The Funn Mamba pedal is a bit of a chameleon, offering both doubleand single-sided clip options depending on what you’re after.
Pete has been putting the double-sided Funn Mamba pedal through its paces over the last month or so to see if they can cut it in a very competitive market.
Key features:
- AL6061 body
- CrMo axle w/ DU and cartridge bearing
- Double or single-sided options (double tested)
- 4 replaceable pins per side (double)
- SPD compatible
- GRS system for easy maintenance
- Supplied with spare pins and tool
- Platform size W101mm x L102mm x H13.4mm
- 500g pair (double)
- Red, Orange, Blue, Green, Black, Grey
- £109.99 RRP
- FunnMTB.com
At first glance, the double-sided Funn Mambas look massive, and that’s because they are, certainly in the case of the bit where you put your feet. Length-wise, there isn’t really much difference between the Mambas and the Crankbrothers Mallet Es they replaced (102 vs 97mm respectively), but in the width department, it’s a whole different ball game.
The Mambas make full use of the axle length available with a 101mm wide platform, compared to the Mallet E’s 79mm, making them a hefty platform upon which to suspend your trotter. The eleven pins for the flat side give way to four on the clips but provide that extra bit of security for when you’re hanging a safety leg out and maybe don’t want to clip back in just yet.
On the flipside of all this platform area is the stack height which is barely beyond the size of the axle. You’re going to have to try pretty hard to clip these off anything, unless you’re running something with a seriously low bottom bracket. Even then, you’ll have to try and hit them.
Beyond the massive yet thin platform, you get what is fairly standard for a modern pedal. A CNC’d alloy 6061 body runs on a CroMo axle with an Allen key insert for removal. Axles run on a DU bush and a bearing, and a grub screw on the pedal body allows you to top up the lube inside rather than dismantle the pedal. The cleat mechanism is float adjustable and takes SPD cleats.
On the bike
Once on the crank, the Mambas don’t leave much in the way of room between your foot and the crank arm itself. If you’ve small feet like mine, then that won’t be an issue. Anyone with gravy boats might struggle for clearance.
I did find I had to recalibrate my brain to get my foot so that it engaged with the cleat, such is the enormity of the platform. Thankfully, such a large platform certainly means you’re not going to panic that you’re not clipped in unless things are about to get super hectic.
After riding anything from the local slip and slide in the woods to some meaty, rock-strewn mountain paths, I have yet to actually clip the pedals off anything. Even when things have started going wrong on track, the Mambas have steered clear of the ground for the duration.
Anyone used to SPD cleats will have no real issue once they’ve tuned their heads into where the mechanism sits in relation to the crank and you’ll only notice the pins when you’re floating your foot on the pedal rather than clipping in and out on a sketchy off-camber.
The Mambas didn’t throw up any unexpected reliability issues and they’re still running smooth. One of the pins has taken some abuse but has only seen the blue anodising rub off.
What do we think?
The Funn Mambas offer the best you can expect from a modern clip pedal with added advantages of the GRS system allowing easy regreasing of the axle and DU bush, and ticks the box for anyone after a large platform with good clearance. They’re certainly on the mark when it comes to the asking price too.
We love:
- Confidence-inspiring platform size
- Super low profile
- GRS system
Could do better:
- Massive platform might not suit everyone
