pcb 

I fell in love with these pedals the first time I opened the box, back in 1980. They've stayed in the box ever since, though they've been through a whole bunch of household moves. The first Suntour Superbe pedals were, as far as I can tell, simply rebadged versions of these bad boys.

If they otherwise look familiar, eyeball some Campy Record/SL pedals. Imagine how the steel-cage versions would look in satiny aluminum, or how the black alloy cages would look in silver. And then imagine a much higher level of finish and attention to detail, like machining away the raised flash around the strap openings in the pedal body.

The only thing that takes away from the oozing of class, the only fly in the ointment to my eye, is the "MKS" and the very-Japanese stamping of the model number on the outside edge of the cage. Somehow the clean/crisp "MKS UNIQUE CUSTOM" engraving on the front/rear of the cage wasn't enough---Mikashima was very proud of this pedal, and very proud of its "UCR-02" model number. Makes me wonder what the UCR-01 might have been---track? Maybe I'd be OK with the "MKS" on the outside edge if it was on the forward part of the cage on both pedals, instead of on the front of one and on the rear of the other.

Although the Mikashima spindles aren't rifled like the Campys, I'm pretty sure all removable parts are interchangeable. So if you're needing spindles or cones or end caps for your Campy Record/SL, Mikashima could come to your rescue.

Handy tip for the cheapskates: whenever you manage to snag a set of Campy pedals with clean end caps, if you're going to be riding the Campys and aren't a bloody anorak, swap the clean Campy end caps for some MKS caps, like this:
https://www.benscycle.com/MKS-SYLVAN...8aArAfEALw_wcB

These are the newer Sylvan caps, which are shaped a little different than the Campy caps, but are the same thread. If you're not fussy, gently file away the raised MKS logo, put 'em on your Campy pedals, then scrape 'em up to your heart's content. Sell off the clean Campy end caps to the anoraks who will pay good $$$ for genuine Campy end caps. I used to get nearly free Campy pedals that way, buy a beat-up pair with clean caps for $35-$40, sell the caps for $35-$40, and the pedals only cost $10 for the MKS caps. But no matchy-matchy.

You used to be able to find Campy-clone domed MKS end caps, like the ones on these pedals, which was even better, because with those you couldn't tell the difference without getting your nose up close enough to see there was no Campy lettering on them.

Anyhow, a few pix follow, more here on flickr:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmoxFY7o

juvela

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Thanks very much for posting.

Great pictures.

Have a set of original Mikashima Unique road pedals which I like but have never used. They came to me second hand and are a missing one of the dustcovers. Dustcovers are of a design which seems to interchange with nothing else so have been unable to put them to use. Forty years of snoozing!


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merziac

Glad you brought these up, I have a similar pair of Unique Road's that have been needing to get cleaned up for service, cleanup happened today so overhaul will be next.



First good pedals I had were steel cage Unique Quill that came on a Mizutani Super Seraph in HS. Ended up being very glad it had these and the "Mighty" Sugino Mighty Competition crankset as I proceeded to let them get the factory grease washed out very quickly and before I knew it.

All survived just fine despite my ignorance and lived on for many years until they were stolen with the Raleigh SC they were on.

Huge fan ever since having benefited from their bulletproof nature.

pcb 

Nice! I had these on my commuter way back then, I think I added some kind of alloy add-on toe flip on the rear cage plate to make it easier to flip the pedal around. I always liked that they took the extra step to rivet in the crank/toe-strap rub protectors, instead of just folding over a chunk o' steel.

LittleGinseng 

Great pedals indeed. Beautifully anodized and smooth as buttah.

merziac

Especially current day, MKS are one of the best values in cycling, great looks, excellent quality, tough as nails, all at a very reasonable price.

SurferRosa

Probably the same with the KKT Pro Ace as well.

I'd like to see a wide shot or two of your photo staging.

T-Mar

I had a pair of these with the black anodized cages. They replaced the Campagnolo SL, whose cages I had worn out in two seasons. The MKS had more durable cages.

rustystrings61 

I love MKS pedals - they're simple, durable, no-nonsense, reliable, smooth, and reasonably priced. What really amazed me was how responsive the company can be. Somewhere I have the email address still - several years ago I had two pairs of MKS Sylvan track pedals with bent left spindles due to poor cornering on my part. I found an email address and wrote to them to see how I could get replacement parts. They wrote back and asked me to mail them $9 cash and they would send me two left spindles. I did, and they did, and those pedals are still in use today.

I also have a pair of MKS Uniques that came with my pieced-together Allegro. I wonder if they take the same spindles - the previous owner managed to tweak the left one just enough to be noticeable ...

tiger1964 

They certainly look nice, but I do not understand the name. A Campy copy, yet "unique"?

Great tip -- I'm looking right now at a set of Campy track pedals from one of my bikes that is missing a cap, and don't want to pay eBay $$$$ for a replacement.

T-Mar

I went back and dug out my set of Unique and the box. They pre-date yours, as Mikashima is spelled out in full on the cage and there is no model number or 'Custom' designation. No model number on the box either, unless it's part of the Japanese characters.

Unique was the series designation for MKS' top grade pedals and it it dates back to at least the pre-boom era of the mid-1960s. Originally, there was just the Unique series, then it was divided into Unique Custom and Unique Royal, with the former having a forged shell and the latter having a cast shell. The original Unique series and the two subsequent Unique Custom and Unique Royal series, had both road and track models.

juvela

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Interesting to note that the subject set is metric. Perchance this may be why they have not been put to use...


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pcb 

They're 9/16" x 20tpi, the standard for quality pedals/cranks. Or am I missing something?

I never used them because they looked so lovely I didn't have the heart to get them all greasy and scuffed. I don't hold onto many NOS/vintage bits just for appreciation, I'm definitely of the "these things were made to be used" school. But these guys somehow...these and a couple/few Suntour Microlite freewheels. I used to build the Microlite bodies with the largest 2 cogs steel, thinking I'd get to use them longer due to lower cog wear. Not thinking that smaller cogs wear out much quicker, and the weight penalty for using steel i/o alloy on the smaller cogs was less than on the bigger cogs. Shoulda built 'em with steel 13-15-17t cogs, and alloy for the 2-3 biggest...

juvela

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the spindles are marked with a letter M indicating that they are metric thread

so the thread is 14.0mm X 1.25

note the examples posted by others; their spindles lack the M marking

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clubman 

I no longer have these but they're take offs that came with a 2nd gen black DA group so they likely pre-date these Customs. The 'dirt' is seepage of the original grease.
Can't tell if that's an M or if it is, perhaps it's simply Mikashima? Doesn't look the same.

76SLT 

I bought this set from you. They're now on my Raleigh Grand Sports and I love them. Here's some pics if their markings.

clubman 

Oh yeah, glad you like them. I can't ride clips and straps anymore so it's best somebody puts them to work. I suffer from chronic sellers remorse but I'm trying hard to get over it so I can sell the rest of the pile.

pcb 

Don't know what the "M" stands for, but the threads are not metric. 9/16"x20, just like what's marked on the box. I just threaded them into a brand-new set of non-metric crankarms to be sure.

juvela

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Thank you for the update.

Good to read all is well sorted.

Evidently one of those cases where an M marking did not stand for metric.

My apologies for the false alarm.


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merziac

Bump!

Standby for more MKS love.

JohnDThompson 

They are a close copy of Campagnolo's Record pedals. The only closer copy is the KKT Pro-Ace.

I have a set of MKS Unique track pedals, con denti. They don't have a model designation:

merziac

Those take the larger diameter caps from the older design.

The ones with the slot are the version for these, the older ones of these only have a slot with no serrations.

I have a set with no caps and was cleaning them, going to see if I can fab an adapter of some sort for temporary/show.

Can we see yours?

ryansu

Lovely MKS bling. I agree MKS stuff is great I have two pairs of MKS 'sneaker" pedals (RMX). I don't have to mess with clips and straps and I am way too slow for clipless, the Sneakers are perfect and bullet proof -not as beautiful more industrial looking but so very functional

juvela

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Ah gotz me no peecha takin' thingus.

Far az ah been able to figger they be not show'd at either vb or speedplay.

Also checked google images and ebay just nowe without enny hitz.

Thar be a pair on ebay with the slotted dustcaps but it is later than my set. The one here does not have the uniform teeth all the way 'round the edge of the cap.

Cap is indeed large diameter w/male threads. Threads appear to be quite fine although ha' no chequed 'em w/gauge.

Believe me set to hail fra ~MCMLXX.

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T-Mar

The block letter 'M' may be a simplification of Mikashima's previous, stylized-M logo. The latter appears on both my box (lower left corner) and the wrench flat of the axle. I've seen a couple of catalogues and neither mentioned the availability of metric threading, though I must admit that the latter of the two was from the period when even the French were abandoning the standard.

My pedals came with a "UNIQUETOOL". Look close and you'll see how the teeth are in sets of three, with a double spaced gap between each set of teeth. Pics courtesy of my son.