Flats, Klickies… what is better? Sorry, we don't have an answer for you here either! But whether Spank Spoon Flat Pedals are any good... we can definitely tell you after our test. The debate over whether flat pedals or clipless pedals are better or worse will probably never end. But as long as Sam Hill himself wins races at the Enduro World Series without clips, the justification for flat pedals is more than warranted.
And for this reason, we mounted the new Spank Spoon Platform Pedal on the MTB and tested it for you!
Spank Flat Pedals – all info
Spank wanted to develop new pedals that would fit every shoe size and also convince with innovative features and technical refinements. The result is the “Spoon” Pedal. But did the refresh work, are these Spoon Pedals really worth mentioning? You'll find out here!
This is what Spank MTB pedals look like after a fun day ;-).
Size matters (...so that the pedal fits the shoe!)
The pedal is available in three different sizes . This way the tread surface perfectly adapts to your shoe size.
- Size S features a 90 mm wide pedal body
- Size M (which we chose for the test) has a 100 mm wide pedal body
- In size L you get a 110 mm large pedal.
The features of the Spoon Flat Pedals for MTB
The pedal is only 14mm thin, giving you very good contact with the bike. In the test, it feels like we are standing directly on the axle, the direct riding feel is really pleasant. No wobbling or feeling like you are standing too high.
We tested the grip of the pins of the Spank Pedal, unfortunately not the broken edge.
Also in terms of pedal pins Spank did not hold back and installed a total of 20 adjustable pins per pedal, which you can screw into the pedal with the included Allen key or mini wrench and replace excellently if contact with a stone has finished them off. The only downside: the pins are not pre-installed. You have to screw in 40 pins before the first MTB ride.
The pedal is made of CNC machined aluminum and brings an above-average large dimensioned and multi-sealed industrial bearing with it.
The front and side edges of the "Spoon" pedal body are rounded. They are flattened to prevent you from getting stuck and falling when in contact with rocks or roots.
So that your wheels keep turning, but not the pedal…
You might know the problem: When you take your foot off the pedal, it keeps spinning. When you want to put your foot back on, you first have to rotate the pedal back and find the top side of the pedal. The more intense the MTB fun, the more difficult it becomes to fumble for the right pedal position! Here, Spank offers a solution: Inside, a sealing lip is positioned so that the pedal can hardly turn by itself. And don't worry, it's still not stiff at all, this effect is not noticeable while riding.
Should we have washed the test Spank pedals before the photo session??
The practical test: The Spank pedals on the trail
Enough talking, off to the trail!
Where did we test the Spank pedals?
We mounted the pedals on our long-term test bike from NS Bikes and not only rode numerous tours with it, but also made smaller detours to local bike parks.
😲 The first impression: What a grip!!
The Spoon pedal in size M fit perfectly, it immediately conveys a secure stand. It was clear from the first few meters that grip would not be a problem, as the pins practically dug into the shoe soles. And since we're testing, we're doing it thoroughly, we were with three different shoes (Afton Keegan, Five Ten Freeride & Impact) on the road and all shoes felt like they were cemented on the pedals. Whether it's a bumpy single trail, rock field, or Northshore line, as you position yourself on the pedal, you stay standing on it. Even if you want to reposition your foot, you have to lift it slightly, because with full load the shoe doesn't move a millimeter. This is overall very pleasant and conveys a lot of security. You simply don't have to worry about your stand on the pedal. If you position your feet well at the start, chances are good that you'll land exactly the same at the finish.
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The grip is really excellent. |
A stable pedal position
The aforementioned internal sealing lip also does a good job and prevents the pedals from twisting when you take your foot off the pedal (intentionally or unintentionally). As long as the crank doesn't keep turning, the pedal stays in the same position.
We haven't been able to evaluate the rounded edges yet, as fortunately there were no rock or root contacts.
🔎 Specifications of the “Spoon” Flat Pedals
Here are the specs sorted by pedal size:
|
Size S |
Size M |
Size L |
|
90mm wide |
100 mm wide |
110 mm wide |
|
Shoe size 39 and smaller |
Shoe size 40 to 44 |
Shoe size 44 and larger |
|
375 gr weight |
395 grams weight |
425 grams weight |
- 14mm thick
- 20 adjustable pins
Spank Pedals “Spoon” – our conclusion
The Spank Spoon Pedal is absolutely successful. It not only theoretically has various useful features, but also brings incredible fun on the trail. With an RRP well below 100€, we can highly recommend the pedals, even if they are not lightweights at just under 400 grams.
You can find more tests of helmets, bikes, or bicycle parts here in the Bike Blog.
❗ Buy pedals in the BMO online shop❗
Pedals | Flat Pedals | Spank Brand Shop
