MADE IN JAPAN.
The Grip Monarch is a slight improvement over the Grip King. Don't replace the Kings if you have them, but if you need pedals for another bike, get these bad oscars. Security means using a shoe with a sole the nubs can dig into. Rubbery is good, leather is bad, plastic is the worst. Softer beats harder, but we've used these with all kinds of sneakers and sandals, never had a problem.
The Monarch is squarer than the King, and flatter top to bottom. It comes with eight set screws per side; King had zero. The set screws add grip, and are removable (if you fear them) with a 2.5mm allen. Leave them alone.
The Monarch's length feels good beneath your shoe. The cup-and-cone (not cartridge) bearings get smoother with use, and in more than 25 years of selling MKS pedals, and 30+ years of riding them myself, I have never seen or heard of rough bearing on any MKS pedal.
If I had one bike, and I could get only one pair of pedal for it for the next 30 years, this is the pedal I’d get, no hesitation.
Silver or black. Get two pair and put one of each on a bike.
FLASH: As of Nov 5 2021 we're also stocking Panda versions, with silver bodies and Black cages. Assembled that way at la factoria, just for us. Part of our passionate, relentless pursuit of artistic perfection and keeping things fresh.
All Black
All Silver
Panda = Silver body with Black foot-things
Champagne
Adnap = Black body with Silver foot-things
Olive green wings with silver body (new color for Fall 2024)
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Here's how you overhaul these:
