MX-3 or MX-FORCE 3 (for 2012) is one of the many options offered by X-pedo if you need some flat pedals. They look good and burly enough and at the same time magnesium body makes them fairly light – 416 grams for a pair. 16 pins for pedal are not bad but less than some other brands offer. In addition to actual pedals you get 10 spear pins and a small key to replace them. Everything is carefully packed in a box.
I bought these pedals two years ago because I needed some strong and not very heavy pedals. And MX-3 looked pretty burly for 400 grams. Two year of usage brought up all advantages and disadvantages of these pedals.
The biggest advantage is that being light enough these are strong enough as well. They met some pretty big rock during their life and survived without any problems. So the body of these pedals is not only looks tough but it is tough.
The other good side is that a big holes in them help to clear out the dirt and they don't pack up with it.
Pins being high and visually big enough don't hold your foot well. The main reason why, is because pins are too wide. And even wider base of each pin makes everything even worse.
In addition, the small key that should help you to replace pins is useless – it breaks down easily. But I think changing pins to a conical-shaped ones can eliminate this problem.
Pins being high and visually big enough don't hold your foot well. The main reason why, is because pins are too wide. And even wider base of each pin makes everything even worse.
In addition, the small key that should help you to replace pins is useless – it breaks down easily. But I think changing pins to a conical-shaped ones can eliminate this problem.
The black finish stayed on pedals for quite a long time but eventually it came off in places where a shoe contacted pedal body. But I can't complain because even after two year pedals look like they're only couple of month old.
The main disadvantage and the reason why I had to take these pedals off my bike is an inside mechanism. When I put them on my bike for the first time I noticed that they already had some play. The body slided on an axle for 0.5-1 mm. And I could feel side-to-side play by holding the pedal by the axle and twitching the pedal body from side to side. As I found out later the main reason of this play is a small bearing inside that has a tiny sloppiness.
At first this play didn't affect pedals performance but after approximately half a year the left pedal started clicking. A month later the right one started clicking too. Rebuilding pedals with new bearings didn't change the situation. I tried to pack more grease inside the pedal as I was suggested but it didn't work either.
Another weakness revealed itself when I was servicing pedals after some rainy days spent trail riding. When I took one pedal apart I noticed that there was some water inside. And that fact actually proved my concerns about water resistance of these pedals. The only thing that protects the inside mechanism of the pedal and should prevent water and dirt from getting inside is an O-ring. ONE tiny O-ring.
Eventually water, dirt and other great stuff presented by autumn and spring riding can get inside the pedal easily.
As a conclusion I can say that X-pedo MX-3 pedals have a strong and at the same time light body but the weak inside mechanism make these pedals unreliable.
That's why as a replacement of these pedals I bought Nukeproof Proton Pedals with two sealed bearings which eliminate any play in inside mechanism. I'm using them for two month already and so far no problems at all. In a couple of month time I'm planning to write a review of them.
Eventually water, dirt and other great stuff presented by autumn and spring riding can get inside the pedal easily.
 |
| Notice the dirt where spindle enters the pedal body |
That's why as a replacement of these pedals I bought Nukeproof Proton Pedals with two sealed bearings which eliminate any play in inside mechanism. I'm using them for two month already and so far no problems at all. In a couple of month time I'm planning to write a review of them.
