Who it's for
Good fit
- Commuters and city riders in trainers or work shoes
- Tourers and randonneurs who ride in walking shoes rather than clips
- Riders who want sealed bearings they never have to adjust
- Owners of a folding or travel bike who may want the removable Ezy version
Look elsewhere if
- Riders who want toe clips and straps (choose a Sylvan or GR-9)
- Mountain bikers who need a thin, concave pedal with long pins
- Bikes with one-piece cranks that need 1/2" pedals
Compatibility
- Crank thread
- 9/16" x 20 TPI, standard three-piece cranks
- Shoes
- Flat-soled everyday shoes, trainers and flat-pedal shoes
- Toe clips
- Flat-pedal design; MKS's clip pedals are the Sylvan and GR-9
- Removable
- Separate Ezy and Ezy Superior versions (not cross-compatible)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Double-sided, so either face works when you put your foot down
- Large 84 x 110 mm platform for a city pedal
- Sealed bearings need no adjustment
- Replaceable pins add grip without being as aggressive as MTB pins
- Also made in Ezy and Ezy Superior quick-release versions
Cons
- Not designed around toe clips
- Heavier than slim MKS pedals such as the Compact or GR-9
- Pins can mark soft-soled shoes, unlike the pinless Lambda
- Sealed bearings can be replaced but not adjusted like MKS cup-and-cone pedals
What the MKS Allways is
The MKS Allways is a double-sided alloy platform pedal made for riding in normal shoes. Both faces are identical, so there’s no flipping the pedal to find the right side at a junction.
Retailers list the platform at 84 mm wide and 110 mm long. That’s large for a city pedal and long enough to support most of the foot. The cage has replaceable pins for grip. The body spins on MKS’s triple sealed bearing layout: one sealed bearing at the outer end and two low-profile bearings closest to the crank. The standard version is listed at 381 g per pair and uses the usual 9/16” pedal thread.
This page covers the black version. MKS also sells the Allways in silver and polished finishes, plus removable Ezy and Ezy Superior versions.
Setup and fit notes
The Allways fits any crank with a standard 9/16” x 20 TPI pedal thread, which covers nearly all adult three-piece cranks.
- Find left and right. Pedals are stamped L and R. The left pedal is reverse threaded; see which pedal is reverse threaded.
- Grease the threads. A thin film of grease stops the axle seizing in the crank.
- Tighten firmly. Use a pedal spanner or hex key from our pedal tools list.
- Check the pins. If your shoes have soft soles, remove a few pins. For wet commutes, run them all.
- Ezy versions only: always refit the stopper ring. MKS warns that without it the adapter can break or the pedal can fall off.
Put the ball of your foot over the axle. The 110 mm length leaves room to move your foot forward or back without hanging off the pedal.
How it compares
Allways vs Lambda (Grip King). The Lambda is longer, about 78 x 119 mm, and grips with raised C-shaped ridges instead of pins. It uses hand-adjusted cup-and-cone bearings. Choose the Lambda for soft shoes or if you like to service your own bearings. Choose the Allways for sealed bearings and pin grip in the wet.
Allways vs Promenade Ezy. The Promenade is a smaller city platform with replaceable cage plates and cup-and-cone bearings, sold on the Ezy quick-release axle. It suits folding and travel bikes; the Allways gives a bigger footprint.
Allways vs Sylvan Touring. The Sylvan Touring is a double-sided cage pedal that takes toe clips. If you think you’ll want clips later, start there. Otherwise the Allways is the more comfortable flat pedal for everyday shoes.
Allways vs Compact. The Compact is MKS’s lightest pedal, listed at 233 g per pair, with a low-profile milled body. It saves weight, but the Allways has a much bigger platform.
All of these and more are compared on our MKS pedals page. Brand background is on the MKS brand page.
Care and wear
The Allways needs little routine care. Don’t inject lube into the sealed bearings: MKS’s guidance for its sealed pedals is that extra lube pushes grease out and shortens bearing life. Wipe off road grime, and if a pedal starts to feel rough or develops play, have the bearings replaced.
Check the pins now and then. A missing or bent pin doesn’t stop the pedal working, but replacing pins keeps the grip even. Once a year, remove the pedals, clean the threads and refit them with fresh grease. This stops them seizing, which is the most common pedal problem on commuter bikes.
For other flat pedal options, see platform pedals.
Alternatives to consider
MKS Lambda (Grip King)
Bigger, pinless platform with cup-and-cone bearings for soft-soled shoes
MKS Allways Ezy
Same platform on MKS's quick-release axle, for folding or travel bikes
MKS Sylvan Touring Next
Double-sided touring pedal that also takes toe clips
DMR V8
A classic pinned mountain bike flat if you ride trails more than streets
MKS Allways: FAQ
Does the MKS Allways have cup-and-cone bearings?
No. Most listings describe MKS's triple sealed bearing layout: one sealed bearing at the outer end and two low-profile bearings near the crank. That differs from MKS's classic hand-adjusted cup-and-cone pedals such as the Lambda.
How much do MKS Allways pedals weigh?
Retailers list the standard Allways at 381 g per pair, with most listings agreeing within a gram or two. Check the listing if you buy an Ezy version, as the quick-release axle changes the figure.
Can I make the MKS Allways removable?
Buy the Allways Ezy or Allways Ezy Superior instead. The standard Allways has a normal threaded axle, and the Ezy and Ezy Superior parts are not interchangeable with each other.
Are MKS Allways pedals good for mountain biking?
They're designed for city and touring use. For trails, a thinner MTB flat with longer pins grips better. See our flat pedals guide.