You may want to use your mountain bike to ride swiftly on rough terrains and pull off some cool stunt tricks. A mountain bike, in its original form, is not very stunt-friendly. So, you may have to modify it by installing pegs on it.
You can put pegs on a mountain bike, provided it has a long bolt-on axle. However, you must understand that you may cause damage to the wheel by doing this. Despite being a sturdy bike to conquer rough terrains, a mountain bike is not designed to bear stunts.
Installing pegs on a mountain bike will not cause any damage to the wheel in itself. But, pulling off some stunts will. The wheels of a mountain bike can not withstand the weight of the rider standing on them.
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Can You Put Pegs on a Mountain Bike? My Advice.
It is possible to put pegs on a mountain bike as long as it comes with a long bolt-on axle. However, most mountain bikes these days come with quick-release or through-axle skewers. Such skewers do not offer any means to install pegs on the bike.
Moreover, a mountain bike and its parts are expensive, especially its disc brake and derailleur. So, compromising them by putting pegs on the bike will not be a great idea.
So, my advice to you would be to pivot to a BMX or single-speed bike instead of looking for a mountain bike with long bolt-on axles. Such bikes are many times stronger than mountain bikes and designed for making modifications and pulling stunts.
What Do Bike Pegs Do?
A peg is a small metal bar that you can attach to the wheels of a bike at axles. These protruded bars extend the ability of the rider to perform advanced maneuvers such as grinding.
The pegs work as resting bars where the rider can stand, jump, or carry luggage and accessories. It also allows more passengers to get on the bike and take support.
Even if the pegs allow solid support for luggage and rider, the mountain bike does not support such maneuvers. The wheels and frame of the bike is not sturdy enough to withstand the different pressure stunts put on them.
So, I would say pegs on a mountain bike are ok as long as you use them for carrying some extra luggage or taking a little support, but not so ok for stunting.
Why Should You Not Put Pegs on a Mountain Bike?
Installation Is Always Loose
Even if you follow the instruction to install pegs in your mountain bike to the tee, there is always a risk of pegs snapping or coming loose. The reason is that a mountain bike’s mechanism is never compatible with mounting pegs on it.
The one good way to put pegs on a mountain bike is by using long bolt-on axels. As most mountain bikes these days come with quick-release skewers or through-axel skewers, bolt-on axels are not an option by default.
Quick-release or through-axel skewers are shorter in length than that bolt-on axels. Their shorter length does not provide enough base for the bars to take support on. Your only way around will be to shell out extra money to switch your bike to bolt-on axles.
Despite switching to bolt-on axels, the risk of pegs snapping or coming loose is still there. However, the risk is greatly reduced with bolt-on axels.
If you are reluctant to replace your bike’s default axles, the other way to put pegs on a mountain bike is to mount them on rack fender eyelets. Unfortunately, this method is super risky since the fenders can not withstand much stress. So, try to avoid using this method.
You Can Total the Frame
The MTB frame’s tubing is longer and slimmer than that of a BMX bike. Therefore, it can not withstand heavy impact and may break apart quickly.
When you mount pegs on a mountain bike and perform your stunts, the pegs become levers that put lateral stress on the frame and fork of the bike. Too much stress for too long may bend or total the frame.
Moreover, most MTB models use aluminum or carbon fibers as the material of choice for frames. These materials can not withstand high lateral stress and may break apart, crack apart, or the very least may bend badly.
The risk of totaling the frame is even higher if you hit it on a hard ledge or rail. So, if that is your intention, I prefer BMX bikes only.
The Tires May Go Flat
You must learn from my mistake if you use the pegs for carrying an extra passenger.
I once tried, just for a quick trial, carrying a teenager on my MTB, and it did not go well. I did not even have pegs on my bike. The boy managed to use the protruding edges of the shaft. Guess what? The tire went flat, and the bike struggled the whole time.
The thing is, mountain bikes run on low air pressure. The bike, as a whole, can bear only a certain amount of weight and impact. So, using pegs to carry an extra passenger or luggage is certainly not within the range.
The Wheel May Snap
In any method, the pegs are always mounted at the wheel’s axles. In the case of mountain bikes, the disc breaks, and the derailleur is located very close to the axles. It makes them susceptible to knocks and jerks from the bars through axles.
Even one hard hit of your bike on a ledge may damage the disc break and render it irreparable. If the impact is even harder, it may reach the derailleur, make it unstable, and push it into the wheel’s spokes.
The damage does not limit itself to discs, derailleurs, and spokes. The spokes are attached so tightly to the rim that they may conduct the impact and bend or snap the rim quickly.
Void of Warranty
For specifics, you must read the terms & conditions of the warranty offer for your MTB. In general, most manufacturers do not honor you with warranty repairs if unauthorized modifications to the bike cause the damage.
Pegs are not on the approval list of most mountain bike manufacturers. Even carrying an extra passenger is a reason enough for the maker not to honor your bike warranty.
So, keep in mind that if you put pegs on your mountain bike, there is a good chance that you will lose the luxury of warranty repairs.
When Can You Put Pegs on a Mountain Bike?
Steel Build
Steel is almost 10x stronger than aluminum or carbon fibers. Steel is so strong that the frames of stunt bikes such as BMX are made of it. Whether hitting on a ledge or performing grinding, steel is sturdy enough to support the maneuvers.
If you want to put pegs on your mountain bike, make sure the frame and fork of the bike are made of steel. Such bikes are a bit expensive, but their long lifespan greatly offsets the cost.
Reinforced Hub
If your MTB comes with a quick-release or through-axel skewer, you must replace it with a long bolt-on axel. I would advise you to go one step further and replace the hub with a reinforced one.
Reinforced hubs are a bit hard to find but available in the aftermarket. A reinforced hub will limit the impact from reaching discs and derailleurs.
Bolt-on Axles
Axles are the bread and butter of putting pegs on a mountain bike. The axel serves as a base for the peg bars. The longer and thicker the axles, the better they will support the pegs and limit the impact from reaching the wheel. I would advise you to go for 14 mm thick axels, which is the same thickness you will find for axels of most BMX bikes these days.
Single Speed MTB
Ditching the gears and switching to single-speed MTBs is a great precautionary step. Single-speed bikes do not have derailleurs at all. So, there is no fear of them invading the spokes and damaging the whole wheel.
High Bottom Bracket
Having a high bottom bracket will help you perform grinding with more efficiency and less interference from the cranks. You can buy a bike with a high bottom bracket or ask your bike shop to adjust it. Moreover, such a modification does not void the warranty of your bike.
How to Put Pegs on a Mountain Bike?
I hope you know the pros and cons of putting pegs on your mountain bike. Keeping that in mind, if you want to go ahead and give mounting the peg bars on your MTB a shot, here is the right way to do it:
- Remove the nut and washer from the axel end.
- Mount the pegs on the axles.
- Use a deep socket and tighten the pegs down.
- Double-check that the brakes align properly with the tire.
- Repeat the process for the front wheel.
Can You Put Pegs on Any Bike?
No, you can not put pegs on all types of bikes.
The best in the section are BMX bikes. BMX bikes are made for performing stunts and can withstand such modifications.
The next best are some high-end road bikes. The road bikes come with bolt-on axels, or you will have to replace them yourself. Remember, installing pegs in road bikes is for carrying luggage or an extra passenger. This is not so suitable for performing stunts on hard ledges.
Lastly, mountain bikes, track bikes, and universal bikes are also good candidates for putting pegs on them.
Can You Put Pegs on a C100?
Yes, you can put pegs on a C100. C100 is a mountain bike. Icy on the cake is a very sturdy bike with 19” thick aluminum frame. Although not as strong as a steel frame, a 19” thickness ensures durability. However, that does not mean you can ignore the best practices for putting pegs on a mountain bike.
Can You Put Pegs on a Trek Marlin 5?
Again, the answer is a resounding yes. Marlin 5 is a trek bike, and, as we discussed earlier, trek bikes are good candidates to mount peg bars on. However, you still need to ensure that the hub, axle, and frame can support the installation of the pegs in the bike.
Can You Put Pegs on Quick-Release or Through-Axel Skewers?
Yes, you can do that, but I advise you against doing that. Quick-release or through-axel skewers are quite shorter than the bolt-on axel. This is not an ideal case. The longer the axel, the better it will serve as a stable base for the pegs. So, while you can do that, try to avoid doing that.
What Stunts Can I Perform With Pegs on My Mountain Bike?
There are three main purposes for putting pegs on a mountain bike- carrying an extra passenger, carrying some luggage, or performing stunts.
Carrying an extra passenger or some luggage will not likely cause serious damage to your MTB. You are well off with these two needs.
However, performing stunts, especially hitting on a hard ledge while standing on the pegs or performing a rail grind, are very harsh on your bike. Such stunts may cause damage to your mountain bike.
Either avoid stunts like ledge hitting or rail grinding or switch to a BMX bike for your safety.
Conclusion
Phew! That was a long read. But that will go a long way in ensuring your safety on wheels.
Let me remind you very quickly; you can put pegs on your mountain bike as long as it has a steel frame, reinforced hub, long bolt-on axles, and a high bottom bracket. If your bike misses any features, you may get it installed in the aftermarket.
On the other hand, putting pegs on your mountain bike is never safe, even if you follow the best practices. The bike’s frame or wheel may snap anytime during hard hits. So, mind that as well. Thanks.
