Though I’ve been switching between flat and clipless pedals over the past few years, I never really considered a one-sided clipless pedal like the Funn Ripper2. But after seeing a lot of questions about this style of pedal online, and talking with friends who were considering them as well, I decided to give these hybrid pedals a try for myself.
Funn Ripper2 pedal specs
- Weight: 432.3g pair, tested
- Price: $159
- Buy from Amazon
Clipless on one side, flat on the other
The Funn Ripper2 features an aluminum alloy body with eight pins per side and a platform that’s 90x100mm. One side of the pedal features a spring-loaded, SPD-compatible mechanism that is tilted upward by about 15°. The release tension on the SPD mechanism is adjustable and delivers 5° of float with an 18° release angle.
The other side of the pedal is just… flat. And as I said, there are eight pins.
Funn Ripper2 pedals spin on a cartridge bearing with DU bushings, and the whole setup is very serviceable. A complete pedal axle replacement kit is listed for $36 on the Funn website, though at the time of publication, all versions were sold out.
On the trail
I came very close to nixing this test as soon as it started. My first ride on the Funn Ripper2 pedals was at night, and I wore my Shimano GE9 clipless pedal shoes. With the all-black colorway, it was impossible to see which side was up when it was time to clip in. I spent half the ride unclipped and just using the pedals as flats, albeit with a wonky wobble due to the cleat. Maybe I should add a bright orange sticker or some paint to the clipless side, I thought to myself.
My next test ride took place in the middle of the day, and this time, it clicked for me: I don’t need to see the pedal — I need to feel it. This worked much better, and by the end of that second ride, clipping in felt pretty natural. Landing on the right side of the pedal is a 50/50 shot, so on average it does take longer to get clipped in, but at least I was able to keep my eyes on the trail.
Further day and night rides confirmed that the Funn Ripper2 works just fine as a clipless pedal. When you’re on the correct side, it’s easy enough to find the mechanism thanks to a spring-loaded design that keeps the toe-end pointing up at a 15° angle, and the float is quite pleasant. The cleat holds securely even on rough trails, and unclipping is smooth.
I don’t really get the need for pins on the clipless side of the pedal. If I were running these long-term, I would probably remove them, especially the three pins at the front of the pedal, so that they don’t interfere with unclipping or unnecessarily tear up the rubber on my soles.
See you on the flip side
I also tested the Funn Ripper2 as a flat pedal and found that it offers a decent amount of grip. The platform size is a bit smaller than what I typically prefer, but my foot felt well supported, and the pedal is easy enough to find without looking. Again, you need to “feel” the pedal with your foot to determine if the right side is up, which adds an extra step compared to a dedicated flat pedal.
The Funn Ripper2 pedal body is 17mm tall, not including the pins. However, the SPD mechanism on the bottom protrudes by another 9mm according to my measurements, giving the pedal an actual thickness of 26mm overall in flat-pedal mode, which is a lot. The result is more pedal strikes and drags than you would experience with a dedicated, thinner flat pedal.
Controlled spin
Out of the box, the Funn Ripper2 pedals offer a good bit of resistance to spinning. Though that might sap a little efficiency, overall it means each pedal keeps its orientation as you spin the cranks. This makes it easier to clip in, for example, if you start with the SPD side facing up with the crankarm in the six o’clock position, and don’t clip in right away. Because the pedal doesn’t spin on its own, the SPD side will still be facing up the next time it comes around.
Is it for trail riding? Enduro?
Funn says the Ripper2 is designed for trail and enduro riding, though that’s not the use case I’m imagining. After all, if you ride trail or enduro, you probably prefer riding either clipless or flats. Or if you like to switch between the two, like me, you’ll just swap your pedals depending on the day.
I think the Funn Ripper2 pedals make more sense for a bike that gets dual use, say as a mountain bike and a commuter. A friend mentioned he was considering a hybrid pedal like this for his gravel bike that he also uses for running errands around town. This seems like a great use to me, especially since for gravel rides, you aren’t clipping and unclipping as frequently as you are when riding a mountain bike.
Share your Funn Ripper2 review
I seem to remember learning how to ride with clipless pedals many years ago, and either owning a pair of one-sided pedals, or maybe a friend had them. Either way, I don’t think these helped either of us learn. If you’re a flat-pedal rider and are thinking about going clipless, my advice is to go all-in and get a set of dual-sided clipless pedals. In fact, Funn offers a dual-sided version of the Ripper2 pedals.
But what if you’re a clipless rider, and you want to try riding flats? In that case, I think the Ripper2s could be a good choice. Riding with flat shoes, the pedals are more forgiving if you’re on the wrong side. And if you’re in your clipless shoes and find yourself on the flat side, just roll with it and see how you do! Eventually, you’ll realize you don’t need those cleats after all.
Funn also sells one-sided Mamba and Mamba S clipless pedals, and both are priced less than the Ripper2. The Mamba features a slightly larger platform, more pins (flat side only), and a higher weight than the Ripper2. The Mamba S has a smaller platform and a claimed weight that’s about 25g less than the Ripper2. Both Mamba pedals are offered in a variety of colors, while the Ripper2 only comes in black.
Pros and cons of Funn Ripper2
Pros
- Versatile pedal for those who ride clipless and flats on the same bike
- Quality construction and durable design
- Smooth clipless mechanism
Cons
- Thick for a flat pedal
- There’s a learning curve to using it on the trail
- Not a fan of having pins on the clipless side
Bottom line
The Funn Ripper2 single-sided SPD pedal does a good job filling a need, though not everyone needs it. If you’re on the fence between clipless and flats, my advice is to pick a side and be a jerk about it like everyone else.
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