Black Dog Cycle Works T7 Traction Footpegs Review

[MotoNews]

Published in: Gear

The trail was barely wide enough for my Tenere 700 to squeeze through—and then a few snaking tight turns came out of nowhere. I counter-balanced with a hefty downthrust on the inside of my Black Dog Cycle Works Traction Footpegs and quickly re-angled the bike along the narrow path. The large platform-style pegs acted like power steering, manipulating the single-track easily.

By far, the biggest benefit of the BDCW Traction Footpegs is the big 2.5 x 4.5-inch surface area, about 55% larger than the Tenere’s stock pegs. When standing, these platforms give the rider better control as well as a more comfortable stance. There’s plenty of room for large ADV boots to shift around, and the increased area of the Traction Footpegs helps disperse weight and pressure. In contrast, the smaller OEM pegs put much more pressure on the foot, quickly making it uncomfortable while adding to rider fatigue.

Traction Footpegs are also half an inch lower than the OEMs. When sitting, the cockpit feels less cramped with your legs in a more comfortable position. When standing, dabbing has a slightly shorter distance, which helps in gnarly terrain. The larger size and lower positioning will keep you in the saddle longer.

By themselves, the Traction Footpegs’ teeth and large gaps in their design will keep your feet planted and clear of debris. However, if you’ll be running in really wet and muddy conditions, BDCW includes threaded cleats with an installation tool and a small bottle of threadlocker. At only six ounces each, the aircraft-grade aluminum alloy provides a lightweight and remarkably sturdy platform. That said, with wider footpegs comes a bit of a concern. When traversing tight terrain such as rock gardens, ruts, or single track through trees, there’s a greater possibility of snagging the pegs.

Installation is much easier if you use the special BDCW “installation pin.” Without it, the difficulty of keeping the spring in place and the hole of the peg aligned during installation is enough to drive the most experienced wrencher crazy. BDCW helps keep your sanity and saves time with their simple solution. Bottom line: The easy installation, added comfort sitting or standing, superior traction, and the fact the Black Dog Cycle Works Traction Footpegs are 100% designed and manufactured in the U.S. makes them an amazing addition to your motorcycle.

BlackDogCW.com

MSRP: $249

PROS:

• Larger surface area for more comfort sitting or standing
• “Power steering” due to peg size
• Pegs are a half-inch lower for more leg room when sitting
• “Installation pin” to save your sanity
• Great traction, plus additional threaded spikes if you want more!

CONS:

• Wider footpegs can snatch objects in tighter trails

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