DMR V8 Pedals

'''The Company'''

DMR started life in 1995. They focus on the extreme side of mountain biking. More BSX, slalom, 4X, jumping and freestyle than cross country. The company name stands for '''D'''esign '''M'''ake '''R'''ide, and are British, so you can feel all patriotic when you buy stuff from them.

'''Why go for a Flattie?'''

Flattie or platform pedals were another innovation by Shimano. Their DX pedal ...
...about this pedal, is that DMR produce a comprehensive set of spares. If it gets damaged, or worn then it can be repaired rather than having to throw it away and buy a new one. A new axle for instance costs a mere £3.99.

'''V8 versus V12'''

DMR also produce a more expensive version of this pedal - the V12. For nearly twice the price you get cartridge bearings, better sealing and chrome plating on the axle. The pedal body ... more

The Company

DMR started life in 1995. They focus on the extreme side of mountain biking. More BSX, slalom, 4X, jumping and freestyle than cross country. The company name stands for Design Make Ride, and are British, so you can feel all patriotic when you buy stuff from them.

Why go for a Flattie?

Flattie or platform pedals were another innovation by Shimano. Their DX pedal came out in the early/mid '90s, and Shimano still manufacture a version of it today. Originally the DX was intended to be used on BMX bikes, but rapidly found their way onto mountain bikes.

Compared to standard rat trap or bear cage pedals, flatties provide a wide stable platform for the feet. They allow greater variation in foot position, and are usually better at taking knocks. Multiple pins in the pedal body ensure the pedal grips the sole of the foot. The pins are also supposed to cause less damage to your shins when your foot slips off.

Platform pedals make a good compromise for those who don't want to go down the clipless route, but want a pedal that provides a decent level of grip.

And the DMR's

The DMR's have the traditional parralellogram shape used by Wellgo, Shimano and others. This is supposed to improve ground clearance and so help prevent the pedal digging in. They have a slightly concave shape which helps to cup your foot, and with the pins they provide an extremely secure platform. There is a useful grease port, so you can push grease through the pedal. This helps keep the bearings sweet when they're exposed to the inevitable off-road muck. They also come in a wide range of colours so you can match them to your bike.

In use the absolutely best thing about these pedals is the grip. As long as you wear flat soled shoes, it is phenomenal. It's not far off that provided by a clipless pedal. No matter how muddy it gets your foot will simply not slip off. The only thing you can't do (obviously) is pull up on the pedal during the upstroke.

Durability is good. The aluminum pedal body is very tough. I certainly haven't managed to break it, despite bashing it on numerous occasions. In Wales a couple of years ago I smashed the pedal into a rock hard enough to spin me and the bike around and off the trail. The only damage was a slightly bent pedal axle. The pedal body collected a gouge but was otherwise unharmed. These pedals are now on my Wife's mountain bike, and still going strong. And as long as you use the grease port the brearings seem to last pretty well too.

The other thing I like about this pedal, is that DMR produce a comprehensive set of spares. If it gets damaged, or worn then it can be repaired rather than having to throw it away and buy a new one. A new axle for instance costs a mere £3.99.

V8 versus V12

DMR also produce a more expensive version of this pedal - the V12. For nearly twice the price you get cartridge bearings, better sealing and chrome plating on the axle. The pedal body is identical for both models. Personally speaking, I'm not convinced that having cartridge bearings and a chrome axle is worth the extra £18, especially seeing as the V12 and V8 come out neck and neck in reviews.

The downers?

Paint. DMR are famous for having paint that flakes off easily, and the V8's are no exception. I had visible paint rub on a brand new set of DMR's on the very first ride. The fact that they are in contact with your feet doesn't help matters, but if you invest in a set of DMR's you will have to be prepared for the fact that they will look tatty very quickly. If this bothers you then I suggest you buy them in silver, which is polished rather than painted.

Mind you the fact that they look tatty quickly does make them a pretty good secondhand buy. I picked up a decent pair for £4. The only thing wrong with them was major paint rub, which they would have got in a couple of months anyhow.

The pins. Those pins that provide all that grip, will also gouge nice chunks out of your shins. I still have a 2cm scar on my shin where I got whacked by my pedal after getting out of shape on a rocky section.

Shoe Choice. The DMR's only really work with flat soled shoes like trainers, or the freestyle/BMX shoes that you can buy. The more sporty XC shoes that are meant to be used with cleats and clipless pedals, do not work very well with flatties. They usually have deep treads, and a big gap where the cleat is supposed to go. All this space leaves the pins with nothing to dig into, and your foot has nasty shin-gouging tendency to slip off.

Overall

Extremely grippy, tough, long-lasting pedal, with good spares back up. Just watch those pins, the shoe choice, and don't expect the paint to last. 

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