Bayside Bikes Bottom Bracket Pegs on a Zooz: The Cleanest Way I’ve Found to Ditch Pedals
September 26, 2023
There’s a certain type of e-bike setup that just makes sense once you try it: no pedals, no crank arms, nothing spinning under your feet—just a clean platform you can move around on like a BMX or a compact electric scooter.
That’s exactly what these Bayside Bikes bottom bracket pegs are for. I installed them on my custom Zooz (Gen 1 frame), put some real ride time on them, and came away thinking this is the first truly “made-for-this” solution I’ve tried for a pedal delete.
Who pedal-delete pegs are actually for
Let’s get the big reality check out of the way: when you remove the crankset, you’re stepping out of the usual “bicycle” category. Depending on where you live, that can impact street legality. I’m not here to tell you what to do—just know that deleting pedals isn’t a neutral change.
With that said, I do think this mod has a legit place:
Riders who want a more BMX-style stance for hops, curb bumps, and light stunt riding
Riders who don’t want (or can’t use) pedals due to mobility limitations
Anyone who hates the feeling of pedals rotating underfoot when they’re trying to stay planted
First impressions: these feel purpose-built
Right out of the box, the quality stood out. They’re aluminum alloy, manufactured in the United States using locally sourced materials, and the overall vibe is “professional-grade part,” not DIY workaround.
The surface is knurled for grip, and it’s not just a sticker or sleeve—it’s machined into the metal. Underfoot, that matters.
Another detail I liked: the threaded ends and the way the locking bolt interfaces with the peg itself. It’s designed to go on cleanly and stay put.
Install experience (what I actually needed)
This isn’t a five-minute swap like changing pedals—it’s a crankset delete. So you’re doing the same work you’d do to remove crank arms and the bottom bracket area components.
Tools-wise, I used:
A bottom bracket tool
A crank puller
A standard 3/8" Allen key (this part mattered)
One minor annoyance: the included locking bolt is a standard 3/8" hex, not metric. Almost everything else on an e-bike is metric, so I had to dig around because I mostly keep metric tools handy. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s a real-world friction point.
Once I had the right tools, the install itself was straightforward. The pegs thread in like you’d expect on a standard BSA-threaded bottom bracket interface, and they tightened down securely.
Fit and stance: the difference you feel immediately
The biggest thing I noticed is how much more stable my feet felt compared to DIY peg setups I’ve used before.
These are thicker and longer than the slim BMX-style pegs I’ve experimented with in the past, which gave me:
More surface area to stand on
More room to adjust my stance
A less “tippy” feeling when shifting weight around
In practical terms: I didn’t feel like my legs were cramped against the frame, and I didn’t feel like I was balancing on a narrow pipe.
On the ride: planted, controlled, and easier to move the bike
My first ride impression was immediate: grip is excellent. My shoes stayed put, and the knurled texture helped me feel locked in without needing to constantly re-center my feet.
The pedal delete also changes the way the bike responds to body input. With pedals, there’s always a bit of movement—crank arms rotate, one pedal wants to drop, your foot position changes as the drivetrain moves. With these pegs, that background motion disappears.
The result for me was:
Easier transitions from one footing position to another (especially with rear pegs also on the bike)
More confidence doing small hops and light front-end lifts
A more connected feel between my body and the bike
One of my buddies who hopped on it pointed out something I totally agree with: not having a pedal moving around underneath you makes it way easier to stay firmly planted.
The tradeoff: you lose pedal assist leverage entirely
The downside is obvious as soon as you hit any situation where you’d normally “help” the bike with a pedal stroke.
Once the cranks are gone:
You can’t add torque by pedaling up an incline
You can’t use pedal assist (because… no pedals)
If you ride somewhere hilly, or you rely on pedaling to smooth out low-speed moments, this setup can feel limiting. For flatter areas and “stance + throttle” riding, it makes a lot more sense.
Compatibility notes
These pegs are designed to fit BSA threaded bottom brackets, and I confirmed fitment on a Zooz Gen 1 frame. They’re also intended to work with Zooz Gen 2 frames, which makes them a very targeted (and very clean) mod for that community.
What We Like
Excellent underfoot grip from the machined knurled texture
Solid, high-quality feel (aluminum alloy, made in the USA with locally sourced materials)
Plug-and-play approach compared to DIY pedal-delete solutions
More stable stance thanks to the larger platform feel
Keeps your feet planted since there’s no rotating pedal/crank movement
Things To Consider
Deleting pedals may affect street legality depending on your area
You give up the ability to pedal for extra torque, especially noticeable on inclines
Install requires crankset removal tools (not hard, but not instant)
Uses a standard 3/8" Allen bolt instead of metric, so you may need an extra tool
It’s a specialized product aimed at a smaller slice of the e-bike world
Final Thoughts
After installing and riding these Bayside Bikes bottom bracket pegs, I get the appeal in a way that’s hard to appreciate until you stand on them. The bike feels more like a proper platform—stable, predictable, and ready for body-driven control.
This isn’t a universal recommendation for every rider. If you love pedaling, need that extra hill help, or want to stay clearly within typical e-bike classifications, you’ll probably hate the compromises.
But if you’ve been looking for a clean, professional pedal-delete solution—especially on a Zooz Gen 1 or Gen 2—this is the most dialed plug-and-play option I’ve tried.
Links
Zooz UU750: https://zoozbikes.com/collections/the-ultra-urban/products/uu750?ref=RUNPLAYBACK (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK for $150 off)
Surge Sully: https://www.instagram.com/surge_sully/
TOOLS
Shimano TL-FC32 Bottom Bracket Tool: https://amzn.to/3PxysCl
Park Tool BBT-22 Bracket Tool: https://amzn.to/3Pnbtti
Park Tool CCP-22 Crank Puller: https://amzn.to/3ZyL0wj
Standard 3/8" Allen Key: https://amzn.to/3LEGyqm
EXTRAS
Maxxis Minion DHF EXO Tires: https://amzn.to/455JS4z
52v 20ah Ebike Battery: https://amzn.to/447Mb7y
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Cable Sleeve: https://amzn.to/3r89FLg
Shimano MT200 Rear Brake: https://amzn.to/3rb39Dt
Adjustable Kick Stand: https://amzn.to/3pw2YCk
Spoke Covers: https://amzn.to/43dBxuU
Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/4327lCF
Maxxis Hookworm Tire: https://amzn.to/3rcuF3i
Fyxation BMX Pedals: https://amzn.to/4352Gjt
ODI x Vans Bike Grips: https://amzn.to/3NV8Nmf
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Hafny Handlebar Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/3FVubmN
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