The Renthal Revo-F pedals are the iconic UK component brands' recently launched flat pedal, and it's a top-tier option for riders looking for both performance and durability in their flat pedal setup. Grip is in abundance owing to a dual concave design and long aggressive pins that can be adjusted in length to tune the feel of the pedals. The slightly smaller platform might be a little restrictive for bigger-footed riders, and a sturdy build means they're not the lightest pedals around, but they sit well among the best MTB flat pedals.
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Renthal Revo-F flat pedals - Technical details
The Renthal Revo-F pedals feature a forged and CNC-machined 6061 aluminium body with a parallelogram profile and smooth chamfered leading edges that improve rock strike performance by allowing the pedal to slide over rocks rather than catching on them.
The cage measures a relatively compact 100mm x 104mm, which is less spacious than many rival pedals. Additionally, at 18.5mm thick at its widest point, the platform may not be as low profile as some. Thankfully though, Renthal has built in a healthy amount of concave with these pedals the Revo-F has a clever dual-axis concave profile - Measuring 14mm at its thinnest point on the axle, the pedal body then flares to 17mm at the leading and trailing edges and 18.5mm at the widest point of the inner and outer edges. This gives the pedal a nice bowled-out shape ensuring plenty of grip and a nicely planted close-to-the-axle ride feel.
In addition to that, the amount of concave, grip, and ride feel can be further tuned thanks to the 10 fully adjustable rear loading pins per side. Out of the box, the pedals come shipped with the pins in their longest 5.5mm setting but can be adjusted in 1mm increments right down to 2.5mm using the additional shorter pins and washers included in the box. The chunky 3mm hex-headed pins as standard hint at Renthal's built-to-take-the-hits design philosophy.
On to the internals, the pedal features a high-grade forged and precision ground chromoly axle that spins on three outboard cartridge bearings and an extra wide inboard Igus bushing. In keeping with the UK-made ethos, sealing appears to be a top priority – there's a full contact low friction inboard seal to keep the elements at bay, and the end cap features an O-ring to prevent water and muck ingress at the other end.
Renthal has ensured maintaining the pedals is as stress-free as possible too. The clever patent-pending simple service axle system allows quick and easy home servicing without any specialist tools. The only tools required are 6mm and 8mm Allen keys, an 8mm socket, a small flat-bladed screwdriver, and ideally a torque wrench for reassembly.
Thanks to a snap-ring retaining washer that prevents the bushing from pulling away and becoming lodged inside the pedal body, there's no need for a bushing removal tool,
and the pedal body can be easily removed without disrupting the axle components.
The unique system uses the axle to remove and reinstall the bushing, and the bearings press into place, using the pedal internals. Clever stuff.
As a bigger-footed rider, I was stoked that Renthal had gone with a fairly generous 10mm external axle length on the Revo-F. This should provide some additional heel/crank clearance and allow for a wider, more stable stance on the bike and a more usable platform for those with larger feet or a heels-in-foot position.
Renthal has nailed the aesthetics. Renthal products have long been synonymous with quality, and the brand has not let itself down with the Revo-F. They come in two classy understated finishes – the classic Alugold satin finish of my test pedals or a stealthy anodised Black. Both feature smart laser-etched graphics and should play nicely with most colour schemes.
In terms of weight, that bombproof build and those full-length axles mean they're certainly not the lightest at 491g a pair. Renthal has decided that strength and reliability are of greater concern than weight saving, and as pedals often take a proper beating, I'm inclined to agree.
Renthal Revo-F flat pedals - Performance
On the trail, the Renthal flats shone in their ability to provide a secure and comfortable footing in all conditions. Paired with my trusty Fiveten Freeriders, traction was superb - the pin layout meshed well with the dotty Stealth sole. The bi-concave platform provides bags of stability and helps keep the foot centred securely on the pedal, which boosts confidence when hitting jumps or blasting through rowdy, technical sections at speed.
At first, I ran the pins in their stock 5.5mm setting, and although the grip levels were insane, it was almost a bit too much, making it difficult to reposition my foot after a dab or a wannabe Sam Hill ‘foot out flat out’ moment.
Thankfully it's very easy, if a little laborious, to tailor the grip and pedal feel by playing about with the pin lengths using the shorter pins and washers included in the box. I ended up settling on using the washers to reduce the pin height to 4.5mm front and rear and used the shorter centre pins to amplify the concave and lower the ride height a touch. The shorter pin height made repositioning my feet much easier, while overall traction remained almost as good and stability was marginally improved.
In fact, during my time with them, I've had no slipped pedals or instances of my feet bouncing off, no matter how rough or muddy things have got – thankfully, the open design means the Revo-F's never get clogged with mud, keeping grip levels high even on the filthiest of days.
I was initially worried the more compact cage size might feel a bit cramped and unsupportive for my wide size 11's, but in use, they somehow feel like a bigger pedal than they are. This can be attributed to the clever pin positioning and longer axle allowing more clearance and freedom of movement on the bike. While personally, I'd still prefer a slightly larger cage for maximum support, for riders with feet up to a UK 10 they're just the ticket - Perhaps Renthal could take a leaf out of Crankbrothers' book and offer the Revo-F in two platforms sizes like it does with the Stamp flat pedals.
Although I'm at the upper end of the foot size spectrum for these pedals, the Revo-F still has a solid feel underfoot (especially after tuning the pins) and I experienced no discomfort on long pedally days.
On the flipside, that slightly smaller body can be seen as a blessing in the tight stuff. With increased rock and rut clearance and the clever shaping of the smooth, angled leading edges, they manage to evade the worst of the hits, and slide rather than snag on rocks. Due to this, my test pair are still looking pretty fresh, bar a couple of small scuffs. Similarly, those chunky pins have proven resilient too, with none bent or damaged during my time on them.
The internals haven't required any attention yet, but after pulling them apart to check for wear, I can vouch for how quick and easy the ‘simple service axle system’ is, and
bearings and bushing replacement should be a quick and painless job when the time comes.
In the meantime, easy access to the internals means freshening them up with a dab of grease is a five-minute job. I'm pleased to report my test pair are still running super smooth and are free of any play or notchiness despite most of my test period being a particularly wet and mucky British autumn and winter.
Overall, I'm very impressed with what Renthal have achieved with their first attempt at a flat pedal. They have a great feel, bags of traction and a good-looking but robust construction, the Revo-F ticks all the boxes. Add to that a unique axle system that makes keeping on top of servicing a doddle and it's hard not to be impressed.
The only real negative I can muster, other than them packing a bit of extra weight, is that riders with larger feet may find the pedal platform a little compact.
Renthal Revo-F flat pedals - Verdict
There's no shortage of choice when it comes to quality flat pedal options these days and an obvious contender is the DMR Vault Mag, a longstanding rider fave and at £120 a good bit cheaper than the Renthal option, even in this lightweight magnesium-bodied version Liam tested a while back. Weighing in at just 388g they are far lighter than the burly Revo-F's although the material is a bit more damage-prone, so they won't offer the same longevity. At 105mm x 105mm and with a healthy concave, they are similar in terms of dimensions and offer a nicely cradled ride and bags of grip. The sealing is not quite up to Renthal's standard though so the bearings may require a bit more TLC.
While the Renthal pedals are without doubt a premium priced pedal, the Wolf tooth Waveform pedal brings the heat at £149 a set. They are lovely-looking pedals with a luxurious build quality and they're backed by a five-year warranty. With a slim, exquisitely machined body and a nice amount of concave, they offer grip in spades and plenty of support. Weighing in at just 389g a pair, they are again much lighter than the Renthals despite having a bigger platform. However, the short axles give them a narrow Q Factor which actually reduces the effective usable platform size a touch, and could lead to clearance issues on bikes with wider stays.
If you've got deep pockets and want a pair of tough, super grippy and beautifully put together flat pedals from an iconic British brand, you'll be hard-pushed to find fault with Renthal Revo-F. Sure, there are lighter pedals for the money and cheaper pedals that perform just as well, but as a complete package, Renthal has nailed it. With Renthal's reputation for high-end components, these pedals live up to the hype and are highly recommended.