FULL REVIEW PART 3 – TWINPEGS DUAL FOOT PEGS – RIDING – ROAD AND OFF-ROAD – YAMAHA TENERE 700

PLEASE NOTE – The review of TwinPegs is in 3 parts:

Part 1 – Fit & Finish
Part 2 – Installation
Part 3 – Riding With TwinPegs

With the TwinPegs now in place on the Overland Rider Tenere 700 it’s now time to test ride them. Please keep in mind that this part of the review will be revisited and updated several times over the next few weeks and months as weather and family/work commitments allow.

On The Road
The rain and wind has been relentless on the Isle of Wight for the last few weeks and that looks set to continue, so I’m doing my best to take any opportunity I can to test the TwinPegs and begin to provide real rider feedback. Today it heaved it down all morning but by mid-afternoon we got a few hour break so out I went. The main point of today’s ride was to see what value these might have whilst riding on tarmac in the sitting position. Keep in mind that TwinPegs were NOT designed for this purpose and if they were to have any such benefit it would be a by-product rather than a design goal.

I first went out with the standard 3 spacers in place, as shown in the image above. As you can see, with 3 spacers there was no contact between my heel and the TwinPegs when sat in my normal road riding position. As such, they were of no benefit at all like this. I’d guessed this would be the case after talking with Kai before he sent them to me, so fortunately I’d asked him to send me an extra set of spacers just for this part of the review. In order for the TwinPeg to make the correct contact with my heel and act as a support, another complete set of spacers on each peg was required, so 6 spacers per TwinPeg instead of 3. This was the result:

In the above photo only 5 spacers are loaded but I added the extra one after a brief test ride. 6 were needed for my set-up. Now keep in mind that everyone’s sitting position will be different, depending on the size of their feet, length of their legs and the style of boot used. If you have boots with a significant heel then your personal geometry will change greatly, so some riders might need 4 spacers, others 6 or more but it’s unlikely that 3 will do it unless you wear stilettos whilst riding.. I have to say, I did chuckle slightly when the 6 spacers were all in place as it looked like something Gary Glitter would have had on his bike in the 70s but hey ho.. At least now the heel was fully supported and off we rode again.

If you’ve ever ridden a Harley with mid controls or forward controls you’ll probably already have used a set up like this with either running boards or heel supports for the pegs. I have them on mine and they’re extremely comfortable whilst cruising. Well, adventure bikes are not Harleys and I don’t know of any off-road bikes that come with mid or forward controls and, as such, your legs are inevitably angled slightly backwards rather than forwards and therein lies the problem. Yes, these did offer support to the heel and that may be a relief to some on very long trips but frankly the support was fairly minimal and I’m not sure it really offered more comfort than without them.

The main drawback of this setup is that you rather nullify the intended benefit when standing, as it moves your standing position too far forward and causes you to compensate to such an extent that you almost need completely straight legs. On the positive side, adding or removing spacers is a 5 minute job at the side of the road so it’s not a problem to change back and forth but you’ll need to decide for yourself whether the high “road-riding” setup is really worth the effort. In all honesty, I think the riders who might enjoy riding with this kind of heel support might be those with back pains or other such ailments, where heel support might offer some light relief on longer days in the saddle. Personally, I’ve removed the extra spacers and have now gone back to the 3 spacer setup designed for standing.

Along the seafront in East Cowes is half a mile of road with some very large speed bumps in place, so I took the bike up and down there a few times before I needed to head back. Here I spent half an hour standing on the bike and this is where the TwinPegs really began to come into their own. Having that heel support gave considerably greater natural stability and support and the result was my legs were much more relaxed than they would normally be without the TwinPegs in place. The 3 spacers put me personally into a very comfortable standing position and I immediately liked the feel of this setup. Because there’s now no need to balance yourself on the single peg, you’re using less legs muscle and therefore will be far less fatigued during long periods of standing. In fairness, the result I got today was exactly the result I should have got. TwinPegs were not designed to be a comfort support whilst sitting but rather a leg muscle support whilst standing and that’s exactly what they excelled at, even on today’s fairly short test on tarmac. I look forward to giving them a proper workout in more challenging terrain.

Off-Road
Before I begin my own round of “off-road” testing, let me introduce you to Niklas Haugen. Niklas is an experienced T700 rider with a plethora of race experience, far beyond my own. I reached out to Niklas a few days ago and he was kind enough to give me his own feedback on TwinPegs, so allow me to include this for you now. Please note: Niklas is not a native English speaker but his English is as good as many Brits I know. Out of respect, I will copy and paste his input without any “correction”. My sincere thanks to Niklas for taking the time to be a valuable part of this review.

“Kai took contact when he found out we where attending the rallye Breslau, and wanted to sponsor us with a pair of twin pegs to try out before the rallye, and use it in the rally if we liked them. Right after i mounted them on the bike, i went on a 6 days trip on my tenere 700.”

“The trip was a practise for the rallye, so we had long days on the bike, with lots of technical driving. The first thing i found out about the pegs was that the hooks on the pegs was perfect for strapping down my camping gear for the trip. The twin pegs helped alot with the long days, and maked long days on the bike alot easyer! Weight distribution on the bike was no problem.”

“I have some background in driving snowmobile, and driving technical with a big machine like this, you need to use all you bodyweight and be good with the body distribution. The snowmobile have a long floorboard where you can adjust your feets to make the distribution easyer. Twin pegs got that feeling back to me, now i have more room to move my feet to get my weight where i want when i drive! So after my long trip i made my mind, i want to use it in the rallye! In rallye Breslau, we would drive on sand, and sand was new for me, in Norway we only drive gravel. On the first stage of the rally i found out that weight distribution was alfa and omega on the sand, a 200kg adventure bike was really hard to handle in the sand. When i started to learn where to put my weight in the sand, the twinpegs was the perfect tool! During the rallye Breslau i think i fell about 50 times, so the bike got som beating. But the twin pegs could handle it, they took the beating! So im really impressed with the build quality! After the rally the pegs is still on my bike, and i really enjoy them, they are a great accessories to the Tenere 700!” Follow Niklas on Instagram here: @norwegian_rallyadventure

Another experienced rider is Vilde Holt, who secured 3rd spot in the 2022 European Enduro Championships using TwinPegs. Here’s her thoughts on them:

“My name is Vilde Marie Holt and i am part of the norwegian national enduro team. The last 3 years i have been competing in the enduro european and world championship. I switch carrier from motocross to enduro also for 3 years ago, so I am still a novice in enduro. My best results in the europen championship was 2nd overall with one round win. In the world championship I have a 4th as best result. 

I always try to find and execute the best possible training and riding style and routines. Often one can find results in the tiniest detail. This goes for my equipment also. The bike being the most important thing, I always look for the perfect balance between speed, ease of use and durability. That little thing that can make a BIG difference at the end of the day. TwinPegs is for me one of those thing. It gives me a little bit more room to manoeuvre and to put the weight into forward motion, giving me that extra traction I need to go just that little faster up hill. It also helps me retain more energy for the later part of the race. My leg muscle rests better on the transport part, giving me more endurance. For me twinPegs is something you need to incorporate into your training to be able to utilise. The results come as you learn to use them and find out the benefits it has for your riding style.”

Now let’s meet Andrew Houlihan (who previously raced the Dakar Rally) and won the Sunraysia Safari Rally (Adventure Class) on TwinPegs. These are his thoughts on them:

“When I first looked at the TWIN PEGS I was a little sceptical. I have used Steg Pegs on my bikes before and liked how they worked but they always seemed to get in the way and my boot would get caught up at times. After installing the TWIN PEGS on my  KTM 890 and riding it, I immediately noticed how much extra stability and support they offered. As I use my KTM 890 as a training bike in the sand / desert and in enduro terrain I was unsure of how they would perform on a big adventure bike. The Twin Pegs literally transformed the 890. In the deep whooped out sand and slippery red clay mud I had so much more control and traction on the bike, and even more importantly I was using so much less energy and riding much faster and with way more control. Steep uphill and downhill sections on rocky, muddy enduro tracks are so much easier The TWIN PEGS do not block up the side panel access on the bike like the Steg Pegs did and my boot doesn’t get hooked or caught in tight gnarly terrain.

When adventure riding they are a must for long extended periods on the bike, standing up is so much easier and less demanding. Hit some unexpected slippery mud on a large adventure bike and it can become quite challenging. Just stand up and transfer your weight onto the rear TWIN PEG and you get immediate traction to the rear wheel and it keeps the bike stable.

I now use a set of Twin pegs on all of my bikes and will be using them on my new KTM 450 Baja Rally bike in the 2023 FIM WORLD BAJA CUP. I would recommend TWIN PEGS as a must have addition to your bike for all types of riding.”

Finally, let’s here from adventure bike rider, Dominic Thorburn, and his experiences of TwinPegs on his Husqvarna 701 Enduro

“Early last year in the height of global lockdown I read about the research and development of a new and innovative product called TwinPegs. My interest and curiosity was piqued as it focussed on a ground-breaking ergonomic approach to motorcycle footpegs – and specifically for the 701/690 in the first instance. I contacted the Norwegian engineer and inventor, Kai Ingvald Flateland, for further information and he was quick to respond and generously invited me to be part of the R&D team, along with a few other international riders. An active and robust development process unfolded with prototypes being CAD drawn and initially 3D printed, then ride tested in all conditions and the feedback analysed and deliberated. The TwinPegs were gradually refined and the engineering perfected before being professionally machined to the highest specifications.



The small Norwegian business spared no expense on R&D and substantial investment has resulted in a stunning new footpeg design – one that I believe is a serious game changer, especially for those of us who love riding and using the 701 for what it was designed for! The concept of TwinPegs is based on the continued development of the single foot peg design that the motorcycle inherited from the bicycle more than 150 years ago. Essentially a natural evolution that has seen footpegs get wider and larger over the years as riding ergonomics were better understood – one has only to compare pegs on bikes from 30 or 40 years ago to clearly see this progression. The innovative TwinPeg takes this evolution to the next level with an additional heel support footpeg that increases the boot contact area and centre of gravity platform when standing, resulting in significant rider benefits especially for offroad riding. While for some at first glance the idea may appear strange and one’s reaction is to dismiss it outright, it is in fact part of an important ongoing evolution of bike and rider. After all, footpegs are a critical and primary connection to your motorcycle, just as much as your handlebars are. I believe we should retain an open mind and give TwinPegs a try – trust me these footpegs are not some Harley Davidson running board but a serious rider innovation. In testing the TwinPegs I covered many thousands of kilometres in Southern Africa over varied terrain and in different weather conditions. I rode a diversity of typical off-road adventure routes with camping gear, as well as some lighter more challenging technical riding.

The TwinPegs undoubtedly added a significantly improved off-road riding experience focussed on comfort and control, especially when standing. The benefit of the extra  contact patch’ with the heel support was immediately noticeable in assisting with a more natural, relaxed, agile and energy saving riding stance. I found one’s mass and centre of gravity is balanced and spread over a larger area both reducing fatigue and also allowing for more connected rider input and leverage through the pegs for weighted control, steering and change of direction. Boot grip and manoeuvrability is also noticeably enhanced and I experienced the force of impacts through the feet were spread so much better. Pronation of the ankle over extended time is drastically reduced further contributing to the reduction of fatigue. Additionally, I found myself using my thigh muscles more both for natural suspension and also gripping and steering the bike – being our strongest muscles this makes good ergonomic sense and really works. With the added TwinPeg support I could feel less flex in the arch of my boots and I could also ride using the balls of my feet more easily on the front pegs, the ideal positioning. I experienced my ability to shift from a seated position to standing was quicker and less tiring – due to one essentially pushing to stand up using one’s whole foot rather than just the arch.

The design and finish of the TwinPegs matches the bike with an OEM look. Fitting of the footpegs is quite straight forward and is pretty much plug and play, and supported by detailed instructions and video. They are designed to accommodate OEM and a variety of other aftermarket footpegs including lowered ones (the rear footpegs are adjustable in height to match). They also have the integrated ability to attach soft luggage cinch straps and hooks, which I found was a great feature. I believe TwinPegs are a brilliant upgrade and excellent value for money for a significantly improved riding experience. I think we are really very privileged to have so many small companies investing and making aftermarket custom parts specifically for our bikes, and TwinPegs is an excellent pioneer example that deserves support.”

Update 1 – 02/12-2022 – Riding With TwinPegs
After a further (rather cold) ride with TwinPegs, this time on lightly technical green lanes and gravel tracks, I now have a bit more personal understanding of how they function. I can’t add a lot to the above testimonies of very experienced race riders but here are my thoughts from more day to day type riding, the kind of riding many of us will be more used to. I’m currently running Avon Trail Rider tyres, as at present, I spend far more time on tarmac than I do on grass or mud. This is not by choice, per se, but more by circumstance, but it does limit the extent to which I can test these during more technical rides. I live on a small island that is 42 miles across and there are very few off-road possibilities here. For that I need to cross to the mainland and in the current climate, economic, pandemic, work and family, I simply don’t get across very often. That will change but for now I have to deal with the situation at hand.

So, rather than regurgitating all of the above (all of which I agree with and can confirm), I’ll keep my own comments to nuances that have yet to be mentioned. For me, the main one was balance. With single foot pegs you have to balance yourself with the help of the handlebars. With dual pegs in place, your heel is also supported so there is zero need to balance and your grip on the bars is much more relaxed so you’re able to allow your arms to just steer and manipulate the bike. It’s a similar experience to my Harley Davidson riders back support. I have a back rest on my Harley that allows me, the rider, to lean against it. When I accelerate, my back takes the force of that acceleration so my arms remain relaxed, instead of the usual “hang on for grim death” arm strain. The TwinPegs do something very similar but they take away the strain of balance whilst standing up, instead of acceleration strain. That’s hugely beneficial on long days of standing, of course.

As a kid, I used to love gymnastics and would often practise in the garden at home by putting a narrow piece of wood between two concrete blocks and then seeing how long I could balance on it. I’m sure many of you did something similar at school so you’ll remember the arms out to your side, rocking back and forth, and just trying to stay on that bar. Well, imagine if someone simply placed a second narrow bar behind your heel.. Suddenly, you’ve no need to balance and you’d be able to stand any which way you fancied; your arms would cease to flap about and you could, if you so wished, relax, get your phone out and shoot off a few emails without a second thought.. That’s what TwinPegs do in relation to balance; you simply don’t need to think about that anymore so you can concentrate on other aspects of the ride.

Now let’s move on to the legs. I’m 55 and not as fit as I once was. My legs no longer have the muscles they once did and they tire quickly by comparison. On the single foot pegs, I have to keep balance as I ride so that dictates my overall position, especially when climbing steep inclines of navigating rocks, fallen trees and other such obstacles. With TwinPegs installed, that’s no longer the case. I can maintain my balance with several different leg angles or positions, meaning I can remain comfortable and relaxed and under minimal strain whilst navigating difficult terrain. I can still grip the bike with my knees, as I could before, but I can now grip the bike in very different positions, as I don’t have to concern myself so much with balance.

Part 3 Conclusion
In many ways TwinPegs are revolutionary and they go against the grain of what we’re used to seeing on an off-road adventure bike. They’re not a brand new concept and other companies have introduced heel supports in the past but these are different, mostly because you can adjust the height of the rear support and they position your boot just right. If used with the standard 2-3 spacers they will have no effect on riding in the sitting position and you simply won’t notice they’re there, but the minute you stand up you’ll notice a massive improvement in your overall balance and relaxation of both your legs and arms.

Will they work for everyone?
That will depend on whether you have a mind open enough to try them. If you’re in the camp that likes to try to ridicule “new inventions” like this because they are out of the ordinary, then you’ll undoubtedly miss out and maybe your money is better spent on therapy, anyways. If, however, you prefer to rely on your own experience then I would recommend you try these, without hesitation.

Are they worth the price?
That’s a tough question to answer and probably the only person who can answer it is you. £350 for any accessory is not cheap, especially in our current economic climate, but a full set of decals is north of £150 GBP, so I guess you need to question your priorities. This product greatly improves your riding experience whilst standing. That’s it. Decals look great but do nothing with regards the riding experience, so the choice is yours. Do you actually take your bike off-road? Do you stand whilst riding off-road? If your answer is “yes” to either of these then bite the bullet and give them a go. My bet is you won’t be disappointed and they’ll remain on your bike; they’ll certainly be staying on mine. And, if my experience is not enough for you, you have the experience of several race hardened enduro and adventure bike riders above, who use these in some of the toughest race competitions known to man (or woman)..

I hope you’ve found this 3 part review helpful but please keep checking back to this part of the review as I will be updating it incrementally over the coming weeks and months.

Where To Buy
TwinPegs AS

Installation Instructions
Instruction Sheet 1
Instruction Sheet 2
Instruction Sheet 3
Instruction Sheet 4

Contributors
Niklas Haugen
Vilde Holt
Andrew Houlihan
Dominic Thorburn

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