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Submitted by
AnotherBikerGuy
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Tamarancho | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Solid, dependable pedal. Easy to clip in and out. Adjustable tension for beginners. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, can rust if left wet. | | Similar Products Used: | Older Shimano clipless pedals | | Bike Setup: | Cross-country hardtail | | Bottom Line: | These pedals offer great performance at an affordable price. They install easily, with a standard pedal wrench or a 6mm Allen key. The adjustable tension is great, because beginners can loosen the pedals for easier entry and exit. I've only ever had these pedals become difficult to clip into in the worst mud I've ever ridden in - all other times, they performed flawlessly, even after being banged on rocks and curbs. Don't leave them wet, though - mine showed a couple spots of rust. Also, they are somewhat heavy. Still, a great pedal! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
commiebomb
a Cross Country Rider
from Prescott, AZ
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Amazon.com | | Strengths: | Great product. Installation was easy since it supported the allen wrench. Adjusting them was a breeze. | | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy, if your worried about those things, personally the heavier it is the stronger you get. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2009 Diamondback | | Bottom Line: | Purchase these pedals. I got them for a great price and they are quite durable. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sethtyler
a Weekend Warrior
from Wichita Falls, TX
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Wee-Chi-Tah (so far) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Nautilus | | Strengths: | Easy to tune, easy in/out, have taken a beating well, Compatible w/ most cleats, haven't had any problems w/ dirt/mud, inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | tad bit heavy | | Bike Setup: | Stock '09 Cannondale F7 | | Bottom Line: | Well worth the $50-60. Great for beginners to clipless | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shmoo
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Easy tension adjustability. It's held-up for 2 years, many where I was in straight mud. | | Weaknesses: | I'd say weight. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | 08 Fisher Big Sur | | Bottom Line: | These are great entry-level pedals. I've had no issues so far, and when they crap out, I'll be bumping up to lighter pedals.
mtbr helped me choose these, and I'd say you can't go wrong with this set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tyler Kiefer
a Cross Country Rider
from san juan Capistrano
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | rock-it | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | revo | | Strengths: | reliable, easy to use, smooth | | Weaknesses: | on rare occasions my foot will slip out of them | | Similar Products Used: | forte pedals | | Bike Setup: | '07 specialized p. all mountain | | Bottom Line: | An excellent pedal. I don't see how another design would work better. It's almost the perfect pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
driscoli
a Cross Country Rider
from Largo, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Hannah Park, Jacksonville, FL | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Gator Cycle | | Strengths: | reasonably priced, good mud clearance, easy clip-in and clip-out, durable, good looks | | Weaknesses: | heavier than some other pedals | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Marlin
Shimano Deore components
Bontrager wheels
IRC Mythos (trail riding) or Kenda Kross (commuting) tires | | Bottom Line: | These are great pedals. I've used them for a while and they've held up through many trails and many crashes. I do standard maintenance on them along with the rest of the bike. They're easy to clip in and out of fast and they clear mud and dirt well. I've always been happy with SPD shoes, so these pedals were a natural choice for me. Get them if you're a recreational rider who rides mixed trails and cross country or if you're a commuter who needs a clipless system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
db4elle
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | quiet roads | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Oakville Cycle and S | | Strengths: | Maintenance free, easy to clip in and out of, easy to clean, doesn't clog up | | Weaknesses: | None I'm aware of | | Similar Products Used: | this is my first clipless pedal | | Bike Setup: | Rebuilt VeloSport road bike for daily commuting | | Bottom Line: | What everyone else said. Great pedal. I'm impressed. For the price can't go wrong! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
queevil
a Cross Country Rider
from Waco,Tx USA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything at Cameron Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$49.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Outback | | Strengths: | Easy to use. Variable tension. Durable. Inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Scott Scale 50 stock except with the pedals that are being reviewed. | | Bottom Line: | These pedals were recommended to me by many riders who began riding clipless with them. They're easy to use and to clip in and out of. This beginner friendly pedal has made learning to ride with clipless pedals a relatively painless experience. Anyone one would be well served by these pedals whether they're new or a veteran to clipless. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ae111black
a Weekend Warrior
from Pahoa Hawaii
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | UH HILO,Kulani | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Island Biker | | Strengths: | Had these for 12 years!!! easy to use,smooth, look nice,strong,love mud | | Weaknesses: | wish was easyer to rebuild | | Similar Products Used: | welgo(CRAP) | | Bike Setup: | 08 prophet 3 fox van 32, big mamoth fats, 2.4 specalized enduro's thompson cockpit fsa,blah blah....... | | Bottom Line: | best 70$ you or anyone will ever spend on a bike!!! will use mint till they fall apart they are over 12 years old and have been on 7 bikes! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gilabear
a Cross Country Rider
from Venezuela and New Mexico
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | CDT in the Gila (New Mexico) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS in Venezuela | | Strengths: | Affordable, durable, work very well. Have the hex nut on the pedal axle so can use a pedal wrench to take on and off easily (being used on a travel bike). | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than the XTR model. | | Similar Products Used: | All previous generation SPD pedals. Have a set of XTR version on my Merlin single speed. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Litespeed Toccoa [travel bike w/ S & S couplings]: 2009 SID Team fork, RaceFace Deus crank, XT derailleurs/shifters, XT V-brakes w/ Ti brake booster, XT/WTB wheels and a set of American Classic wheels. Flat carbon handlebar. | | Bottom Line: | These work well. Good pedals, reliable. Good for a travel bike due to the wrench fitting on the axle. I rode through heather in Scotland with these pedals and they got packed with dense plant material, but I don't recall them jamming or not engaging.
Overall, I like SPD pedals. The cleats seem to be compatible with the XTR pedals because I only have one pair of shoes that I use for both bikes. I like that! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SCuheckler88
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | craigslist | | Strengths: | Easy clip out | | Weaknesses: | none found yet | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Brothers Candy | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler 05': full XT, fox talas and RP3, | | Bottom Line: | My girlfriend got a bike the other day and these were on it. I took them off and put flats on for her for now. Have been riding CB Candy pedals and have been looking to change pedal systems because I was just never comfortable riding them. I was considering doing something with a platform, like the dx pedals, mallets, or time Z. I put these on my bike yesterday and went for a ride. They are by far the easiest thing to get out of. I will be getting my own pair very soon since I am confident enough in these pedals that I will probably start my gf on them sooner than I planned on because they are just that easy to get out of. Crank Bros 15º or 20º float is nice, but it really makes clipping out harder and slower. If you're just learning I'd go for the spd system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Traylrunnr
a Weekend Warrior
from Rowland Heights, CA (So. Cal)
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Schabarum (so far) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Buena Park Cycles | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in and out of. | | Weaknesses: | I've only had them for a week, so I can't really say. But sometimes difficult to find clip-in point, but I'm new to the sport so it'll probably take time. | | Bike Setup: | '08 Giant Rincon disc stock | | Bottom Line: | Being a newbie MTB-er myself, I made the switch to clipless about a week ago. Took some time to get used to clipping in, but solid clip sound made it clear I was in. Easy to clip out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Moodrid
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft Worth
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Easy in Easy out.Affordable | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | 07 Jamis Komodo,Fox Vanilla R,SLX crank,BB7,x9 drive,Duel Duty wheelset | | Bottom Line: | I have saw people just going clipless and getting cheap stuff that makes it a bad expereance and they quit useing them.If you are going to learn these are great.I started on them 3 months ago and have yet to fall from them.They do need a few rides to break in so they release very easy.Being able to set the tension is great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FancyPete
a Racer
from Chico, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, work reasonably well, predictable when not worn out. | | Weaknesses: | Wear out fast, get clogged with mud easily, heavy-ish. | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Bros Candy, other Shimano pedals. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic | | Bottom Line: | I've had a bunch of these pedals over the last 3 years or so. They are inexpensive, but do wear out within a year usually. They are not light, but then again, why whine about their weight for the money. If you want a flashy looking, lightweight pedal, get ready to spend 4 or 5 times the amount these cost. Also, in mud these pedals get clogged easily. This can also be a good thing because it forces you to try not to unclip once you get going! Bottom line is that these pedals are quality but nothing fancy, which most of the time is the best for mountain biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fingas
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, texas
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | on ebay | | Strengths: | Take a beating, east to clip in/out even when full of mud. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Bike Setup: | Haro flightline sport | | Bottom Line: | This is my first set of clipless pedals, I easily learned to clip in and out and after a little adjustment they are now second nature. Have beat these things on trees and rocks and they still operate flawlessly. Even when full of Texas red clay and rocks they still clip and unclip as if there was nothing there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Lehner
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus, OH
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Hope | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike. | | Strengths: | Second set worked ok. | | Weaknesses: | First set, one of the pedals fell off the axle.
Also, engagement feeling not as secure as my 8-year old Time pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Time Carbon, K2 mag. | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Specialized FSR Expert | | Bottom Line: | I bought a demo bike, so it did not come with pedals. The bike shop offered to throw in a set of these Shinamo pedals. About 3 miles into the first ride, the right pedal fell off the axle (still attached to my shoe). Luckily I wasn't crossing a ladder bridge at the time. I *think* they were new pedals, but I can't be sure.
They replaced them with another set, which seem to be holding up well. Still I prefer the positive engagement feel, and amount of float my my old Time pedals. I may throw those back on this bike. I've been slowly cranking up the resistance of these pedals, which seems to help, but still they seem to pop off too easily sometimes.
Ratings are based on the retail price of ~$50, and the second set which has not falled apart so far. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
monteverest
a Weekend Warrior
from New England
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Campmor | | Strengths: | Easy to use, low maintenance | | Weaknesses: | Weak tension springs, cleats and clipping action wears quickly unlike Time Atacs which actually get better after the break-in period. | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC, Cannondale stock pedals | | Bottom Line: | Bought these pedals to replace my 3 year old stock cannondale. Right pedal tension spring came unsprung after two months of XC but technical riding. Tried to return it to the Campmor but they refused, claiming I had hit something with the pedals. Suppose I did hit a rock with the pedals, that's just the nature of mountain biking. Will never buy Shimano pedals again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jurcy
a Cross Country Rider
from Slovenia
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | everything in the forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in and out, durable, only install them and forget about them, low price | | Weaknesses: | Weight if you are a gram counter | | Similar Products Used: | Road pedals, many of Shimano SPD pedals | | Bike Setup: | Ghost HTX Actium Team | | Bottom Line: | Very good pedals for the price but they are a little on a heavy side(only because of weight i will give them 4 Flamin' Chilis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bktrailrider
a Cross Country Rider
from phoenix
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | south mtn trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | They break! | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic, Shimano PD-M515, Ritchey | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper personalized for my taste | | Bottom Line: | I may be rough on pedals especially riding the rocky trails around Phoenix, I tend to bang the underside of pedals on rocks. Every time this occured with these pedals the retaining cleat, on the bottom of the pedal, would get knocked out of place so that clipping in on that side was impossible. I was initially able to repair it, by dissasembling the pedal and putting the retaining clip back in the proper position. After breaking approx. six time the pedals finally were beyond repair. I've riden shimano M515's for many years and considered them bullet proof, unfortunately the updated design of the M520's will not tolerate any abuse. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AustinBiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Walnut Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Cheap, effective pedal | | Weaknesses: | Wish I could adjust the side to side tensioning (there are about 10 degrees of play in the pedal to either side- non-adjustable) | | Bottom Line: | I owned the original mtb SPD pedals, and a couple models in between then and now. After 10 years, not much has changed, but they do shed mud better and are somewhat lighter. Generally I don't think about my pedals, which to me means they're doing their job.
The lateral movement is my only complaint, I may find a different pedal without this characteristic- it's all about preference though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mcmcderm
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos Hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Clips out exactly when I need them to
stays in when powering up hills | | Weaknesses: | weight? although I'm not a weight weenie at all so that doesn't bother me in the least
| | Similar Products Used: | ascent clipless | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 70 BB7 Disk | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals bottom line. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fernando_mc5
a Cross Country Rider
from Goiânia-GO Brazil
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Laboratório | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Ciclo Vício | | Strengths: | Great Durability, good price!!Awesome Pedals!! | | Weaknesses: | Nothing!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano m-515 | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper 2008 XTR, XT and XO | | Bottom Line: | Good Pedals for money!!Very durable too.If you want something cheap and durable this is it!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Myke67
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good value, solid construction, adjustable release tension is nice to have. | | Weaknesses: | heavy if you're a gram counter. | | Similar Products Used: | none. first clipless I've used. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Rincon | | Bottom Line: | First clipless pedal I've ever used, and after practicing entry and exit for all of 30 seconds, I was off and rolling. Easy in, easy out, even during quick clip outs the motions felt natural, without popping out when I didn't want them too. Keep in mind this is with the single release cleats, a mechanic at the LBS told me that multi release caused most of the trouble people were having unclipping at the wrong time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pill
a Weekend Warrior
from eastern europe
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | forest trails | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Local bikeshop | | Strengths: | Nice price, shimano replacement parts are well spread across the world. | | Weaknesses: | -heavy
-leg can easily pop up when you need not to..
-sprockets became very loose | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC | | Bottom Line: | This is a great pedal to start. Has a spring tension adjust, easy clips in and pop out while the softest spring position. No problems while you ride softly, just for fun.
Not a great device for an experienced rider/racer. The main problem i've faced - that they pop out when you NEED THEM MOST! For example - while 40kmph bunnyhopping on a 10-20cm road curb. This actually a problem of all shimano clipless. One more thing that the leg can be detached while a strong sprint - when you push+pull the pedals and pull the handlebar too. I hurt my knee very hard once. The boot detached and the knee hit the brake lever bolt. As a workaround - you can set the hardest spring - but you can brake your shoes if the spring would be too strong.
Construction: The sprockets became loose after a year of XC riding. Now, the resin cushion can be easily taken out. So i'm afraid what is happening now with the spockets inside :)
Happy trails to all of you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XCrider
a Cross Country Rider
from soCal
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | It's a Shimano, Easy in, Easy out, durable | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't read minds | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals, durable and increases pedaling efficiency. My next clipless pedals will be SPD also! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T Habecker
a Weekend Warrior
from Indiana
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Like the fact that the pedal is dual sided. Spring is easy to adjust. For me easy to clip in and out of I like the fact that you can purchase two types of cleats. One lets you move the foot to the outside or inside (Shimano SH51 SPD) (which I have) the other (Shimano SH56 Multi)lets you move the foot inside, outside, or lift your heel.
Just from the looks of the pedal the mechanics look easy to service if you had to. Although I am not a mechanic so I would take my in to the LBS. Easy to clean after rides | | Weaknesses: | I really do not have any thing to compare to- this is my first set of clipless. I see maybe the weight? 380 gram from what I am told. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 04 SJ Elite basically stock | | Bottom Line: | First set of clipless I love the fact that I am connected to the bike. If you are comfortable on your bike with bunny hops and tearing up the trail this is an easy upgrade and should be your first choice. I have saved my shins more than once while clipped in to these. I have a few crashes because I panic after I was committed to the jump or drop and tried to bail out and could not get out in time. However at some time during the crash my feet did come out of the pedals. All you need to focus on is your line while riding no worries about feet coming off the pedals.
Trails I mainly ride are single track with ups and downs- the ups are where you really notice the diff being able to pull up on the pedal. I would say my efficiency has increased by 30% easy.
I have had no problems getting in and out the pedals at all expect during panic mode which by the way were slow speed.
I am giving 4 Chilis because I have nothing to compare too. But for price and reliability with Shimano you can not go wrong.
I got a great deal on the pedals and shoes off eBay for around $52. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blu Falcon
a Weekend Warrior
from College Park
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Adjustable, Dual Sided Entry, Extremely Durable, Good Platform, Increases Pedaling Efficiency, Reliable Entry/Exit | | Weaknesses: | Weight (if that matters to you) | | Similar Products Used: | Bear Traps | | Bike Setup: | "The Bloody Bahstud" | | Bottom Line: | I'm hooked on these pedals (literally). They're easy to clip in and out of once you've made the proper adjustments. Yeah, they're a little weighty, but these pedals are rock solid, durable and will take a severe butt whuppin'. Sure they may not be the most cutting edge or sexy set of pedals on the market today, but in this case it's function over form. The price is right and I see absolutely no need to shell out more money for more expensive versions since these pedals are more than sufficient more mountain biking, commuting or just cruising around town. Anyone who wants to get into the wonderful world of clipless pedals should consider these first. Just be careful at first, and remember you're clipped in before you try to dismount. lol
Do yourself a favor and cop these pedals when they're on sale for the ultimate deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blu Falcon
a Weekend Warrior
from College Park
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Adjustable, Dual Sided Entry, Extremely Durable, Good Platform, Increases Pedaling Efficiency, Reliable Entry/Exit | | Weaknesses: | Weight (if that matters to you) | | Similar Products Used: | Bear Traps | | Bike Setup: | "The Bloody Bahstud" | | Bottom Line: | I'm hooked on these pedals (literally). They're easy to clip in and out of once you've made the proper adjustments. Yeah, they're a little weighty, but these pedals are rock solid, durable and will take a severe butt whuppin'. Sure they may not be the most cutting edge or sexy set of pedals on the market today, but in this case it's function over form. The price is right and I see absolutely no need to shell out more money for more expensive versions since these pedals are more than sufficient more mountain biking, commuting or just cruising around town. Anyone who wants to get into the wonderful world of clipless pedals should consider these first. Just be careful at first, and remember you're clipped in before you try to dismount. lol
Do yourself a favor and cop these pedals when they're on sale for the ultimate deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blu Falcon
a Weekend Warrior
from College Park
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Adjustable, Dual Sided Entry, Extremely Durable, Good Platform, Increases Pedaling Efficiency, Reliable Entry/Exit | | Weaknesses: | Weight (if that matters to you) | | Similar Products Used: | Bear Traps | | Bike Setup: | "The Bloody Bahstud" | | Bottom Line: | I'm hooked on these pedals (literally). They're easy to clip in and out of once you've made the proper adjustments. Yeah, they're a little weighty, but these pedals are rock solid, durable and will take a severe butt whuppin'. Sure they may not be the most cutting edge or sexy set of pedals on the market today, but in this case it's function over form. The price is right and I see absolutely no need to shell out more money for more expensive versions since these pedals are more than sufficient more mountain biking, commuting or just cruising around town. Anyone who wants to get into the wonderful world of clipless pedals should consider these first. Just be careful at first, and remember you're clipped in before you try to dismount. lol
Do yourself a favor and cop these pedals when they're on sale for the ultimate deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leonardo Horovitz
a Cross Country Rider
from Montevideo, Uruguay
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Trek Pocitos (Montevideo) | | Strengths: | Works flawlessly. Always. Reliable and comfortable. Didn't have any problem to get used to them. | | Weaknesses: | They don't work as well when they get muddy. | | Similar Products Used: | Regular pedals | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 2006 | | Bottom Line: | I'd buy them again if I had to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XC Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Takes a beating, Easy to clip in/out, low profile | | Weaknesses: | Could be lighter | | Bike Setup: | K2 hardtail | | Bottom Line: | This is my first clipless pedal and was recommended to me at a LBS. I was initially looking for the EggBeaters, but the guy at the LBS was pretty confident in the SPD system. It was on sale, so I decided 'why not'. Even from the start, the pedals were easy to get into and out of. I do wish the pedals were a little lighter, but for the price, I can't be complaining too much. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JC
a Weekend Warrior
from Salida
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Don't Know How I Got These... | | Strengths: | Feel and perform just like my 959's, 747, etc., | | Weaknesses: | Make me second guess my bike snob ways... you will tire of them before they wear out. | | Similar Products Used: | 959, 747, 647, Time, Crank Bros. | | Bike Setup: | These are currently on my new Gary Fisher 29er HiFi Pro | | Bottom Line: | The new ride didn't come with pedals - I had these, brand new, in the parts bin but thought since they weren't top shelf, I was too cool to ride them.... then I came to my senses. Glad I did. They perform exactly like my 959's with a very slight weight penalty of approx one ounce per pedal.
Shimano engineering, manufacturing and QC is top notch. Their XT and even LX grouppo's are every bit as good as XTR was just a couple of years ago.
Based on price vs performance, I would buy these again - before XTR - in a heartbeat.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shmoo S
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Don't have one yet | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | closeoutbikestuff.com | | Strengths: | Great for beginners, easy to clip in, easy to clip out. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, I've only done 2 rides. Came unclipped in the middle of a corner, but I believe I just need to adjust them. | | Similar Products Used: | NA | | Bike Setup: | '08 Big Sur | | Bottom Line: | After reading many posts on mtbr, this was hands down the best choice for a beginner to go clipless. Gotta thank this forum for helping me out with the decision. Not nearly as scary to learn as some put it. Although I did fall like a dodo once this past weekend.
My rating will be very unfair as they aren't even broken in yet. I'll come back at the end of the summer with another review, perhaps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Nahsua, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Cheapness | | Weaknesses: | attorney mandated reflectors | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 52X (From 1999-2000) | | Bike Setup: | Tomac Snyper | | Bottom Line: | With the exception of my awful Shimano road pedals I have had good luck with Shimano, so I purchased a pair of 520's since they seemed just like my old ones and were rather inexpensive.
Since the bike shop didn't have any in stock they took a pair off of a bike in the store leaving me to remove the Reflector units. I didn't see this as a problem as I have taken these devices off before with no problems.
I must admit that I am not a patient individual, but after looking through the shimano tech documents, using channel locks, a Hammer, and chisel, I decided to donate these pedals with the reflector units attached to my local landfill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
anthony
a Cross Country Rider
from sioux falls, south dakota
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | two wheeler dealer | | Strengths: | smooth bearing operation, compact body, looks nice | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | crank bros candy c | | Bike Setup: | karate monkey, yada yada yada | | Bottom Line: | these guys blow those sh!tty candy c's out of the lake and are half the price.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from acworth, ga
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$44.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | great for the price, easy to get mud out... | | Weaknesses: | took a while to learn how hard to press to get cleats to clip in. probably just rider issue since I was used to LOOK for road. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher X-Caliber 29er | | Bottom Line: | Great SPD for the price, great for first timers going away from the flats. For the price if they bust don't try to fix, just go buy another. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TheConstantMechanic
a Cross Country Rider
from Wroclaw, Poland
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Cheap! And engage well in mud. | | Weaknesses: | Not reliable sealing. Plastic body-to-shaft fastener, need Shimano special tool to overhaul, the fastener can break if serviced with, for instance, pliers. | | Similar Products Used: | Misc SPD pedals. | | Bike Setup: | Does not matter | | Bottom Line: | Decent product for the price, it's better to pay some more for M540, though... Better sealing, a bit less weight and possibility to overhaul with standard wrench instead of a special tool. That's why I gave 3 Flamin' Chilis for Value.
But if you don't want to spend that extra $15 for M540, go for those! A good start with clipless. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Henderson Nv.
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bootleg | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | They are reliable. | | Weaknesses: | For some reason I'm getting fast cleat wear with these pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Old style SPDs. | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up review to a previous one.
These pedals are good, but I have discovered since my first review, that the cleats are wearing very fast with the 520s for some reason.
This is why I was complaining about the pedals releasing too easily, in my previous review.
I've always used the same cleats for the life of the pedal with the original SPD design, with no problems. Now I'm getting excessive cleat wear.
I don't know if it's a problem with the cleats, or the pedal design.
Other than that they have been ok.
It is however, annoying and expensive, to have to replace the cleats every 3-4 months.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from MI
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Potowatami | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | I forget where | | Strengths: | Solid and reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Not as light as some out there. Not as much float. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kula Deluxe, KHS Pilot 3.0 (roadie) | | Bottom Line: | I first started out with clip-ins when I got my Kula. The pedals that came stock on that bike were the Shimano 505's. They weren't a bad pedal for me. Eventually, being an OEM spec part the bearings failed so I just replaced them with the 520's. The 520's were even better. When I got my roadie I also got another set of these. I'm even on the same cleats I had from '03 and I put in 200 to 250 miles a week. Clearly I don't stress pedals very much but that doesn't take away from the fact that they're still going strong, still spinning smoothly, and still just plain good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Fort Collins, CO/Holmdel, NJ
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Beaver Meadows, CO/Hartshorne Woods, NJ | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Lees Cyclery Old Town | | Strengths: | Strong, Durable, Reliable, Easy to clip in/out,
Can Handle Almost Anything-Even Rocks! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | 1st Clipless Pedal | | Bike Setup: | Trek Liquid 10 | | Bottom Line: | These pedals I bought about 2 1/2 years ago and I just recently broke the one side of my right pedal! I race for Colorado State University Cycling Team and the Shimanos have held up to everything I’ve thrown at it. Rocks/Boulders, mud, sand, water, grass, and everytime I was able to clip in and out when I need to. My pedals have taken a ridiculous amount of beating and I am quite surprised that they survived as long as they have. I'm still racing with the pedals until I can find the 540 or the new 770's for cheap. Point is, these were my first clipless pedals and they are definitely worth it if your looking for an pedal to begin with, or even as a pedal to race with (unless your weight conscious). I can’t wait to see how long the 540/770's will last! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairborn, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Easy to get in and out of, durable | | Weaknesses: | Heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo RC-713 | | Bike Setup: | Motobecane Vent Noir | | Bottom Line: | These pedals have been great. They are strong and I'm getting to the point where I can just stomp my foot down and clip in without looking (still learning that though). They look good and they are also easy to get out of, I haven't had any problems slipping. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington VT
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Kingdom Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 50.00 | | Strengths: | Price. | | Weaknesses: | Durability, ease of use. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300, Manitou Trace fork, | | Bottom Line: | I bought these pedals online after two shops didn't have the platforms that I had originally wanted. The first week or so, I loved them... but soon after, I began to have issues unclipping, even with the tension set at the least amount. This has led to two spills, one of which has bruised some ribs.
One pedal has already busted as well; the two tension threads that are held in place by the bolt have broken off. So on that pedal, only one side will let you clip in. Both pedals have begun to show spots of rust, even though they are less than a month old. I'm going to contact Shimano and see if they will send a replacement pair... but judging by how poorly they've done to this point, I'm wondering if I shouldn't just get something else instead.
While I've decided I love riding clipless, I can't give my seal of approval to this pair. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerald
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Jones Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Durability, reliability, performance, fit, and adjustability. | | Weaknesses: | Could be a little lighter in weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Platform pedals. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Raleigh Ram 2.0 thats fully modded... | | Bottom Line: | These are my first clipless pedals and they have been great. They are a lot looser now than they were when I first bought them. I have not readjusted them since I like to be able to get out in a hurry. My foot has come loose on a couple of ocassions when I ram into something, but I guess thats a good thing...don't want to break my foot or anything...
Overall, its been a great product for me. Highly recommend it. And way better than platform pedals and turn your shins into burger meat.
After two years of use they are still going strong!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Niagara Falls
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Adjustable tension - great for learning and tuning
Cheap
Fine in mud
pretty durable
cleats last a long time
i whacked them off rocks with no functional damage | | Weaknesses: | heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Xpedo Mountain Force
Wellgo double sided pedals | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS, Deore Cranks | | Bottom Line: | This was my first set of clipless pedals an i am happy with my purchase. easy to get in and out of. I replaced them after around 2 years. The bearings developed quite a bit of play, and hence started making noise.
i replaced them with Xpedo Mountain Force pedals. They are considerably lighter, and every bit as smooth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric W.
a Weekend Warrior
from Henderson Nv.
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bootleg Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Take a pretty good beating on rocks.
Good for XC. | | Weaknesses: | The pedals started releasing the cleats to easily a few weeks ago, so I started tightening the adjusment screws.
This helped at first, but now they are as tight as they can go and I'm still popping out on jumps, rock gardens ect. They are now hard to pop into because the tension is so high, but they still release at the most in opertune times way to easily. I have cleaned and lube them, which ironicaly made the release problem worse.
Desert rocks get stuck in the mechanism, this never happened at all with the old SPDs.
They made them better in the mud, but worse in the dry, it's almost funny. | | Similar Products Used: | Old style SPDs. ( never had a problem with any of the old style ones ). | | Bottom Line: | I don't think these are for anyone that rides All Mountain bikes. They work fine for XC spinning, but not getting aggressive. I've never had a problem using Shimano's old style SPDs in the same enviroment and riding style.
This pedal in based on the troublesome 858s from a few years ago, but it releases unexpectedly instead of locking you in unexpectedly like the 858s.
The redesign has the opposite problem ironically.
Use only for true XC riding!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Eriks | | Strengths: | Price, durability, ease of use. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, bad in mud. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper Disc | | Bottom Line: | These were my first clipless pedals and I loved them. They survived my many crashes and have a lot of different settings for looseness/tightness. They are kind of heavy, but these are beginner pedals. If you are just getting into mountain biking and want to ride clipless I highly recommend these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
iusufachi
a Cross Country Rider
from Romania Cluj
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | Handles mud preety well. | | Weaknesses: | Fragile cleats as well as body and paint | | Bike Setup: | Merida Matts Pro, RockShox Reba, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I believe that these pedals are great for XC riding. They are not very expensive and are worth the money. On the other hand, avoid drops or other activities that are more agressive than XC because you will damage the pedals. After 6 months play has appeared and griding sound. Today I have decided to thake apart all the components and review the situation. I was surprised to find out that the inside is in preety good condition. I cleaned all the parts, relubed them an put all together again. Amazingly it was even better than the day I bought them. In conclusion, they are good reliable pedals, but keep them only for XC rinding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Simi Valley, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Budget Bike Eagel Rock | | Strengths: | Good feel, consistant engaement. | | Weaknesses: | Clogs with mud. Set screw popped out once. | | Similar Products Used: | Forte Campus (SPD / Platform from Performance) | | Bike Setup: | Giant Anthem 2 | | Bottom Line: | I have about 2500 miles on these pedels %60 road / %40 trail, and am very happy with them. They were the first clip in pedeles I tried and were very easy to get used to. The action is very good and with the tension set to the minimum it is easy to get out and I have not had them "pop" out. The tension screw came out of its recess and the spring slipped passed it, in a race. I filpped the pedel and finished the race. Afterwards I pulled the pin and reassembeled it. No problems since. I also have a pair of Forte'Campus from Performance Bike,they are cheaper but the clip in/out action is no where near as smooth as the M520. Worth the extra price for the M520s. Not sure what you get going to the more expensive Shinmanos. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bucky
a Weekend Warrior
from Ringgold, GA USA
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Purchased At: | Eastridge Bicycle | | Strengths: | Real nice fit. Easy to clip and un clip with. Easy to walk in. | | Weaknesses: | Flugly color, but no really weakness. | | Bike Setup: | 06 Rockhopper, shimano m520 clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great Price, Fits like a glove. After riding for 4 hrs my feet feel normal they did not hurt my feet at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Lackore
a Weekend Warrior
from Des Moines, IA. USA
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Sugar Bottom (near Iowa city) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | On line - Ebay | | Strengths: | very Durable. These pedals have takne a beating! Tough hits on rocks and trail Dabris. | | Weaknesses: | Found it hard to clip in with extreme mud in pedal ONCE. But I had no business being on that trail being that wet. So not really a weakness. | | Similar Products Used: | 540 (on my road bike, less weight) | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Specialized Epic Marathon. Front FOX forx F100. Rear fox R Float. XT and XTR derailers. Thompson post. | | Bottom Line: | Never had a problem with the Pedal. Very Durable. I am not a weight freak so I am not to worried about how many grams these are. If you are a weakend warrier, do a few races now and again, or getting clipless for the first time, I highly suggest these pedals | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Melb, Aus
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | easy clip in and out, adjustable tension, durable, good mud shedding. | | Weaknesses: | really can't think of one | | Similar Products Used: | i'm a roadie so i've campag centaur road pedals as well. | | Bike Setup: | stock trek 6700 07 | | Bottom Line: | these are very easy to use... i have the silver ones which is good b/c when u bash them into rocks the damage isn't obvious.
These really are ideal, durable metal cleats, durable pedals, CHEAP, and easy to clip in and out of (never had a problem in many panic dismounts)... coming from firmer sprung single sided road pedals, these are a dream ! (altho i've never had a problem with clipless period) will update if bearing life is short or other problems, but at this price point they are very good, and something i could deal with. (about 1/4 of the price of campg centaurs at the LBS and they have exposed plastic cleats !!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Wayne, IN
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | 2nd-hand from bud | | Strengths: | dependable, easy in/out | | Weaknesses: | none that i can tell | | Similar Products Used: | wellgo sh** | | Bottom Line: | my bud went with ATAC (bling for him) and gave me a deal on these when my garbage wellgo's dumped on me. i've had them two years now, no issues at all -- they even work w/ the wellgo cleats. kept the stock cleats back, and i've decided that my daughter will roll these a soon as she grows into the shoes i have for her. they're a quick/easy transition for her. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Desert Classic | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Value. In/out pretty easy if cleaned/lubed. Light enough. Tightness adjustablility without the potential of it becoming so loose that the pedal falls apart (happened twice!). | | Weaknesses: | They may have problems with mud, but I wouldn't know b/c I have never encountered mud in my uber-dry climes. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 4, 5, and 6 hundred series, Performance, Wells. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Tassajara and a Titus Racer-X 29er, wearing either Nike or Performance SPD shoes. | | Bottom Line: | These are the cheapest pedals which I haven't had a problem with. The others were either harder to get in/out of, or fell apart. I tried the Shimano 647 which comes with a sturdy plastic platform around it, but found it harder to clip in/out for some reason (maybe the platform limits the angles you can enter/exit from?). Plus the platform wasn't much of an advantage over the platform-less in terms of pedaling w/out being clipped in, as I was hoping (for starting up hills). And the 647s are a good deal heavier and more expensive. The 647s might be good if your pedals are hitting alot, but if they are, you need to get a bike with more BB clearance or learn how to pedal and/or handle your bike!
Keep 'em clean and lubed and they work very well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad Meek
a Weekend Warrior
from Glendale, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$47.00 | | Purchased At: | EBay | | Strengths: | Light weight, easy to get into and very easy to get out of. | | Weaknesses: | Slightly harder to get into than Shimano look style pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano road pedals(look cleats)
| | Bike Setup: | rans rex recumbent road use only | | Bottom Line: | With over 5,000 miles of use these pedals are flawless. After falling multiple times being unable to uncleat from the Shimano road pedals it is a sheer joy to never have this problem with the 520's even in sudden emergencies. If you have any problem uncleating with your current pedals I can't recommend these enough. Reliable and safe!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nicholas G
a
from Williamsburg va usa
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | There a descent road pedal, nice double sided entry and you can walk in the shoes too. | | Weaknesses: | They are horrible for mountainbiking!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Time | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll | | Bottom Line: | If you want some ok pedals for a road bike go for these. But if you plan on leaving the pavement don't buy these. They unclipped every time I try to go over something like a stack of logs. They at best offer a marginal attachment to your bike, and at worst are going to leave you flapping in the wind when you unclip for no reason. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Collin
a Cross Country Rider
from SC
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Reliable and tough, easy entry and exit | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | lots of other SPDs, time, egg beaters | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Cannondale Prophet | | Bottom Line: | Great pedal, I have had these 1 1/2 years+ and they have taken a beating and just keep going...kinda like Timex...but I degress. I have tried many other pedals and Shimano is the best. I will probably buy 540s for my next set, I like the spindal setup better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john michael climaco
a Weekend Warrior
from philippines
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | ross cycle | | Strengths: | easy in easy out
great pedal for beginners! | | Weaknesses: | maybe weight.
if it were just the same as the r540 @ 330grms | | Similar Products Used: | shimano r540 road pedal | | Bike Setup: | classic cromoly
ultegra | | Bottom Line: | at first i was looking for a cleat pedal since i was really having a hard time disengaging from my r540 road pedal. someone suggested to use a atb spd and recommended these pedals. it has actually a dual sided engagement mechanism but the one i bought has a plastic platform on the other side. was already hesitant to use clipless system! but when it was installed and i tested wow its as easy as 123. GREAT PEDAL | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Trailblazers - Victor, NY | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in and out of. Adjustable tension makes the pedal work for all skill levels. The cleats are steel and very durable compared to others. You can pull your foot straight out if tension is on low for the clipless beginners. | | Weaknesses: | Not a weakness in my opinion being a long-term platform/clip rider trying to convert to the clipless world! | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kikapu Deluxe | | Bottom Line: | I went with the Time ATAC for my first clipless pedal because of all the good reviews. They lasted 4 rides on my bike until my shins looked like hamburgers from falling without clipping out. I bought the 520's out of frustration and they are the best pedal for the money. Even for more experienced riders that want the confidence that they are going to eject on a crash. I can ride more agressively thanks to the adjustable tension. 5 chilis for me! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Meister
a Weekend Warrior
from Germany
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Isartrail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Store | | Strengths: | Good Looking; affordable price; never had problems with clic-in/clic-out; seems to be durable; spring strengh adjustment | | Weaknesses: | clic-in/clic-out not as smooth as more expensive pedals;
surface scratches easily | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Cusom Hardtail w/ Sram X9 | | Bottom Line: | very good pedal for that price. very good pedal for beginners who not bother about every additional gramm. only payed approx. 25 bucks for it, most pedals are 3 or 4 times more expensive -> excellent price/value rating | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
you
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | first time on clippless, what a difference!!!!!!!!never had any problemes clipping in or out, even in mud.adjustible force needed to get in and out. Good price | | Weaknesses: | Weight????(but I am not bothered) | | Similar Products Used: | crappy plastic platforms metal platforms | | Bike Setup: | trek 3900, xtr, these pedals(soon to have new frame and fork of much higher quality) | | Bottom Line: | first time on clippless and i can do 2 foot bunny hops
these pedals just work | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Racer
from Reston VA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Elizabeth Furnace | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Revelution Cycles | | Strengths: | NONE-- These pedals are really bad!!! | | Weaknesses: | BREAK!!! the spring detached from the adjuster screw during normal use... | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchy, Crank brothers | | Bike Setup: | 06' Trek Fuel 8, American Classic hubs and rims, Easton Seatpost the rest stock. | | Bottom Line: | These pedals look cool but are not good for avid mnt bikers. They clog easy, fine adjustment does not exist,
and they break! Take a close look at how the springs attach around the adjuster screw and you will see how this system is not dependable. I am hoping my LBS will warrantee them but who knows.... Bummer I have never had problems w. pedals and these did not complement my new ride... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Blades
a Cross Country Rider
from Maryland, USA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Family Bike Shop | | Strengths: | cheap, lightweight, more adjustilble than i ever thought it would be | | Weaknesses: | umm...nothing i have to say about these pedals belong in this section | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Kona Fire Mountain | | Bottom Line: | unles you are a weight-weenie then there is no reson that you should not get these pedals | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, MO
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Trek Store in Manchester, MO | | Strengths: | Low cost relative to other pedals was a good selling point. | | Weaknesses: | They don't come with a combo clip/platform option for when you want to just jump on and ride without getting your biking shoes on as far as I know. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 bone stock, except for these pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I just got these for Father's Day and they seem to be good. This is the first time I've ever used non-platform pedals before. I think they are really good quality. I can't imagine what would be over $100 better on the other more expensive pedals. I took them to my first offroad trail today and they worked great. They allow me to accelerate much quicker than before. When I shift, my feet don't go flying off the pedals on the transition between gears anymore either. The stock spring tension seems fine to me too. I didn't feel any need to adjust it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dick Pole
a Cross Country Rider
from Quincy, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail of Tears | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | They work. Ride after ride, year after year they do what they're supposed to and don't break. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy, but not really noticable. | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar brand pedals, Frog's, Atac's, other shimano's... | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS | | Bottom Line: | Great product. They work the same way every time, every day, every ride. They're pretty much unbreakable. All you have to do is put 'em on your bike, set the tension to where you like it, and ride. 4 chili's on overall rating 'cause they don't have the float of some other pedals, and they don't always like to clip in when full of mud or dirt. But otherwise they simply work. If you want a product that you can use without ever having to think about it, or something that's pretty much indestructable, get these. They're worth it. Best value around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Weekend Warrior
from mississauga ontario
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | well, as far as value for money 50bucks is pretty good. They are a little loose, but definitly a decent set of clips. I got this stock with my GT, and i have the extra cliped in pedal just in case i dont want to or cant clip in... its a nice option to have since bailing is much easier when your just standing on the regular pedals, sometimes its not advantageous to be clipped in.
A decent buy for an intermediate rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Vestal, NY, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything muddy,ruddy,rocky,uphill,downhill, unexpected and challenging! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | CHENANGO POINT CYCLERY, Binghamton ,NY | | Strengths: | Cleat locks in easily with a push of the shoe. And twists out equally as easy when you want to place your feet on the ground, or when your falling off your damn bike.. hehe! The cleat "float" gives you the option of some degree of side to side shoe slack when your locked in. This benefits your turning and pivoting, and helps your legs from getting twisted and torn up from ride shock. | | Weaknesses: | More of a suggestion than a product weakness. I came from platform pedals, so, if you are doing the same, you might want to go for a clipless/platform type combination pedal. They are available. These clipless pedals are very narrow, and are taking some time to get used to on that application. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail/XC. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bang for $50. I was skeptical about changing my platform-pedal religion, but damn glad I did! My flat-land and uphill pedalling efficiency have doubled two-fold. I can sprint faster, for longer periods of time,jump higher, and have much greater control over my overall riding. My hat goes off to Shimano for the entry-level clipless PD-M520! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
p
a Cross Country Rider
from santiago chile
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | inexpensive, somewhat light, simple setup. | | Weaknesses: | none really, except weight. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher advance 03,
gary fisher wahoo 06 | | Bottom Line: | good pedals for daily rider looking to spend little for a dependable product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any good dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Local bike shop | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, easy to adjust tension, clear mud well, good starter clipless | | Weaknesses: | outside face can get scratched fairly easily | | Similar Products Used: | none of my own, various other shimanos on friend's bikes | | Bike Setup: | '05 Gary Fisher Marlin Cdn Edit, Manitou Axel Comp Fork, Shimano cranks, deore driveline, hayes discs, 520 pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great first set of clipless pedals. Inexpensive and easy to adjust. Once on and tension dialed in, they performed flawlessly. Clear snow and mud well.
Found I scratched up the outside edges fairly easily, but no impact on performance.
They may not be the highest performance/top of the line, but they're great overall and a great value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rabbiwats
a Cross Country Rider
from birmingha, al
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Durability and adjustability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals! Came stock on my stumpjumper and have taken a beating and never broken. I have knocked these against roots and rocks while riding and they have never let me down. I love the tension adjustment. For beginners, you can loosen them so your foot comes unclipped with ease. Then as your skills progress, you can tighten them down. Highly recommend. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rafa
a
from Miami
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Oleta | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | http://www.twowheelsmart.com | | Strengths: | Easy to adjust. Very easy to slip in and out as long as you release tention on the pedal. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000. SLR | | Bottom Line: | Very friendly pedal. Highly recommended. I feel safe hitting the trails with my shimano PD-520. Its worth the $50,- | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan South
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, NE, US
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Swanson/Bellevue, NE | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Trek Store of Omaha | | Strengths: | Price, Not too heavy, Durable as sin, Great Design, Simple Clip in and Out. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Avid Mechanical Disc Brakes, Avid Ti Speed Dial Levers, Bontrager Sport Crank, Bontrager Sport stem (Shorter Rise), Shimano Deore Front Derailleur, Shimano M520 Clipless pedals, Bontrager Big Earl Tires (26"x2.5), Bontrager CRZ+ Saddle. | | Bottom Line: | These are my first set of clipless peadals and I love them!! They can take a beating and work great! I bought them because they were my first set and I didn't want to spend too much money on something I've never used. But I am glad I got them. Unless you are a "weight junky," there is no need for a different pedal. I would suggest the 520 to anyone! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shiny_car
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | can be bought quite cheaply; durable | | Weaknesses: | not super-smooth to clip in/out | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo; Shimano SPD-M540 | | Bike Setup: | OEM on my Aus-spec '05 Giant XTC2 | | Bottom Line: | not a bad clipless pedal that would suit a beginner/somemone buying their first clipless pedals; does the job without being anything special; good free-arc movement although verges on feeling too loose/sloppy; works ok in muddy conditions but feels gritty wet or dry; have copped a few decent bashings against rocks but no probs with durability; I've since changed to the next model up M540 and find these much better so worth considering | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from houston, tx, usa
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | memorial park, the anthill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | acme bikes | | Strengths: | Look good, price.
easy to get use to. | | Weaknesses: | the metal scratch pretty easy. | | Similar Products Used: | none as far as clipless pedals | | Bike Setup: | Trek 3900 - sette bar 3nds, OURY grips, m520 | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good pedal for a beginner like myself. the price is definitely good. It's set up in the middle tension and during some nasty spills when i couldn;t get my feet out in time, the pedal manage to unhook me in the right time. Maybe it's bad but for me, it has saved me countless times. The metal where the logo is scratched pretty easy, then again, i don't have a kickstand to properly rest the bike. Oh well, it's just the cosmetics. Looks sturdy, not that hard to shed mud. Overall i am happy that i am clipless, just hoping that this pedal last me forever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Glen Ridge, NJ, US of A
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Diamond Cycle in NJ | | Strengths: | Easy to get in and out of, and nice looking | | Weaknesses: | May be a bit on the heavy side, but absolutely nothing wrong with this pedal | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel 900 | | Bottom Line: | This pedal came standard on the Scalpel. A nice pedal compared to what's out there, but I opted to upgrade to the egg beaters. If you can get past the strange look of the egg beaters, these are clearly the way to go. For the price (have seen these pedals for under $45.00 US) you can't go wrong.
Diamond Cycle on Bloomfield Ave in NJ is fantastic. Great bunch of guys!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor
a Weekend Warrior
from Melb, Vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | www.phantomcycles.com.au | | Strengths: | reliable, simple design, shimano brand | | Similar Products Used: | Shim PD 505s, Wallengos | | Bottom Line: | Needed a second pair of Pedals and they were reasonaby priced so I went with these. They are much better than the 505s with better mud clearance and entry/exit action. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Racer
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | ASS | | Strengths: | Very easy to clip in and out, fairly light for the price | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Bike Setup: | '04 Kona Cindercone w/ mixed components | | Bottom Line: | For approx. 60$ you get an excellent pedal. You can be sure that you will clip in everytime you set your foot down on the pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Z. Unger
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Professional Cycling | | Strengths: | Easy to adjust, great quality, easy to clean, work great with n00bies, really durable (as I trashed them for two weeks as I got used to the clips). | | Weaknesses: | The little adjustment screw might pop out if you hit it across a hard surface. Though its fixed easily as long as you have enough hand power to unscrew the main screw and set the adjustment screw back in place. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Marin Hawk Hill SE | | Bottom Line: | Not that expensive, durable, great for those switching trying to be more hardcore. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Easy clip in/out, good mud clearance, price and quality, adjustability. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy if you are a gram counter which I'm not | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Kona Dawg w/ full XT | | Bottom Line: | Good all around pedal. Affordable and good quality. Easy to adjust. Adjustability is nice too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gus
a Cross Country Rider
from Roanoke, VA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | The Cove | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | GearGurl on Ebay | | Strengths: | Cheap, strong and adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | None come to mind. | | Similar Products Used: | No other clipless, just platforms. | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Komodo
| | Bottom Line: | Overall, an excellent SPD pedal for someone looking to get into clipless for the first time. They are well made and can withstand a clyde (like myself, 220lbs). They are easy to clip in and out of and they are very inexpensive. These are the same design as the uber-expensive 959's, but made out of cheaper material... so they are heavier and not quite as "pretty".
Excellent value and performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA, Centre
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Light weight
Good mud clearing
Good release mechanism | | Weaknesses: | Get banged up if you bounce them off of rocks. | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo WPD-823's | | Bike Setup: | C-Dale hardtail, stock except for pedals, and mavic x238 wheels with deore hubs | | Bottom Line: | Really nice pedals. I paid only $23 on ebay for a week old pair with no cleats! These are 1 million times nicer than the Wellgo's I had previously. They have a minimalist design, they release nicely (I had my wellgo's on the softest setting as I had trouble releasing sometimes, I've got these about half tension or harder as my feet pop right out at the twist of an ankle). They clear mud well, I haven't had a problem yet and I've had them through the mud with them several times. Excellent pedal overall, I couldn't imagine every buying anything except for shimano pedals, especially for $23. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek Y
a Cross Country Rider
from Frenchville
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Anything | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Barely used them but they seem very nice looking and easy to clip in and out of. Very good price! | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano PDM-737 Clipless | | Bike Setup: | 05 Fuji MT Fuji Pro, stock......so far! | | Bottom Line: | Nicest clipless pedals I have ever used. (only used 2) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
julie
a Weekend Warrior
from HI
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | mud clearanc, weight, no pedal wrench needed | | Weaknesses: | Spring came undone a total of 4x on the trail. B!tch to get back together again. | | Similar Products Used: | older shimanos, loved them | | Bottom Line: | Agree w/ Patrick, these pedals suck when they fall apart on the trail. The old shimanos will prob. go back on despite the pros. of the new pedals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean M. Murphy
a Weekend Warrior
from Middletown, CT 06457
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Middlesex | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | Suburban Sports | | Strengths: | Ease of Use, adjustable clip tension | | Weaknesses: | None that I know of yet | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 02 Giant Rainier, Marzocchi Fork, Avid Discs, Shimano Der., GT Bar Ends, | | Bottom Line: | This is my first clipless pedal.
In the short time I have used this pedal, I have found it to be very easy to get in and out of. I only took to headers, learning how to bail out of these! I have not had a chance to use the pedals on serious mud, but many reviews clain that the mud shedding capabilities are fantastic.
The adjustable clip tension is a great option for newbie like myself, to get used to the feel of clipless, and gives me the opportunity practice on a loose adjustment, before tightening, and hitting tougher trails.
Bottom Line: Get these pedals, as they are easy to use, and seem to be a great option to your first venture into clipless! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Racer
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Solid, easy clip-in, good retention, low maintenance, tried-and-true technology. Looks good, no funky colors or designs. | | Weaknesses: | Could be lighter. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Icon, Look, Time, Ritchey, toe-clips | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Klein Adroit Race, full XTR | | Bottom Line: | Despite new advances in pedal technology, I believe Shimano SPD still sets the standard. The cleat is durable, easy to walk in, easy to set up and the pedal mechanism holds your foot in when you want it to and releases when needed. There are few moving parts, the build is solid (n plastic), the weight is reasonable, and the price is great.
As a note, I found I needed to tighten the release tension down almost all the way to prevent clip-out when riding over rocky terrain.
Bottom line: The M-520 is a soild, durable, capable pedal in any conditions for the racer or recreational rider alike. And the price is right. Good job Shimano. Get 'em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Lincoln, NE
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Platte River State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Lincoln Bicycle Company | | Strengths: | Once you adjust the tension, these are super easy to bail out of. The first time I rode them I didn't adjust the tension so I had some problems. Great value. Mud clogs up the cleats on my shoes but not the pedals themselves. | | Weaknesses: | Scratch easily but other than that none. | | Similar Products Used: | none unless you count toe cages. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Tassajara w/ Rock Shox Pilot XC, Deore/LX components, Bontrager cranks, stems, bar. Promax V-Brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I love these new pedals. The trail I ride most often is pretty hilly so I really benefit from the extra power that you can get out of these. Once I adjusted the tension, I can bail out pretty easily. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Comite | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Worked great until the end of my first ride with them when the right pedal broke | | Weaknesses: | Spring came out from under the adjuster after the first time I rode with them, pain in the ass to try and put back together. | | Similar Products Used: | M324 on my commuter
Platforms | | Bike Setup: | '02 Gary Fisher Big Sur stock except for these pedals and a Selle Italia Flite Ti Gel | | Bottom Line: | I rode them for the first time today for about two hours, at the end of my right foot wouldn't clip in. I looked at them and saw the spring had come out from under the adjuster on one side. I'm not the most mechanically incline and I'm having a lot of trouble putting back together properly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Alonzo
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Ride Away Bicyles | | Strengths: | easy to clip out if you need to (if you crash). great value, does not get clogged up with mud | | Weaknesses: | straches easy but you could live with that | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Gray Fisher Marlin w Deore XT, Judy TT shock | | Bottom Line: | Great price for what you get. real good pedal to start clipless with | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Strickland
a Cross Country Rider
from Hoover, Alabama, USA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Oak Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Cahaba Cycles | | Strengths: | Adjustable spring tension, easy to clip in and out, sharp look, reassuring "clink" | | Weaknesses: | none so far, heard they scratch but who cares | | Similar Products Used: | None, only platforms | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Marlin, Shimano PD-M520L, WTB RocketV Race. | | Bottom Line: | This was my first set of clipless pedals and I picked it up and boom, i was off. You may fall but just take it slow for the first ride and you will get used to it. The clicking in and out becomes second nature real quick. And the learning curve is steep haha...overall i give this 5 hot steamy flaming chilis!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fabian Hernandez
a
from Ciudad Juarez, Chih. Mex
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$38.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Much durable than my old Nashbar clipless, and better design than the 515. | | Similar Products Used: | Nasbhar rodeo clipless, platform | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSRxc 04 | | Bottom Line: | Nice pedal, could be less expensive, but find a offer and it will be worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
They Call me Burnsie
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | CHUBB | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | They work flawlessly. W/ a little bit of getting used to, they ride on normal shoes fine. I had to ride on these for 3 long weeks while waiting for my backordered shoes, and they really didn't bother me at all. Just got the shoes today. Went for a ride and HOLY COW! Clipless is amazing! I can climb hills like I'm frontpointing up a wall or something. The shoes(Shimano M120s) and pedals work flawlessly together. The adjustable release tension is beautiful thing. I set it up to get out fast while I learn how to do it. The cleat entry takes zero thinking about. | | Weaknesses: | They do scratch easy. But who cares unless you're a pansy roadie. | | Similar Products Used: | Alloy platforms. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500, Shimano 520 pedals, serfas grips, barends, WTB Rocket V saddle. Cateye Enduro 8 cyclometer. | | Bottom Line: | Clipless is worth it, several times over. I am already going 5 mph faster over the same stuff, and I have practiced for all of a half hour. Bunny hopping-I can do it now! These pedals would be great at $100, but for 50 bucks they are a screaming deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Dibdin
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ourimbah State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | a bike store in Campbelltown | | Strengths: | Simple, light, easy to learn on. | | Weaknesses: | A weird feeling of looseness (my foot can float, not just in angle, but moving a few millimetres side to side), a little difficult to get into (but hey, I'm learning here and have only ridden about 25km in them as yet). | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Giant Iguana, basically standard bar the pedals and some nice fat Oury grips. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a first-time clipless user, and haven't tried anything else (so if you want an appraisal fo the product against others, obviously look elsewhere), but I'm very satisfied so far- A$65 (US$45 or so) for a simple, safe (no horizontal track-stands yet!) and effective product. Big ups to the big S. Clipless are gold, so much more power and smoothness in the pedalling stroke, speed and efficiency are way up. If you're wondering whether or not to go clipless, you could do worse than grabbing some of these and giving them a shot. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wannabeRacer
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$52.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Strong, stable, and easy in & out straight out the box. | | Weaknesses: | none... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 505 | | Bike Setup: | standard, straight out the box, didn't make any adjustments at all. | | Bottom Line: | As I said, I didn't make any adjustments at all out of the box and certainly better than 505 model, though I like to try the others 540 or 959 and egg's flatform pedals (SL). For the price of Shimano pedals and quality, go for it... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | None to speak of. | | Weaknesses: | Difficult to get in and out, heavy, hurt my knees. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 540 | | Bottom Line: | I was surprised to see so many good ratings on these pedals. Maybe I got lemons. When I adjusted the pedals to get the cleats in with only a modest amount of work they were so loose that the the cleat would come out too easily. Also, wasn't impressed with the little amount of float in the pedals, hurt my knees. I switched out to the 540s and all the problems went away right out of the box. Don't be fooled because the 540's look very similar from photos, the 540's are way better. I would rather have had the bike come without pedals than with these. At least then I wouldn't have fooled around trying to get these to work(waste of time). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mjr. Cock
a Cross Country Rider
from West Country
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle1st.com | | Strengths: | Top class and very easy clip in and out. Good and reassuring clunk in & out. Good bearings. Consistent and great mud clearance. | | Weaknesses: | At this price Nothing. | | Similar Products Used: | Everything. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro/XT/Marzocchi SL/Easton/Hope on X717/Hope Minis etc. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent pedals....the price is just the icing on the cake. If they were twice the price they would still be great value for money. They consistently work with brilliant mud clearing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MudPie
a Cross Country Rider
from Camarillo, CA
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Low cost, adjustable tension, easy to maintain, easy in / easy out, basically they work everytime, durable (so far). | | Weaknesses: | Can't think of one. Boring name? Some say they scuff easily but it's an aesthetic issue. Some say they're heavy, but I need to lose 10 lbs so I need to cut the weight, not cut a few grams from my pedal. | | Similar Products Used: | Scott clipless stock with bike | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrown, hardtail, almost stock | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is these pedals work. Put your foot in, "click, and off you go. Very good basic design that functions perfectly. The open design should help clear mud from the pedal cleat interface, but living in So Cal, it hardly rains so I won't be able to try them in mud. A no frills, boring name, highly functional pedal. What more does one need? 5 chilis for great price, 5 chilis because they work flawlessly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Grande Cache, AB
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Great function
Fantastic value
Better mud performance | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC, Shimano M535 & M424 | | Bottom Line: | My 535's are getting a little long in the tooth, and don't work that well in mud or snow. Heard good things about the 520, and Jenson had them for $39, so I picked up a pair. Thought about getting another set of Time, but I have so many shoes rigged up for SPD's that the cost of cleats would have killed me.
These are great pedals for the money - well, they're great pedals, the low price is just a bonus. Don't be fooled that they are a low end product because of the price. They have much better mud clearance than my old 535's. If they last even half as long as my 535's, I'll be satisfied. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in and out. Adjustable. Low profile. | | Weaknesses: | They could shed mud better, and if you ever try to ride in snow with them the snow just keeps getting packed in unitl you can't clip in at all. | | Bottom Line: | A very solid pedal. Once you get the springs set to your liking, and you get used to clipping in, you will find these pedals to perform very well in most conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shant
a Cross Country Rider
from Glenadle, CA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | -Clips in and out very easy
-CLeat tension adjustmenter
-Takes a real beating
| | Weaknesses: | Not a pedal for you weight weenies | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | This pedal is just plain and simply put "AWSOME." You cant beat these pedals for this price. I mean snapping in and hearing that "CLICK" is so cool. I used to ride on Crank brothers egg beaters, but its very hard getting out of those pedals in unexpected situations. These pedals are like platform pedals only clipless. When ever you want your foot off the pedal, a quick flick of the heel and your off! GREAT PEDAL | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TheoDR DR
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | T15 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Hup Leong | | Strengths: | Does what its supposed to do well. Clipping in and out in a hurry is never an issue. | | Weaknesses: | Scratches easily? | | Similar Products Used: | SPD 515, 535 | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS 3 | | Bottom Line: | An excellent pedal! I don't think I need to say more, as all that I can say about the pedal has already been said. Regarding the issue of scratches, they can easily be covered up and made to look like new with an inexpensive bottle of black nail polish. :D | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry Chan
a Weekend Warrior
from Taipei, Taiwan
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ski Lift, Maukong | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | cheap, mud resistant | | Weaknesses: | weak axles bearings | | Similar Products Used: | vp, ritchey logic | | Bike Setup: | 2003 voodoo wanga, deore fro. rear der, fox float rl, mavic F519 | | Bottom Line: | I'd say it's a bargain if u want a cheap pedal with the same function as M959. For lite xc ride, it's quite good. But for free ride or more aggresive ride, the pedal won't last for long. Under my punishment no more than one year, the axles start to generate cracking sound when pedalling. So does a friends', and he even had the pedal no longer than I did. Don't know whether pedals at the same price would be as fragile as this one. But I won't buy cheap pedals anymore. My suggestion: don't get this pedal only if u just do lite xc riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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