Guides
Pedal buying guide
Updated · Independent guide · 6 picks compared
Quick answer
Foldable feet pedals have a platform that hinges up against the crank, so the bike sits narrower in a hallway, a car or a rack. If you want the narrowest bike possible, a quick-release pedal such as the MKS Ezy system comes off completely by hand. Either way, check that the thread matches your crank (9/16" on almost all adult bikes) and that you're buying the correct left and right pedal.
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Best for: Any bike that needs to sit narrow, from city bikes to folders
MKS's folding pedal has a single-action fold: push the button and the cage folds. It stays on the crank, so there's nothing to lose or carry.
by Brompton
Best for: Replacing a worn or broken Brompton left pedal
The original-equipment folding left pedal for Brompton bikes. It folds flat so the folded bike stays compact. Buy it as a direct replacement; the right pedal on a Brompton is usually a normal fixed pedal.
Best for: City bikes that live in flats, cars or train racks
A double-sided city platform on MKS's Ezy quick-release axle. Pull back the collar on the crank adapter and the pedal slides out; push it back in to refit. It has replaceable alloy cage plates and cup-and-cone bearings, and it comes with a drawstring bag.
Best for: Folding bikes where only the left pedal sticks out when folded
MKS sells single-side Ezy kits for the left pedal only, which is the side that sticks out on most folding bikes. Keep a normal right pedal and make the left one removable.
Best for: Riders who want a slim, low-profile pedal that comes off
The Ezy version of MKS's Compact, a low-profile, double-sided pedal milled from extruded alloy. The standard Compact is listed at 233 g per pair, MKS's lightest. The Ezy version releases on both sides.
Best for: Commuters who want a big pinned platform that still comes off
The removable version of the MKS Allways, a double-sided 84 x 110 mm pinned platform with sealed bearings. MKS makes it for both the Ezy and Ezy Superior systems, and the two are not interchangeable.
Swipe sideways on mobile. "—" means not applicable or not confirmed by the manufacturer.
| Model | Type | How it stows | Supplied as | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS FD-7 | Hinged folding | Push button, cage folds | Pair | Narrow storage | Check price |
| Brompton folding pedal (left) | Hinged folding | Folds flat against crank | Left only | Brompton bikes | Check price |
| MKS Promenade Ezy | Removable | Ezy collar release | Pair | City, travel | Check price |
| MKS Ezy pedal, one side | Removable | Ezy collar release | Left only | Folding bikes | Check price |
| MKS Compact Ezy | Removable | Ezy collar release | Pair | Light, slim | Check price |
| MKS Allways Ezy | Removable | Ezy or Ezy Superior release | Pair | Commuting | Check price |
People mean three different things by “folding pedals”, and each solves the same problem in a different way: the pedals are the widest point of a parked bike.
| Type | What happens | Example | Leaves on the bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foldable feet pedals | The platform hinges up against the crank | MKS FD-7 | The whole folded pedal |
| Folding-bike pedals | Whatever the folding bike ships with, often a folding left pedal | Brompton folding pedal | Depends on the bike |
| Quick-release (removable) pedals | The pedal unplugs from an adapter in the crank | MKS Ezy | A small adapter |
Foldable feet pedals are the hinged type. The pedal stays threaded into the crank, but its platform folds so it sticks out much less.
Folding-bike pedals are simply the pedals that come on a folding bike. Brompton, for example, uses a folding pedal on the left so the folded bike stays compact.
Quick-release pedals come off the crank entirely. MKS’s Ezy system is the best-known example: an adapter stays in the crank and the pedal plugs into it like a hose coupling.
A pedal sticks out well past the frame on each side. Fold or remove one and the bike gets noticeably narrower, which helps in a few common situations:
Bikes are usually leaned against a wall on the left (non-drive) side to keep the chain and derailleur off the paint, so the left pedal is the one that hits the wall. That’s why folding or removing only the left pedal is often enough.
Decide between hinged and removable first, then check thread, side and platform.
Choose a hinged folding pedal if you never want to carry anything. Choose a quick-release pedal if you want the absolute narrowest bike or the option to swap pedals between bikes.
Hinged pedals still stick out a little when folded, and the hinge adds a moving part. Quick-release pedals leave only an adapter, but you have to put the pedals somewhere. MKS supplies the Promenade Ezy with a drawstring bag for exactly that.
Almost every adult bike with a three-piece crank uses a 9/16” x 20 TPI pedal thread. One-piece cranks, found on some kids’, BMX and older cruiser bikes, use 1/2” x 20 TPI.
Check before you buy: a 9/16” pedal won’t thread into a 1/2” crank, and a 1/2” pedal is too small to hold in a 9/16” crank. If you’re unsure, check the bike’s spec sheet or measure the old pedal’s axle thread.
Most folding needs are on the left side. If you buy a single folding or Ezy pedal, make sure it’s a left pedal, because the left pedal has a reverse (left-hand) thread and won’t fit the right crank. Pedals are normally stamped L and R on the axle.
Folding pedals generally have smaller, thinner platforms than full-size flats, so they suit city riding in normal shoes rather than technical trails. If grip matters more than size, a removable pinned pedal like the Allways Ezy gives a full 84 x 110 mm platform. See platform pedals for fixed options.
Folding and quick-release pedals work on e-bikes as long as the crank takes a 9/16” pedal, and nearly all do. E-bikes put more load through the crank, so tighten the pedals or Ezy adapters firmly and check them after the first few rides.
A folding pedal is only as good as its latch. Before each ride, check that it clicks fully open and doesn’t flop. If the hinge develops play or the latch stops locking, replace the pedal. A loose platform can twist under your foot.
MKS’s Ezy system is the best-known quick-release pedal, and Tern sells MKS Ezy pedals as an accessory for its bikes. To remove the pedal, take off the stopper ring and pull back the collar on the crank adapter. Small balls retract and the axle slides out. Push it back in and the collar springs closed.
MKS makes Ezy versions of many of its pedals, including the Promenade, Allways, Lambda and Compact, plus clipless-compatible models. The Ezy Superior system is not cross-compatible with standard Ezy, so match the pedal to the adapter you already have. More MKS options are on our MKS pedals page and MKS brand page.
Brompton’s standard folding pedal goes on the left, and folding it is part of making the folded package compact. The right pedal usually stays fixed. If yours is worn or the latch is loose, a genuine Brompton folding pedal is the direct replacement.
Some owners replace the Brompton folding pedal with an MKS Ezy left pedal so it comes off completely. That makes the folded bike a little slimmer and lets them use a bigger platform when riding. Either way, buy a left-hand (reverse-threaded) pedal with a 9/16” thread.
Pedals whose foot platform hinges up against the crank, so the pedal sticks out only a little from the bike. They are used on folding bikes and on any bike that has to be stored in a narrow space, stood against a wall or loaded into a car.
They have a hinge and a latch that a solid pedal doesn't, so they suit city riding, commuting and touring, not jumps or hard mountain biking. Check the hinge for play now and then, and replace the pedal if the latch stops locking firmly.
If your bike has a three-piece crank, it almost certainly uses a 9/16" x 20 TPI pedal thread, which is what folding and Ezy pedals for adult bikes use. One-piece cranks (some kids', BMX and cruiser bikes) use 1/2" pedals instead.
Folding pedals stay on the bike, so you can't lose them, but they still stick out a little. Quick-release pedals like MKS Ezy come off completely and leave only a small adapter in the crank, but you have to carry or stow the pedals.
Yes, if the crank takes a standard 9/16" pedal, which almost all e-bike cranks do. Folding e-bikes often come with a folding pedal on the left side already. Tighten the pedals firmly, as the motor adds load through the cranks.
Usually only the left. On most folding bikes and most wall or car storage, the left pedal is the one that sticks out, so a single folding or Ezy left pedal does the job.
Yes. Every left pedal uses a reverse (left-hand) thread, whether it folds or not. Make sure you buy the left version, and see our guide on which pedal is reverse threaded.