Burgtec Penthouse Flat MK5 pedals review

Since launching its brand with the original Penthouse flats back in 2003, the name Burgtec has become synonymous with ultra-grippy, hard-as-nails pedals.

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In the intervening 17 years, its meaty flats have gone through several iterations, getting progressively thinner and lighter but always maintaining that all-important grip. The latest MK5 version tested here is very close to being the perfect pedal.

For starters, the platform measures 100 x 102mm, which is sizeable but not so big that you’re paranoid about catching the pedals on rocks all the time.

Then there’s the generous 2mm of concavity on each side, which your feet can mould into, to stop them being bounced off. Because the overall depth at the centre of the axle is particularly thin, the pedals give you a well-balanced and low-feeling stance on the bike.

The offset leading edges are only 15mm deep too, so, withstanding any really clumsy footwork, I found that the Penthouses will skim over most obstacles.

At the same time as making its new pedals bigger, Burgtec has managed to shave 64g off the weight of the MK4 version. A pair of MK5s with steel axles come in at 382g, which is fairly light for alloy pedals.

With the updated design, the Macclesfield-based brand has also solved my biggest complaint about the old MK4, which was that the pedal body sat too close to the crank arm. There’s no axle visible on the MK5 either, but the platform has been made wider to compensate for this. With a bigger usable surface area, I never found my feet hung over the sides.

The eight 4.5mm-tall removable pins per side provide ample traction. They’re all positioned around the edge of the platform, further helping your shoes to sink in. In terms of all-out bite, the Penthouse MK5s aren’t quite as aggressive as my benchmark, Nukeproof’s Horizon pedals, but they aren’t far off.

To increase durability, Burgtec has specced high-quality igus W300 bushings alongside sealed bearings and rubber oil seals. If its old pedals are anything to go by, these should last a good while. It’s impossible to fully test the longevity of pedals without riding them for at least six months, but so far I've no complaints.

Their only downside is perhaps the price, but British manufacturing isn’t cheap, and I'd regard these as a long-term investment.