Submitted by
smokey422
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilliam, MO USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2011
Strengths: Longetivity! After nearly 9 years they still work well and keep my feet secured and allow me to release easily.
Weaknesses: Bolts in pedals came loose after I had them for a couple of years. I put in new bolts and Loctited them, end of problem. Some would say weight but I am the biggest weight problem on my bike.
Bottom Line:
These pedals have provided me with outstanding service. The springs have not weakened and I still run them at a fairly loose tension (I use the M55 multi-release cleat). They still look fairly good, too, even after surviving some rock strikes when I had them on my mountain bike. The only problem I had was the pedal body bolts that came loose, requiring replacement. If anyone buys a Shimano pedal that has bolts holding the body together, I would suggest Loctiting them. Shimano no longer makes this pedal and has replaced it with the M520, which has gotten good reviews on here, too. If I ever wear these out, that will be my next pedal.
Favorite Trail: Landahl and Rock Bridge State Park
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$38.00
Purchased At: Price Point
Similar Products Used: Shimano 515, Rockwerks SPD clones, Time Alium, new style Time ATAC, Eggbeaters (didn't care for these, too hard to get in and wore the soles of my shoes.
Bike Setup: Lemond Poprad Cyclocross bike set up for road and light trail riding with bar end shifters, old style Selle Italia Flite titanium saddle, Rivendell Noodle bars.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
bri719
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange, CA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2009
Strengths: Medium weight, sturdy, pretty easy to get in n out, nice and adjustable, forgiving yet consistent.
Weaknesses: Not as light as some, about the same weight as others.
Bottom Line:
These are the pedals on my bike and have been for several years. The other ones out there that are comparable (to me) are the Shimano 520 which are lighter than these (377 grams I believe) but not as robust.
Especially if you have a not-very-stiff shoe I recommend these. Downhillers will probably want platforms but if you're a step in guy then use these.
Strengths: Easy in, easy out. Shed mud well. Durable.
Weaknesses: None found. Maybe a little heavy
Bottom Line:
This will be my 4th season on these pedals and I have nothing bad to say about them. There are lots of interesting new pedals out there, but I have no reason to change them. I put on quite a few miles every season (I ride 24 hour solo races) and there has never been a time I wished I had a different pedal.
Similar Products Used: Wellgo, Coda, other Shimano
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain Vertex with XTR and Raceface. Mavic Crossride wheelset.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
joe gore
a Cross Country Rider
from state college
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2004
Strengths: did what it said it would shed mud
Weaknesses: will evnetually fail and bend
Bottom Line:
these pedals lasted for 2500 miles in one season. the rocks of central pa were tough on my bike but i did not replace these pedals until the very end of the season. As a beginer rider I never onced worried about my pedals until late into the season ans a extended season it was many difficult crashes and tons of hits on the rocks. worked well until I began to out grow them.
Submitted by
Smokey Strodtman
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilliam, MO USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2004
Strengths: Ease of clipping in and out, has tension adjustment, good mud performance, enough platform to get you by until you get clipped in when in a technical spot or stopped on a hill.
Weaknesses: Body bolts loosen and fall out. Weight, if you are a gram counter (I'm not).
Bottom Line:
There are a lot of good MTB pedals on the market today and I've owned some of them. The Time ATACs I really liked until I got hung up in one and broke my ankle (and I had the shaved cleat). Eggbeaters are great until you get hung up in a tight spot and need to have a platform to pedal on. Wellgos clog with mud, as do the Shimano 515s. The 536s seem to be the best compromise I've found so far. They have the easiest clipping action of any of the pedals I've tried and will handle any muddy conditions where you should be out riding. I'm not a racer so if it gets too muddy I stay off the trails to avoid damaging them. The main problem I've had with them is that the body bolts fall out. I lost two and had to get bolts from the hardware store that didn't match the originals. If you get the 536s, loctite these bolts before you put them on your bike. The 536 has been superceded by the 520 which, judging by its' ratings, is a great pedal. If you find some of the 536s on closeout at a bargain price, I would say go for it. Just don't forget that Loctite!
Similar Products Used: Time ATACs, Shimano 515s, Shimano clones, Eggbeaters.
Bike Setup: Fisher hardtail with SRAM 9.0 drivetrain and other upgrades.
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Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington, VT
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003
Strengths: see below
Weaknesses: see below
Bottom Line:
Like everything out there, there are those products that out perform your expectations, and then there are your lemons. Bike components are no exception. Fortunately, the set of 536 pedals I purchased have turned out to be the former. If you like the SPD concept, then you will like these. I have had no problems with bolts, or any other part for that matter, coming loose on me. The bearings have always been very smooth and have never loosened. I have ridden these now for two years and average 3 to 4 rides a week (when the trails are dry). Having lived in Utah where mud is virtually non-existent, there was never a release issue for me. They never even knew sand was there. Having moved to Vermont where mud seems to be ubiquitous, they do seize up quite a bit making it rather difficult to get in and out (a little squirt of water often helps). They do tend to release a bit better in wet muddy conditions that the ever popular 515. The cage built around the mechanism serves as both a small platform for those times when you can not get clipped in fast enough, as well as protect the pedal from head-on collisions with rocks. I have (almost) always come out of this pedal when I wanted to, and I have (almost) always been able to clip in when I wanted to. Those “almost” times were never the fault of the pedal, only the rider. There are probably better mud shedding pedals that I have yet to try (Egg Beaters, Times, Look 4X4s). However, for the recreational rider, who may ride often and very technical trails, this is a great pedal for the money. It is also a great pedal to learn clippless. If you are concerned about weight, get foldable tires, that is where the real weight savings comes into play. I would have given these pedals three chilies only because of MY experience with them in muddy conditions, but overall, I really like them.
Submitted by
Eddy Pyl
a Weekend Warrior
from Antown
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003
Strengths: véééry easy clip-in/out
Weaknesses: weight maybe?
Bottom Line:
OK, I can't really tell you that after only one day of try-out my opinion is worth gold but the transition from toe strap to my first clipless pedals was as a new born child who sees daylight for the first time. Everybody was warning me about the hard it would get to get used to them clipless, but also that once you tasted them you would never want to trade them again...guess what, they were absolutely right. I have to say they're a million times easier to get in and out then toe straps. Perfect for a beginner (first (really first) impression.
Similar Products Used: first clipless, toe strap before
Bike Setup: Thompson (Belgian Power), Deore/XT, Judy TT (I'll get there some time, the virus just stroke me down recently)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from atlanta, ga
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2003
Strengths: it's fresh out of the box, easy release to avoid locked in feeling. (keeps on ticking thou it seems to be falling apart-bearings and small posts.
Weaknesses: it's pretty much crap, but for a beginner set, I think these are ideal for 40 or 50 bucks, total and complete crap in sand and mud!!
Bottom Line:
If you can get new for about 40.00, then they'll maybe last a while for ya', if your agressive and abuse in your ride and sometimes need your wheels trued-up, and you sometimes check you headset/fork housing area for cracks, then, DON'T GET THESE CRANKS. (If you play nice, you'll love these things. (I can't baby my bike, life's too rough). thnx. good luck.
Similar Products Used: I am trying to decide between the 959's, time atac, and eggbeaters, thou I have not had the opportunity to try them directly
Bike Setup: gt timberline 98 w/marzocchi mx comp eta 03, chris king headset, thompson stem, race face air alloy bar, odi yeti grips, hans rey downhill maxxis, serfas deep groove design "male" seat, shimano deore rear v caliper with kool stops.
This is my first pair of clipless pedals, and i have to say i'm thoroughly impressed. After a few crashes learning how to ride clipless they are like second nature. Easy to get in and out of. Definitely recommend.
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Geelong, Vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2003
Strengths: Once again, I am lost as to where to start; the pedels are easy to clip into and out of, solid, look cool....What more can I say?
Weaknesses: None really, A bigger platform would be nice, and maybe put it on a diet too.lol.
Bottom Line:
A great pedal for beginners and pros' alike, easy to get into, and out off...Those that are BS'ing bout not being able to get out of the pedals, should learn how to ajust them.lol. An allround great pedal!
Submitted by
louis edwards
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2003
Strengths: very easy entry and exit. adjustable tension. works well in mud, compared to other SPDs. good comfortable platform that supports well when clipped in and can be used unclipped in a pinch. reasonable price. good cleat life.
Weaknesses: none so far, but i have kept an eye on the bolts mentioned in several other posts here.
Bottom Line:
very good recreational pedal. i especially like the ease of entry and exit, better than the other pedals i've tried. some don't care for the weight, but with my (ahem) beer muscles, it's silly to worry about a few ounces on the bike. i still prefer the adjustability of spuds over pedals like the times and eggbeaters, although they have many good qualities, too. if i rode in mud or sand all the time, they might be my first choice. my eggbeaters are on my road bike now, where they work great. there are good buys on these pedals right now, with prices competitive to many of the shimano copies. if you're a trail rider (not racer), you should give them serious consideration.
Similar Products Used: shimano 515, time ATAC, eggbeaters, wellgo SPDs.
Bike Setup: fisher hardtail with thudbuster and full SRAM 9.0 and halfpipes. panaracer trailblasters for all-around conditions, michelin sprints for dry and packed.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Bloomfield Hills, Mi, USA
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2003
Strengths: great entry pedal for someone new to the whole concept of loosing the platform. easy to use, solid design.
Weaknesses: a tad on the hefty side, but if weight was really that big of an issue to you. chances are you'd be buying an actual racing pedal, not this one or another lower end one, then complaining about it.
Bottom Line:
i like em. easy to get used to, easy to maintain. lots of people say bolts fall out, i ride as hard as anyone else, and with regular pre/post ride checks, i've never had a problem with them. i come outta them when i fall, and stay in them on a jump. they are a nice pedal and work well with the shimano mo82 shoes too.
Strengths: looks good, price variable, I paid too much
Weaknesses: platform bolts are weak
Bottom Line:
I liked them at first, then noticed three of the platform bolts were loose and wiggling in place, and couldn't be re-tightened because the threads were stripped. A fourth bolt was missing. A month later, Shimano still hadn't made good on the warranty. The shop allowed me to upgrade to 545"s for $20. I would not buy these pedals again because of the poor design, and poor service.
Submitted by
ron finck
a
from stratford, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2002
Strengths: Good mud clearance. Pedal platform is usefull but not downhill bulky or agressive. Weight is acceptable for platform area.
Weaknesses: None for the price.
Bottom Line:
Does everything advertised. It has supperior mud clearance to previous Shimano or Ritchey products I have used. Pedal platform is usefull compared to many minimalist designs. Weight is acceptable. Great value for the money and ideally suited to the mixed trail riding I do.
Similar Products Used: Shimano 515, 525, 325. Early Ritcheys.
Bike Setup: Rockey Mountain Blizzard. Mostly stock.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Katy, TX
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2002
Strengths: Easy to get in and out Lots of support under foot Clears mud well
Weaknesses: A little heavy
Bottom Line:
Very good value for the money. I had trouble getting out of the Times when I needed to resulting in a couple of embarrasing moments and an ankle injury. The Ritcheys have mud clearing problems and an annoying habit of releasing to soon even when tension is cranked up. I'm very pleased with this pedal overall.
