Bicycle Mechanics - How Long Pedal Last???

I average about 150miles a months. It seems that my Forte pedals from Performance are already breaking down. The bearings seem loose & they are only 9months old. Granted, they were on sale for $12 but is this normal? If there are better pedals what are they? I have a Fuiji Crosstown hybrid type bike. thanx

If they really are broken, Performance has a good warantee. Although I'd be surprised that a pedal died so quickly. Even very low quality ones often outlast the rest of the bike.

. Even very low quality ones often outlast the rest of the bike.

I don't know about that. I absolutely killed a pair of Crank Brothers Smarties in one year, and just one winter season was all my CB Candy could take before definitely needing a rebuild. Even then it was touch & go if the left one could be saved.

Maybe you got some lemons ?
I'm not gentle on equipment, and I don't think I've killed a pedal in 30+ years of riding, racing & winter.....

It has been my experience that pedal bearings as shipped are usually adjusted too tight and are skimpily lubricated. I always lube generously and re-adjust them before use.

well it was a bargain pedal ,
I have a couple pair of 30 year old Campag Record pedals,
they are still fine, though the chrome plating is worn where my shoes rubbed..

Even a cheap pedal could easily last 30 years if it's adjusted properly.

Even a cheap pedal could easily last 30 years if it's adjusted properly.

The engagement surfaces on clipless pedals that take metal cleats wear out.

I'm fuzzy on whether I went through 2 or 3 sets of SPD pedals in the 14 years I used them, but will be switching back in spite of that wear rate because I can't get 5000 miles out of a set of Bebop cleats.

I've worn out the bearings on 3 pair of Speedplay Frogs over the years but it's taken a 33,000 to 36,000 miles on each set to do it. And, yes, I do pump in fresh Phil Grease about every 2,000 miles.

Even a cheap pedal could easily last 30 years if it's adjusted properly.

Yes, and greased once in a while.

I've worn out the bearings on 3 pair of Speedplay Frogs over the years but it's taken a 33,000 to 36,000 miles on each set to do it.

My brother use Speedplay, and his general attitude to maintenance is to wait for parts to fall off - then he'll know what requires attention. But they seem to hold up well even to that crude approach.

Maybe you got some lemons ?

Well, the Smarties were a budget option. They're not meant to be rebuildable, and even regreasing is kinda dodgy. Dunno if the seals failed, or if there wasn't enough lube to start with. Either way the bearings rusted out.

The Candy was IMO due to poor assembly.
One pedal still had plenty of grease inside(and was doing OK) then I pulled it apart, the other was bone dry(and badly worn). But I dunno if it was another seal failure, or if it'd been delivered that way.
Never thought of CB stuff as belonging to the category that would need inspection and adjustment prior to use.

But winters here mean salted roads, so maybe it is a bit more challenging environment than average.

pedals should last forever but if they are only $12 a pair, who really cares??

I'm still using the Time ATACs I've had on one mountain bike since 1998. No maintenance whatsoever. No mechanical issues with the pedal. They were pricey from the start but they've earned their keep. Money well spent.

Point being, spend $$ on quality stuff = long term returns.

It has been my experience that pedal bearings as shipped are usually adjusted too tight and are skimpily lubricated. I always lube generously and re-adjust them before use.

I have bought a lot of Forte pedals over the years, and 100% of them had this problem.

pedals should last forever but if they are only $12 a pair, who really cares??

People who aren't thoughtless consumers, and perceive personal responsibilities beyond those enshrined in law.

You know, citizens. Remember when we were citizens rather than consumers?

I've had some bad experiences with pedals. The very first bike my parents bought for me was a red Schwinn with 20" wheels. In the first month or two I had 3 pedals fall apart and my father got them replaced under warranty. Finally the Schwinn dealer gave him a higher quality pair that lasted until I outgrew the bike. Then there was my Schwinn Varsity in college. Riding along about a month after I bought it the spindle of the left pedal snapped right in the middle. Fortunately I was able to keep control of the bike and only swerved a bit. A car behind me ran over the pedal so when I took it back to the LBS they at first refused to warranty it. I asked what they expected me to do - dive out in front of traffic to retrieve it? Finally got a warranty replacement. Didn't have any further pedal issues until clipless ones came along. I've had three SPD pedals fail as a result of problems in the click engagement mechanism and one had a sealed bearing disintegrate.

Can't answer the original question since some of my pedals have failed in the first week while others have lasted decades.

You know, citizens. Remember when we were citizens rather than consumers?

How little you understand us here in the United States.......................http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/shakehead.gif

In answer to the OP: "How Long Pedal Last ?"..........long time, GI.

Guys, these pedals have plastic bodies, I don't think more than a year is realistic.

I'm going to take one apart right now.

Why does my Trek pedal hve the Quadrifoglio on it?

I have had nicer Campy, MKS and various other high quality pedals that are over 30 yrs old that work just fine if adjusted and lubed. I have done minimal work on Phillips and Leotard pedals on bikes that where 50years old and worked fine.

Hmm...I think you dudes are correct, these look rebuildable.

I'm going to put these together and report back tomorrow.

Q: How long pedal last?
A: Them last long.

Have you considered the possibility that the $12.00 closeout pedals were returned by a customer because the bearings felt rough? If they are adjustable then take them apart for a good cleaning and relubing. Or just spend some money on good quality replacements such as the ones from MKS. I've never had pedals get loose like that.