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Submitted by
nickcarll
a Cross Country RiderDate Reviewed: May 10, 2012
Strengths: The shimano 520 pedal is a Low cost, bomb proof, easy to get in and out of pedal that will not fail you after being smashed off a rock like some over pedals on the market...
Weaknesses: maybe the weight but that's an issue unless your a pretentious gram counting weenieBottom Line: as I sit here writing this going through the pedals I have used over the past few years, I realize I always come back to the Shimano 520’s. I currently have two sets of them one on my road bike, one on my stumpy, and a set of XT’s on my single speed. I have tried crank brothers as well as times, neither one of which screamed reliability to me like this do. The set of 520’s on my road bike are at least 5 years old, they’ve been through 4 different bikes, and have probably hit every rock in southern Maine they still work flawlessly. These pedals are kind of heavy however that makes them bomb proof and awesome, and realistically they are not a lot heavier than the XTR version, of course if you are a weight weenie gram counter you would not be looking here and reading about these pedals. But for everyone else, meaning you the one looking for a solid pedal without breaking the bank then these are it.
Duration Product Used: Fort rock
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At: Gorham bike and ski
Similar Products Used: crank bros candy's time atacs
Bike Setup: Stump jumper evo 29 hardtail
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Value Rating:
Submitted by
Hempress
a Weekend Warrior
from Traverse City, Michigan, USADate Reviewed: March 1, 2012
Strengths: inexpensive, good quality, biggish, works wellWeaknesses: could be heavy, not the easiest to get on (but then again I don't have the proper tools)Bottom Line: I'm a first time clipless user and I;m still getting used to these things but they seem great. I can't speak for durability as I've only used them a few times but I love them. I know ya'll have heard it before but these are great beginner pedals, cheap, high quality, works well. The tension adjust is great for a first timer like me and works well. The entry is easy once you get a hold of it (operative words there: once you get a hold of it) and exiting is a no brainer. Negatives sure they're probably heavy and not the easiest to install but when you can such great pedals for a great price these are nitpicks.
Favorite Trail: VASA Singletrack
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Mclains
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: 2008 Specialized Hardrock disk, other than pedals no upgrades
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
shenny88
a Weekend Warrior
from MichiganDate Reviewed: January 4, 2012
Strengths: inexpensive, strong, not too heavy, spin very well, durable, easy engagement, good adjustabilityWeaknesses: not the prettiest, not the lightest, paint wears quicklyBottom Line: A really great value. Excellent intro/budget clipless pedals.
Favorite Trail: Pontiac Lake
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At: D&D Bikes Berkley
Similar Products Used: XT Trail pedals, various platforms
Bike Setup: 80% stock 2011 Trance X3
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Value Rating:
Submitted by
kevinrod1983
a Racer
from fall river, maDate Reviewed: December 29, 2011
Strengths: cheap and gets the job doneWeaknesses: far cry from the XT versionBottom Line: if all you want is clipless pedals for your bike, then these are the guys for you
Favorite Trail: otis and massasoit
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: scottees westport bi
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Holmes
a Weekend Warrior
from Berthoud, CODate Reviewed: October 31, 2011
Strengths: Cheap, durable, solid engagement, ease of useWeaknesses: WeightBottom Line: These are definitely a high Bang For The Buck product. I've used Candy's for awhile, and while those are good pedals the M520 is a superior product in most respects. The Candy is lighter and has a bit more float, but the M520 is far, far more durable and I personally prefer the SPD engagement / release.
Also, a previous reviewer has stated that these are throw-away pedals. That is not true - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXfrmkOTicM.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At: fleabay
Similar Products Used: Crank Brothers Candy's (SL and standard cro-moly axle versions)
Bike Setup: Voodoo Canzo 29er, Surly Karate Monkey
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
athorman
a Weekend Warrior
from Peoria AZDate Reviewed: September 19, 2011
Strengths: price, ease of install, adjustabilityWeaknesses: none so farBottom Line: This is my 1st clipless pedal so I went for a product from a name I trust. I couldn't be happier with this product. It was easy to install and the adjustability is great. I'd used clipless before but never owned them. Other pedals were significantly higher priced and the only advantage was a slight weight savings. I would advise anyone looking to get into clipless to consider this pedal.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: LBS
Bike Setup: Rockhopper 29'er
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
KBirkhofer
a Weekend Warrior
from Eustis, FL, United StatesDate Reviewed: June 1, 2011
Strengths: Ease of use. The tension is adjustable and these are easy to clip in and out of. They do very well in muddy terrain; however, muddy terrain here in Florida is more like wet sand, so it really doesn't cake up in the pedals.Weaknesses: None noted yet.Bottom Line: Was hesitant about converting from a platform to a clipless. Was almost certain there would be a huge learning curve and felt I would have to take advantage of my AFLAC and health insurance. So far the only falls have been because I have been tempting fate or attempting to do things above my ability. If you use commomn sense and operate within your ability, you will find these pedals are all you should need. Based on my knowledge of both road and mountain bikes, I really don't see the need for a more expensive clipless pedal; this one works great.
Favorite Trail: Santos
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Orange Cycle
Similar Products Used: None, first clipless pedals.
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Marlin
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
xc/mxracer
a Racer
from ringwood, nj, usaDate Reviewed: April 4, 2011
Strengths: cheap
easy to install/adjust
SimpleWeaknesses: heavy but none other than thatBottom Line: i decide to go clipless because im starting to get into racing. i asked the guys at town cycle if the had a cheap entry level for of clipless pedals.they showed me these. i got them a few months ago and the only reason they are scratched is because i fell when i was learning them. i got used to them very quickly and now im loving them.
i would recommend these to the beginning rider or anyone new to clipless pedals.
pros or semi pro should go with the xtr model because it is lighter
Favorite Trail: red trail
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: town cycle
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: trek 4500 disc
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
thumper07
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Lauderdale, FLDate Reviewed: March 9, 2011
Strengths: Super easy in. Wont slip out. Adjustable tension. Rock solid and virtually indestructible.Weaknesses: A little on the heavy side.Bottom Line: I'll never use any other pedal. Sure, they may be a few grams heavier, but they will last a lifetime. I have two other sets of SPDs that have had the crapola beat out of them and are sitting in a box of spare parts and one day I'll put them back on something else that I throw together. A little money goes a real long way with these SPDs. You can spend time and money trying other brands or you can just get these and be done with it and have money and mental energy to spend on other things.
Favorite Trail: Amelia Earhart
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Big Wheel Cycle
Similar Products Used: Other SPDs
Bike Setup: Mountain cycle Fury, e-thirteen 34 tooth single, all XT, custom built Circus Monkey wheels. All mountain.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
walter gumulak
a Weekend Warrior
from bethlehem,pa.u.s.a.Date Reviewed: January 22, 2011
Strengths: They were very easy to get used to once I adjusted the tension of the pedal. I started with toe clips on road bikes back in the 70's,But these are so much nicer. No worries about your feet slipping out of the clips or off the pedals while flying down the trail. They are also cheap.Weaknesses: None that I can think of. They even work for me when muddy.Bottom Line: The 520 spd pedals may not be the most exspensive or the coolist but they are very good pedals. I can't justify spending 5 times as much for a higher end pedal.I dont abuse my stuff but face the facts, I step on them. I grind them against stumps, Rocks, Curbs Etc. It happens! In short Buy a set, They dont get much better and they are cheap to replace. They all need to be replaced sooner or later.
Favorite Trail: round valley
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At: saucon valley cycles
Similar Products Used: Xt,540's.
Bike Setup: 2003 Giant Reinier. Set up mostly for Rail Trail Touring these days. Getting old. Xt shifters front and rear derailleurs. Lx hollowtech 2 cranks for the steel rings. That last longer. Sram casset 990. Sram 971? chain. Mavic xm 719 disk 36 hole rims, Xt hubs, bb7 Avid calipers. ETC.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
oi2342001
a Cross Country Rider
from MADate Reviewed: January 16, 2011
Strengths: Easy to clip in and out
Bounces off rocks without problemsBottom Line: I only used these pedals for about 6 months before switching to flats so I can't say anything for how long they last but I never had any issues with them. They held up to whatever I put them through. I've hit many rocks with these pedals and it never effected how the pedal worked. I don't know how they would handle from drops since most of the riding I do is XC fast trails that don't have any drops larger than one foot. Overall I would say this is a good buy for a first clipless pedal.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: Trek 6000 hardtail
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Nubo
a Cross Country Rider
from Vallejo, Ca, USADate Reviewed: November 19, 2010
Strengths: cheap, decent quality, does what you need it to do.Weaknesses: bearings are not user-serviceableBottom Line: These are throwaway pedals. They're cheap and they work well enough, until the bearings wear out. And then you throw them away because the bearings can't be removed, replaced, cleaned, regreased, or adjusted.
This won't be a drawback for most people. But if you're the type who doesn't mind a bit of maintenance, or if you are depending on your bike for something like a long tour in an undeveloped country, go for the M540 -- just a slightly more expensive and has user-serviceable bearings.
Favorite Trail: whatever
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: Wellgo
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gthiessen
a Racer
from Curitiba, PR, BrazilDate Reviewed: September 10, 2010
Strengths: Easy to install. Easy to clip in and out.Weaknesses: Way too weak.Bottom Line: After finally going from toeclips to clipless, 3 weeks ago, I was very excited with my SPD's. Until yesterday. I arrived at my LBS, stopped the bike and as I unclipped my right foot... the cage broke.
I have never put abuse into this pedals, never got off road, not even rain. Never had a fall or even a scratch, they're bling new.
I'm still excited about clipless but will look for something better for my next setup, dont want a pedal that breaks from unclipping.
Telling from my experience, no one should buy it.
Favorite Trail: Road
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At: Jamur Bikes
Similar Products Used: MKS Toeclips with leather double straps.
Bike Setup: Road fixed gear bike.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
madeinholt
a Weekend Warrior
from HoltDate Reviewed: September 10, 2010
Strengths: After a serious gap in using clip-less pedals I found I was clicking in and out of these with ease. After only a couple of days use I would say these do the job well. Makes me wonder is it really necessary spending a lot more on pedals?Weaknesses: I suppose time will tell. They did crunch a little when caked in mud - but I guess any pedals would.Bottom Line: The ability to erase a 20 year memory gap in clip-less pedal use in under 20 miles. Came free with the bike and I am glad I did not waste money on upgrading to XT or XTR pedals.
Favorite Trail: Holt Lowes
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: http://www.paulscycl
Similar Products Used: Look pedals in 1989
Bike Setup: Giant XTC 0 (2009) all original components.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Uncle Six Pack
a Weekend Warrior
from Bloomsburg, PA, USADate Reviewed: June 24, 2010
Strengths: Easy to use once you get used to it, has lasted for years, as cleats wear you can increase tensionWeaknesses: Little heavier than XT or XTRBottom Line: A very good way to try clipless pedals. I considered these and eggbeaters, but never actually tried eggbeaters. I put these on my bike and have rarely ever ridden with platforms since. I just bought M540s to save a few grams on my new bike, but haven't installed them yet.
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Purchased At: pricepoint
Similar Products Used: no other clipless pedals
Bike Setup: Specialized Hardrock and SX Trail
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