Guides
Pedal buying guide
Updated · Independent guide · 6 picks compared
Quick answer
A platform pedal is any flat pedal you ride in normal shoes, with no cleat or strap. For commuting and hybrids, a composite platform like the SDG Comp or OneUp Composite is light, grippy and cheap to replace; for BMX and hard use, an aluminum pedal such as the DMR V8 V2 lasts longer. Merritt's P1 is a real nylon BMX platform, but stock is patchy, so check availability before planning a build around it.
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Chosen from current models on manufacturer specs, compatibility and design — not sponsored placements. Amazon buttons open a search for the exact model.
by Merritt BMX
Best for: BMX street riders and budget builds
A low-profile nylon/fiberglass BMX pedal with molded pins and micro-knurling, a 9/16" axle for two- and three-piece cranks, and loose-ball bearings. Several shops list it as sold out in 2026.
Best for: Commuters, MTB and BMX riders who want a tough alloy pedal
A die-cast aluminum body with a 95 x 100 mm platform, 10 tuneable pins per side and a 4140 CrMo axle on serviceable dual DU bushings. Listed at 480 g per pair.
Best for: Retro builds, singlespeeds and commuters
DMR's reissue of the original V8 shape: a 90 x 94 mm die-cast body, 20 mm deep, with four replaceable and six cast-in pins per side on dual DU bushings.
Best for: Hybrid, gravel and e-bike riders in everyday shoes
A 110 x 105 mm composite platform with nine replaceable pins per side and a CroMo spindle on a rebuildable bearing-and-bushing system, listed at 380 g per pair.
Best for: Bigger feet, winter boots and e-bikes
A 115 x 105 mm nylon composite platform with 10 rear-loading steel pins per side, held by Nyloc nuts so bent pins come out from behind. A small size is also listed.
Best for: Junior BMX racers on three-piece cranks
A compact aluminum race platform with 13 removable pins per side, sealed cartridge bearings and a chromoly spindle. Listed in 9/16" only, so it won't fit 1/2" one-piece cranks.
Swipe sideways on mobile. "—" means not applicable or not confirmed by the manufacturer.
| Model | Body | Thread | Grip | Bearings / bushings | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merritt P1 | Nylon/fiberglass | 9/16" | Molded pins + knurling | Loose ball | BMX, budget builds | Check price |
| DMR V8 V2 | Die-cast aluminum | 9/16" | 10 tuneable pins/side | Dual DU bushings | All-round | Check price |
| DMR V8 Classic DU | Die-cast aluminum | 9/16" | 4 replaceable + 6 cast pins/side | Dual DU bushings | Retro, commuting | Check price |
| SDG Comp | Composite | 9/16" | 9 replaceable pins/side | Bearing + bushing | Hybrids, e-bikes | Check price |
| OneUp Components Composite | Nylon composite | 9/16" | 10 rear-loading pins/side | — | Big feet, e-bikes | Check price |
| Answer BMX MPH Junior | Aluminum | 9/16" only | 13 removable pins/side | Sealed cartridge | Junior BMX racing | Check price |
A platform pedal is a flat pedal you ride without cleats, clips or straps. It covers everything from the resin pedals on a new hybrid to pinned BMX and MTB flats.
The terms overlap: “flat pedal” usually means a pinned MTB pedal (see flat pedals), while “platform pedal” also takes in commuter, BMX, kids’ and touring pedals. A cage pedal is an older open-frame design with a narrower foot area.
Pick the body material for your riding, then the grip, thread and extras like reflectors.
Grip is a trade-off between bite and comfort.
Check this before you order. Bikes with three-piece cranks (nearly all adult, hybrid, e-bike and most BMX bikes) take 9/16” x 20 TPI pedals. Bikes with a one-piece crank, a single steel piece running through the frame, need 1/2” pedals; that includes many kids’, cruiser and older BMX bikes.
The two sizes never interchange, and the left pedal is always reverse-threaded. See which pedal is reverse threaded.
Many commuter platforms come with front and rear reflectors; most BMX and MTB flats don’t. Some countries require pedal reflectors for riding after dark: in the UK, bikes made after October 1985 need amber reflectors on the front and back of each pedal (per Cycling UK), and they are a cheap way to make pedaling feet visible to drivers. If your chosen pedal has none, add reflective ankle bands or lights.
Budget pedals use loose ball bearings (cup and cone) that can be adjusted but wear quickly if water gets in. Cartridge bearings run smoother and swap out as a unit. DU bushings, as in the DMR V8 family, are simple and impact-tolerant. For daily commuting, choose sealed internals with service parts available.
Big feet, winter boots and e-bike riders spending hours seated suit a larger platform such as the 115 x 105 mm OneUp Composite. Kids and small adults are better on compact pedals like the Answer MPH Junior.
Merritt BMX is a BMX brand, and its P1 is a low-profile platform pedal. Retailer listings agree on the essentials:
It is listed in many colors, handy for color-matched builds. Availability in 2026 is the catch: some BMX shops still list colors while others show it sold out or not expected back. If you can’t find it, the SDG Comp and OneUp Composite are composite alternatives with replaceable pins, though neither is BMX-specific.
Grease the threads, start each pedal by hand, and tighten firmly with a 15 mm pedal wrench or hex key, depending on the pedal (pedal tools). The right pedal tightens clockwise and the left anticlockwise. Recheck tightness after the first ride.
A platform pedal is a flat pedal with no clip, cleat or strap: you stand on a wide body and grip comes from pins, molded studs or a textured surface. "Platform" and "flat" pedal mean the same thing; MTB riders tend to say flats.
Merritt BMX's P1 is a real nylon/fiberglass platform with a 9/16" axle, and some BMX shops still list it in several colors. Others show it sold out, so treat availability as patchy and have a backup such as a composite pedal.
Yes. They work with any shoe, let you put a foot down at every junction and need no cleats. Choose a composite or nylon body with short pins or molded studs if you ride in work shoes.
Nylon (composite) pedals are lighter on the budget and skid off curbs and rocks without bending. Aluminum pedals last longer under hard use and hold metal pins in metal threads, so BMX and MTB riders often prefer them.
Most are 9/16" x 20 TPI for three-piece and two-piece cranks. Some kids', BMX and cruiser bikes with one-piece cranks need 1/2" pedals. The left pedal is reverse-threaded on both: see which pedal is reverse threaded.
Yes. E-bikes use standard 9/16" pedal threads, and a large composite or alloy platform with replaceable pins suits the long, seated miles most e-bike riders do.