Test: It doesn't always have to be the outrageously expensive parts that make a biker's heart beat faster. In its range under the M-Wave brand, Messingschlager offers attractive cycling products at reasonable prices. The M-Wave BMX pedal "Flat" can also be found here at a price of 19,90 euros. One or maybe even THE tip for bargain hunters? Our test should shed some light on that.
Product details at a glance
- Material pedal body / axle: Aluminum / Cr-Mo
- Weight (pair): 403 grams
- Tread area: Approximately 95 x 95 mm
- Pins per side/pedal: 5
- Interchangeable pins: Yes
- Assembling the pedals: Allen key
- Price: € 19,90
Construction and design of the pedal
The pedal body of the M-Wave BMX Pedal Flat has large recesses that promise good self-cleaning. The outer webs are solid and therefore free of gaps. The manufacturer did not label the pedal, so the good piece is completely black with silver pins. The five pins per side and pedal are screwed into the pedal body from above and can therefore be replaced quickly and easily if necessary. The curved shape of the pedal body, viewed from the side, is reminiscent of the Dartmoor Fever Pedal. It is striking that the center bar with a height of 21 mm forms the highest part of the pedal body. The outer bridges have a height of 13 mm, even with the pins the overall height remains slightly below that of the middle bridge. The no-frills pedal body rotates around a sealed Cr-Mo axle.
Before the test / visual impression
Even before the test, the M-Wave BMX pedal caused some confusion. The total weight of 403 grams for the pair was distributed between the two pedals at 198 grams and 205 grams. The seven gram difference between the two pedals was not the only thing that stood out. The two pedals turned with different degrees of difficulty even before the test. While one pedal body rotated smoothly around the axis, the other pedal stopped almost immediately when not under load. Unfortunately, the small price is also reflected in the somewhat rough processing. On the other hand, it is positive that the pedal has no sharp edges or corners.
field test
With hard soles, the M-Wave BMX pedal offers almost no grip when wet. The lack of grip on the pedal is not due to the perfectly functioning self-cleaning, but to the somewhat unfortunate design of the pedal body, in our opinion. The shoe sole is mainly on the middle bar, due to the shape of the pedal, the shoe cannot make sufficient contact with the pins. The slide on the pedal is unfortunately inevitable. For the further course of the test, we limited ourselves exclusively to shoes with soft soles that were able to adapt to the shape of the pedal. The result was much better, but still not satisfactory for us. Especially on rough trails with root passages and stone fields, the foot wandered unintentionally over the pedal body. The body tension required for hard driving and jumps is therefore difficult to build up. An improvement in the grip would certainly be possible with the use of higher pins from the accessories.
After the test
The different turning behavior of the pedals has not changed after the test. On a positive note, the bearings still have no play and still work smoothly. The pins have also held and are also completely available. The pedal body, on the other hand, has clearly suffered. There are strong signs of wear, especially on the middle bridge. The test also left strong visible marks on the plastic caps.
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