The Best Keiser M3i Pedal Replacements – Review, Comparison, and Guide
Pedals are one of the three critical contact points on any bike, indoor or otherwise (the other two being the saddle and the handlebar grips). Proper attention should be given to how these contact points fit the rider, otherwise pain and discomfort may result which will negatively affect training performance. It can be argued that pedals are indeed the most important of those contact point and directly affects the comfort and performance of the rider on the bike.
Bicycle pedals come in various types, from simple platform pedals, to pedals equipped with toe straps (also known as foot cage) to clip-in style pedals which mechanically attach the foot to the pedal body by means of a cleat integrated into the bottom of the cycling shoe. The preferred style of pedal is a matter of personal preference and experience. Many riders prefer the simplicity and ease of use of platform-style pedals, while others favour the feeling of being securely connected to the cranks by clip-in pedals, which have certain advantages when it comes to long training sessions and intense workouts.
The Keiser M3i does come with a set of pedals designed for indoor riding. The stock pedals offer an integrated toe cage as well as one side with a clip-in option. Nevertheless, many Keiser M3i riders will prefer to further personalize the riding experience by buying aftermarket pedals to suit their preferences. Below we review several of the best pedals to pair with your Keiser indoor bike.
What kind of pedals are available for indoor bikes?
There are three main types of pedals for use with indoor bikes.
- Traditional toe-clips (also known as toe cages or toe straps): this is the traditional design of foot retention mechanism, and it is simply comprised of a platform that the foot rests on with a either a metal cage or set of rubber or durable fabric straps and buckles that bind the foot to the platform and keeps both feet securely attached to the pedal body. You don’t need special cycling shoes to use pedals with toe-straps, and any pair of athletic shoes will do.
- Clip-in pedals (also known as clipless pedals, because they do away with toe clips or straps). To use this style of pedals you need a special cycling shoe with bolt holes in the sole to which you will attach metal cleats, which are the other part of the clip-in mechanism. There are several pedal cleat systems, and each system has its advantages and drawbacks, but the most frequently used systems by indoor bike pedals are Shimano SPD cleats (two-bolt design, used by the majority of mountain bike shoes) and LOOK Delta (three-bolt design, used by road bike shoes). To use clip-in style pedals, you will have to make sure that you already have, or plan to buy, cycling shoes compatible with the type of cleat system that you choose. These shoes often have a stiffer sole than normal athletic shoes, and if you have not used them before, there will be an adjustment phase because they don’t initially feel as comfortable as, say, running shoes.
- Platform pedals: which feature a plastic or medal flat platform with no retention mechanism. This type of pedals is usually the cheapest and the simplest to use. The downside is that, due to the lack of a foot retention mechanism, they will not make for very efficient pedaling and keen cyclists will want a pedal system that allows for direct and efficient power transfer with every pedal stroke, especially during more intense workouts.
Now that we have explained the different pedal types, keep in mind that – as you will see in the list of pedals we review below – most indoor bike pedals will feature a dual-sided design that allows use as either a clip-in style or platform/toe cage style pedal, two different styles of clip-in cleats, or sometimes even two types of cleats and an optional platform!
1 – Spinner Trio QR Spin Pedals:
The Spinner Trio spin pedals come in a striking colour on the pedal body. It comes in options of a standard and threadless (Morse taper) cranks. For the Keiser M3i spin bike, you would opt for the standard threaded version. There are two features we really like about the Spinner Trio pedals, the first being the snap-in platform that essentially transforms the pedals from clip-ins to regular platform pedals that you can use with any sports shoes. The second feature, which I personally found super useful, is that they’re dual-sided with one side being compatible with two-bolt Shimano SPD cleats and the other compatible with LOOK Delta cleats. Using the Keiser M3i in a household where multiple people with different pedal preferences use the bike makes the Spinner Trio QR pedals a very versatile option.
2 – Schwinn Triple-Link Pedals:
The Schwinn Triple-Link pedals come in a multi-cleat compatibility similar to the Spinner Trio. They’re compatible with LOOK delta cleats on one side, and SPD two-bolt cleats on the other. The standard 9/16in thread ensures a direct fit to the Keister M3i spin bike, and they come in a durable alloy construction with anodized red accents on the pedal body. I did find that the bearings on the Schwinn Triple-Link pedals aren’t as smooth as they should be out of the box, and feel a little rough and produce some noise during use. Perhaps they need some time to break in and run smoother as many components that use bearings do.
3 – VP-S3 3-in-1 Spin Pedal
VP is a company that specializes in components for various bike contact points, especially pedals. The VP-S3 Spin pedal looks like a typical road bike pedal, but is designed for indoor spin bike use with compatibility with LOOK Delta, Shimano SPD and a bolt-on platform with integrated tow cage (hence the “3-in-1” name). The SP-S3 Keiser M3i pedal replacements come with heavy duty sealed cartridge bearings and are designed to withstand commercial indoor bike use, so there is little doubt that they will be more than adequate for using on your Keiser M3i bike at home. The high-grade hardened steel construction further ensures durability and a long service life. They have an integrated tension adjustment bolt, but we found that care should be taken when using this bolt to adjust the clip-in tension because if it accidentally pops out, the spring tension makes it very tricky to get back in its thread.
4 – Venzo Repacked indoor bike pedals:
1 used from $40.00
The Venzo repacked pedals are specifically designed for indoor bike use with a diecast aluminum pedal body construction, and a CNC Cr-Mo 9/16″ Axle. The Venzo feel lighter than other Keiser M3i bike pedals on this list that have a steel body, but we’ve put it to use on some intense workouts and it doesn’t seem any less durable. The lighter weight was also appreciated during workouts that required a high cadence on the Keiser M3i bike. The Venzo Repacked feature dual compatibility with Shimano SPD and LOOK Delta cleats and a rubber and composite plastic platform with toe clip.
One feature we found very useful on the Venzo pedals is that the platform allows for fore/aft adjustment and the 15mm adjustment range is very generous. This allows the pedal to be adjusted for use with different size feet and shoe sizes when using the platform and toe cage option. This is a feature we have not seen on many other pedals designed for indoor bike use at the same price point.
5 – BV Bike Dual Pedals
The BV bike dual-sided replacement pedals for Keiser bikes would be a good option for riders who have no need for an included platform and tor cage option. The BV Pedals are compatible with Shimano SPD and LOOK Delta cleats, but do not come with a toe strap or platform. They feature a lightweight aluminum construction, and the pedal bodies come with a beveled LEFT and RIGHT markings for easy and trouble-free installation. The 9/16in spindle thread ensures compatibility with your Keiser M3i or other standard thread bicycle cranks you may wish to use them with. One notable feature about the BV Keiser M3i indoor cycle pedals is that there is no manufacturer warning to use them with indoor bikes only. BV indicates that they can be used on outdoor bicycles as well. The BV Dual pedals do not include cleats.
6 – BV Bike Shimano SPD compatible with Toe Clips
1 used from $29.99
This is another model from BV bike that would be great for riders seeking a pedal with a platform option. I actually preferred this model’s platform shape, which looks more like a modern mountain bike’s platform pedal, out of all the platform-option pedals in this list. The all-metal construction of the platform and Nylon toe straps feels more durable than the rubber and plastic platforms. The straps are also fully removable if you will opt to use the other side of those pedals, which is SPD-compatible (so if you’re seeking a LOOK Delta compatibility, you will have to look at other options). The Standard 9/16 thread ensures direct compatibility with your Keiser M3i indoor bike.
Final thoughts: What type of pedal is best for the Keiser M3i indoor spin bike?
The type of pedal that you should choose for your Keiser M3i bike is the one that suits your needs best. If you are new to using indoor bikes, a platform or toe clip style pedal will be the easiest to use, and you won’t have to worry about buying special Keiser M3i cycling shoes. Once you get into more structured training regimen and longer, more intense workouts, you will find yourself ready to upgrade to a clip-in style pedal. The nice thing about the options we featured in the above list is that many offer a hybrid design that will allow you to use both regular sports shoes as well as start using the clip-in option when you’re ready! I hope my article answers your question of what pedals to use with Keiser M3i indoor bike. Let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions.
Sayed Hosseiny
Hi there, I'm Sayed Hamed Hosseiny, the founder and one of the authors at yourexercisebike.com (YEB). I am a former indoor cycling instructor and personal trainer with nearly 20 years of experience. With a passion for indoor cycling, I have spent years designing cycling parts, repairing, and importing exercise bikes. All the articles, tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on YourExerciseBike.com (YEB) reflect my personal opinion and expertise in the field. I'm excited to share my knowledge with fellow exercise bike enthusiasts and help people find reliable indoor cycling information and the best exercise bike for their needs.
