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review

DMR V8 Pedals

8
£27.99

VERDICT:

8
10
An MTB classic ready for city, commuting and leisure rides.
Weight: 
520g
Contact: 
www.upgradebikes.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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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.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: DMR V8 Pedals

Size tested: Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The pedal is aimed at the MTB rider, the commuter or leisure rider who wants a flat pedal. This is precisely what it does. For me the pedal is clean, simple, durable and grippy. Just what you need from a flat option, I have used them for touring with masses of luggage right the way through to SS and Fixie riding in London traffic and they have never failed. Also whatever colour your bike, they have a pedal to match or clash - it's up to you.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

"The DMR V8 uses the same classic parellelogram body shape as the V12 and runs on shielded, precision ground, adjustable bearings. Bearings are easily lubed through the grease port in the centre of the pedal body using our special V-lube grease syringe (included) Dependable grip comes from 8 replaceable screw in studs and 12 chrome plated pins per pedal"

- DMR

That says it all really.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Excellent value pedal, that provides reliable grip, improved further with the right shoe.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall, very well, predictable and reliable grip plus good power transfer.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The finish is good and ultimately the grip is excellent which is the main goal for a flat pedal.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The Chrome studs look cheaper than the replaceable grub screws and ultimately will limit the life time of the pedal, however in my experience they do take a long time to wear out.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, I have used these pedals in many different situations.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if you want an affordable and simple flat option, that works very well. A solid performer.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 5' 10"  Weight: 13 stone

I usually ride: Kona Paddy Wagon  My best bike is: The one i am riding

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, touring, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

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3 comments

Avatar
markwill | 9 years ago
0 likes

love these pedals they are much better than other pedals that are for a similar price. they offer great grip and are then next best thing for ridding with spds around town.

http://www.charleysbikeaccessories.co.uk/collections/peadals/products/dm...

Avatar
atlaz | 11 years ago
0 likes

I've had 3-4 sets of these and don't experience the same problem. Maybe.. you know.. if you put the washer in the right place you wouldn't have that issue?

Avatar
koko56 | 11 years ago
0 likes

Have a pair and seem well enough but stopped using them as they dig into the cranks with their f***ing retarded non-round stop plates or whatever they are called - easiest wat to ruin the threads and cranks.

Why do people even make them non round at all?

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