DMR V8 Pedals

DMR V8 pedals are a mountain bike classic that does sterling service as round-town pedal for a bike you want to be able to hop aboard in any shoes.

I remember riding DMR V8 pedals in the early days of mountain biking in the Shropshire hills. Using these pedals feels like riding with a familiar old friend, but the V8s aren't just Old School, they can hack it in the modern age too.

On this test I used the pedals on various bikes ranging from an urbanised cyclo-cross bike to a mountain bike with slicks and a conventional 700c hybrid. In other words, all the bikes you would associate with flat pedal city, commute and leisure riding.

I also used the V8s with a range of shoes from trainers to cycling shoes with stiff soles. The best match was a flat, stiff-soled shoe, something very rigid with significant low profile grip like a skate shoe. The Chrome DZR-soled shoe or the Shimano AM45 offered maximum grip and gave plenty of power transfer. The pedals work efficiently with trainers or softer soled shoes but are infinitely better with a firmer shoe.

The V8 has a wide platform with 8 replaceable grub screws and 12 chrome plated pins. While you're seated or standing on the pedals the studs deliver excellent grip, especially if you pair them with the right shoes. Even in the recent deluge conditions the pedals have provided confidence-inspiring grip while track standing in traffic and pedalling full bore on a 22 mile round-trip commute.

The axle bearings feel smooth and run well, though not quite as well as the V12 bigger brother with its sealed bearings. However, those pedals cost £49.99, for which extra cost you also save some weight. For £69.99 you can even have V12s with magnesium bodies.

Robust and with an excellent finish on the parallelogram alloy body, the V8s have always offered longevity and with grease provided in the box, the axle is easily serviced through the open grease port. The V8 feels wide with a solid platform that is predictable and reliable. I have caught a pedal while banking over at speed, but this is a rarity. If you set your pedals level or inner pedal up while cornering you should have no clearance issues.

Available with 9/16in axles for MTB, hybrid or road bikes and 1/2in for BMX, the V8 is an option for many urban riders.

If you have a go-to bike for tow path, pub, shopping, or commuting; where you want to ride in whatever shoe you have on at the time, the DMR V8 is a solid choice. It's an ideal flat pedal for riding in traffic, commuting short to middle distances or for those who do not want to be clipped in. Affordable with a great finish in multiple colours.

Verdict

An MTB classic ready for city, commuting and leisure rides.