The Race Face Atlas is already one of the best flat pedals we’ve tested thanks to their thin profile, aggressive pin structure and impressive durability. Not everyone has been in love with the shape though, as the large inboard bearing creates a bulge around the axle that has bothered the feet of some folks. The focus on a thin platform also means there’s less concavity, which doesn’t necessarily provide that super locked-in feel that certain riders are after.
To address those needs, Race Face is introducing a new flat pedal that will sit alongside the Atlas. It’s called the Turbine, and courtesy of some intricate machining, it’s claimed to have the most concave platform of any pedal on the market.
Race Face Turbine flat pedal price & specifications
- Construction: 6061 CNC machined alloy
- Platform size: 115mm long x 110mm wide
- Concavity: 3mm front/back and left/right
- Pins: 11 x height-adjustable pins per side
- Colours: Black, Silver, Kashmoney, Purple, Orange, Red & Blue
- Warranty: Lifetime, crashing included
- Weight: 420g (pair)
- Price: $295 AUD
The Race Face Turbine is a brand new flat pedal that’s built around a somewhat conventional-looking body. It’s more rectangular in shape compared to the curvy Atlas, and it features a larger effective platform that is 5mm longer and 2mm wider.
Machined from 6061 alloy, the level of detailing is impressive, and not just from an aesthetic perspective. Race Face has designed the Turbine interface with a 3mm deep concave profile both front-to-back and left-to-right. This is achieved by increasing the outer perimeter thickness to 20mm and lowering the centre to 17mm, which encourages your shoe to sink into the middle of the pedal for maximum stability.
Traction is then elevated by 11 aggressive pins per side. These are bottom-loading for ease of replacement, and washers are included in the box so you can reduce the pin height. For example, you could add washers to the pins closest to the axle, which would further increase the effective concavity.
Locked-in grip for some, but not all
The aim of the Race Face Turbine is to provide the most locked-in feel possible outside of a clip pedal. This will suit riders who like to keep their feet stuck down for as long as they can, and will be particularly appreciated by those doing long pedally rides on their trail or enduro bike. Those same riders will likely welcome the narrower stance of the Turbine platform since there is no oversized inboard bearing.
Race Face acknowledges that this pedalling security won’t be for everyone, which is why it will continue to offer the Atlas. Compared to the Turbine, the Atlas is considerably thinner (12mm vs 20mm), providing more ground clearance for bikes with low-hanging BBs. The flatter platform also makes it easier to reposition your foot, which is advantageous for jibbers, freeriders or anyone who likes to regularly take their feet off the pedals.
Reworked internals & lifetime warranty
To avoid the bearing bulge of the Atlas, the Race Face Turbine incorporates a more traditional configuration with an inboard bushing and outboard bearing. Everything is sealed up tight to handle sopping wet North Shore conditions, though the Turbine is still user serviceable for when the time comes. According to Race Face, the Turbine lasted over a million cycles on its test rig before the engineering team decided to switch it off to avoid breaking the machine.
On the topic of durability, the Race Face Turbine comes with a lifetime warranty that, amazingly, includes crash damage. We’ve seen this same warranty offered with the likes of the Era carbon wheelset and Turbine alloy handlebar, and it goes a long way to providing added peace of mind.
Along with the impressive machining detail and traction-focussed design, Race Face appears to have a very compelling offering in the Turbine flat pedal. We’ll be stomping on a set of these for the year and are eager to see how they stack up against the Atlas.
