Review: Burgtec B-Rage Penthouse Pedal

Burgtec know a thing or two about making flat pedals; since 2004 they’ve been designing and manufacturing some of the grippiest and most durable flat pedals on the market. The Penthouse pedal has become a modern UK classic, loved by riders all over the country and the current V5 is one of the best designs out there. Used by our staff, guides, coaches and many of our customers it’s a light, grippy and tough pedal with terrific durability, able to be rebuilt many times. As a mid-sized platform it’s absolutely ideal for most people and most bikes, but there was still room for something different to sit alongside. Enter Brage Vestavik. 

A burly Norwegian freerider, responsible for some of the craziest segments and moves ever landed, Brage was looking for a full on DH pedal to deliver a bigger target when replacing feet mid air and absolutely maximum grip for flat out sections, heavy landings and sketchy moments. 

Burgtec are not a company to shy away from a challenge, with a history of athlete led product development and in this case, that led to the B-Rage edition of the Penthouse with the pedal adjusted to suit the demands of DH and Freeride riding while keeping the reliability of the original intact.

To this end, Burgtec pumped up the pedals dimensions for extra strength and support. The platform of the B-Rage is 12mm longer than the Penthouse MK5, with overall dimensions of 112mm length and 102mm width. This larger pedal platform already gives the pins more mechanical grip on the shoe, but to improve contact even further Burgtec added a centre pad with three extra pins and increased both the pin length and diameter for maximum traction. An increase in platform thickness from 15mm to 18mm not only gives the pedal better impact resistance, but also gave the designers more scope to increase the amount of concavity for the B-Rage platform. Now at 3mm the foot can sink slightly further into the pedal and put more pressure on the pins.

Keeping out the elements is the same running gear as the Penthouse MK5. Mud and grit stays out while grease stays in with a full contact oil seal. Two IGUS bushings and one sealed cartridge bearing keep things spinning smoothly and the axle is the same high tensile steel version used on the Penthouse MK5. 

Riding the B-Rage

We’ve had sets of B-Rage pedals on both Andy and Tom’s bikes since they first launched so both of them have had plenty of time on trail now to get a handle on how they differ from the regular Penthouse pedal, where they excel and who they might suit best. 

Out on trail, they have both found that the B-Rage pedals deliver grip by the bucket load. The larger platform helps lock the foot in position and makes foot placement feel very predictable with a large sweet spot when replacing a foot quickly mid trail. Riders with bigger feet will especially appreciate the extra size with it providing more stability under a wider shoe, spreading the load of on-trail compressions over more of the foot. Tom also felt the more concave platform aids in traction and boosts stability with a noticeable sensation of sinking into the pedal body.

Both Tom and Andy also noticed a pronounced difference with the added centre section and extra pins. When used with a stiff soled shoe like the 5.10 Impact Pro, they both felt the B-Rages gave a locked-in feeling with no hint of movement even when not fully weighted with centre pins ‘invisible’, yet adding to the overall grip of the pedal. Used like this the B-Rage is up there as the grippiest pedal either have ridden. 

Under a more flexible shoe however, while the grip was still there, they could both pick up on the pins in the centre pad biting into the sole as the softer soles deformed into the platform. Neither of them liked the feeling that created quite as much, with both thinking that the pedal is simply suited to a stiffer shoe. One option that might work well for riders who like a more flexible shoe is to remove the centre pins entirely, taking the grip back to regular Penthouse levels but with a much deeper concave section. 

In terms of durability, it’s still too early to give a definitive answer. Neither of our testers have had any problems or managed to inflict any damage but given that the regular Penthouse pedals are already super tough, we can’t imagine these will be any different.

Penthouse MK5 or B-Rage?

The B-Rage pedals offer a noticeable increase in traction from the Penthouse MK5. For hard hitting riders, bike park bikes, or people with bigger feet, they offer incredible grip and support from a proven chassis. Best paired with a solid shoe these pedals definitely live up to the intentions of their namesake. 

For people who want a lighter, or more versatile pedal option, excellent grip and total reliability, the Penthouse MK5 delivers just that. They have the same bombproof internals as the B-Rage and work with all flat pedal shoes we’ve tested, and are great for riders preferring a thinner soled shoe for a more communicative ride. 

We keep both versions in stock here at Tweed Valley Bikes, come by to see them in person or feel them underfoot and work out which one is best for you.