which is threaded into the crank. Pedals are an easy and affordable way to add a personal touch and some colorful flair to a BMX. A fresh set of pedals can also give new life to an old ride.

Things To Look For

Given the wide variety of pedal designs and colors, choosing the right pedal is often a personal decision based on taste and style. When purchasing a new pair, it is wise to survey what’s available and then choose the model that suits you best.

Types

Pedals come in two major categories: Pedals that use a metal body, and pedals that have a plastic body. Pedals with a metal body typically offer better grip than the plastic variety, but they are generally more expensive and heavier. Some pedals feature replaceable bodies, which are great for riders that grind and do pedal stalls.

More expensive pedals used sealed bearings, which are more durable and offer smoother rotation. Trails riders will appreciate a sealed bearing pedal because they are not affected by dust and dirt.

Finally, the spindle’s material is important to consider, as different metals can offer weight savings or increased strength. Spindles come in steel, chromoly, and titanium.

Sizes

The spindle size is standard on all bicycles, not just BMX bikes. With the exception of children’s bikes, which use 1/2-inch spindles, every pedal in the world should have a 9/16-inch threaded spindle. This makes them easy to swap and replace. Of course, pedals do come with bodies in all shapes and sizes, but the differences here a minimal.

Materials

The three different parts of the pedal come in different materials:

Body: Plastic, aluminum, magnesium, and steel

Spindle: Steel, chromoly, and titanium

Bearing: Sealed bearing, loose packed bearing, needle bearing, and bushings

How Much To Spend

Pedals range from around $10 to $150. Pedals in the $10-$30 range have basic ball bearings, steel spindles, and use either plastic or a very basic metal body. These entry level pedals satisfy the essential requirements of a BMX pedal. Moving up in price to the $30-$60 range, pedals go beyond basic and will have options such as sealed bearings, replaceable pins (for metal pedals), replaceable bodies (plastic pedals), and use lighter materials such as magnesium or aluminum alloys. Top of the line pedals ranging from $60-$150 dollars offer all of the available options mentioned above, but they also use the highest quality materials and manufacturing techniques in order to provide a high performance product. It is up to you to decide on a balance of performance and value that works for you.

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.