Home > Bike Types > Commuter

IB13: Shimano Lightens up with Composite 105, 550 SPD-SL Pedals, More Click’R Options

14 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Shimano Xc90 xc70 xc61 105 composite pedals travel case tri saddle20130918_0194

You gotta love it when technology that used to be reserved for the high end goods, trickles down to the lower price points. Shimano seems to be particularly good in that regard, seemingly making last year’s Dura Ace this year’s Ultegra. Following that concept, the use of composites for their SPD-SL road pedals has made its way past Dura Ace and Ultegra all the way down to 105, with the R550 joining in on the weight savings. In terms of material, the 105 pedal gets shod in a new lightweight carbon body and the R550 steps away from metal as well with a new “resin” body. Each pedal uses the newer extra wide cleat platform for Shimano’s SM-SH1 road cleat.

How light are the new road pedals? Check out the actual weight, plus new additions to the beginner friendly Click’r pedals after the jump.

shimano pedals shoes interbike 2013 (5) shimano pedals shoes interbike 2013 (1)

In order to make the composite bodies as durable as possible, each of the new road pedals is fitted with a stainless steel body plate across the center of the pedal. Both also include sealed cartridge bearings for the axle, though the 105 pedal gets upgraded to the metal hardware of the Ultegra carbon pedal. This means it no longer has pedal wrench flats so you have to use an allen at the end of the axle.

On the scale the 105 5700c pedal measured 138g making it 276g per pair, while the R550g was slightly more at 155g per pedal, or 310g per pair. The R550 is available in black or grey for $99.99 and the 5700c will retail for $149.99.

Shimano Xc90 xc70 xc61 105 composite pedals travel case tri saddle20130918_0191

Originally introduced with a small line, Shimano’s Click’r system offers the benefits of a clipless pedal yet in a form that is even easier to use than an SPD pedal with the tension fully loosened. Thanks to numbers like 60% less force to clip in, 62% less to clip out, and an 8.5 degree release angle instead of 13, Click’r seems to have become a great option for anyone on the fence with clipless. Addressing the growing demand, Shimano has introduced two new options in the Click’r Line, the $79 PD-T420 and PD-MT50.

Shimano Xc90 xc70 xc61 105 composite pedals travel case tri saddle20130918_0192

Essentially the Click’r version of the M324, PD-T420 is a dual sided pedal with a flat pedal on one side, and a clipless pedal on the other. The PD-MT50 on the other hand offers the Click’r platform to the mountain bike crowd with a dual sided clipless pedal designed for mud shedding and light traction pins on the pedal cage for additional grip on the shoes.

 

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

14 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
drider
drider
10 years ago

I don’t really understand the point behind 105 branded composite pedals, especially when the 6700 carbon pedals (which look pretty much the same) can be had at a similar price. I guess they want to make us completists happy.

Tim
Tim
10 years ago

I wish Shimano would update their SPD-SL cleat to incorporate a position memory insert similar to what Look did on the Keo cleat. This allows you to easily install new cleats in exactly the same position as the old ones with no fiddling, tracing, measuring, guessing, or swearing. Even if Look has a patent on it, Shimano could negotiate a licensing agreement to use it. In exchange for using the Look patent, Shimano could teach Look how to make cleats that don’t squeek.

SomeFawkingguy
SomeFawkingguy
10 years ago

Who pays retail ? I paid $150 for my ultegra carbon pedals.

Ventruck
Ventruck
10 years ago

Does Shimano know how hard it is to come up with a legit excuse to replace an SPD-SL pedal? Can’t kill my 5700’s no matter what.

Reynard2ki
Reynard2ki
10 years ago

Tim, take a sharpie and draw around the old cleat on the sole of your shoe. Remove the old cleat and install the new one inside the outline of the old one. Ta da!

Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

+1 on the Sharpie bit. I use a silver Sharpie.

I do wish Shimano would come out with a cleat with 9° or so of float. Otherwise, I find my Dura Ace SPD-SLs perfecto.

Julian Franco
10 years ago

I second Tim’s comment. I don’t want to write with a marker on an expensive pair of shoes.

Chris
Chris
10 years ago

@Julian

Really? I don’t think there is a shoe expensive enough for me to not mark on with a Sharpie. Who sees it anyway? Make it neat and when you mount the cleat you’ll barely notice it yourself. I don’t know about your shoes but I’m guessing that since they are “expensive” the soles are likely carbon. Black on black makes for barely noticeable marks. I’d rather buy a Sharpie then pay the overhead for some engineer to come up with some wacky idea of cleat memory.

Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

Use a water-based marker.

AnotherGuy
AnotherGuy
10 years ago

@SomeFawkinguy

Who pays retail? Really! People who like the bike industry.

Who rides Ultegra? What are you poor?

dude
dude
10 years ago

@psi Squared

I very much agree, something inline with the Red Cleat from Look would be great as a fitter ive run into issues with people that are pidgen toed or something similar and you just need more than 6.

herrow prease
herrow prease
10 years ago

Don’t use a sharpe because if you don’t angle it just perfect you will have some shifting. Use like the pointy end of compass or sharp spoke. This will make sure it’s dead on. And before you say “but i dont want to put a scratch on the bottom of my carbon shoe…..let me say to you “HTFU” puss. It’s the damn bottom of your shoe. You’ll be fine.

Or you can buy these ergon deals.
http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/tp1-shimano-spd-sl

Quattro Quattro
Quattro Quattro
10 years ago

@AnotherGuy

you get it

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.