You asked if we had similar experience with pedals... I rode a pair of SLX-level XC SPD pedals for years. In 2021 I went to Whistler and rented a bike and asked for SPD pedals. The rental bike came with an older XT trail SPD pedal and I really liked them; the extra platform felt solid and more comfortable and it was easier to "find" the pedal in awkward situations. Coincidentally, the rental bike was a Yeti SB165 :-) When I got home, I bought a pair of XT 8120s, one step down from your 9120s. The extra 100 grams is unfortunate... but worth it. Hope you enjoy your 9120s!
The popping out axe seals are a fact. Which, to put it mildly, is rather odd for the flagship product made at Shimano's home. Even more odd that they didn't tweak the design to eliminate the issue in spite of the sheer number of public complaints about these. I've been rocking a pair of these for a year and 7.5K km now. And, don't get me wrong here, that's a great pedal with no single issue but that popping out black washer or seal thing. Greasing and tucking it back helps - but only temporarily; sooner or later at least one will pop back out. Most oddly, in my case it's the left one that doesn't stay in place more often. Sending them back was not an option for me since, as said, they work great, and I believe that even if I threw away the stubborn seals altogether, they'd keep performing. But the proud made in Japan tag calls for better sitting seals.
I saw a fix online at mtbr. I don't remember the exact dimension, but get some o-rings with an inner diameter of around 10mm--whatever fits snugly on the spindle. Put them over the threaded end of the spindle onto the spindle. About 4 of them will butt tightly up against the seal, and prevent it from backing out. I am receiving a pair of 9100s next week, and will do this mod before first use.
My 520s, or whatever the equivalent was in 2006, are still holding strong. They came with a mountain bike back when that was still a spec on new bikes. I now use them on my cyclocross bike, which also acts as part time commuter and gravel bike. Seems like you can't go wrong with any Shimano SPDs.
Thanks for the review. I use Saint SPD. Did you ever try Crankbrothers Mallet pedals? I would be interested in comparison. I also like the clean look if their Eggbeater pedals. People say Crankbrothers are much better in a mudd.
I'm curious how the platform interfaces with shoe sole. Would be good if you could show that. Because I've heard that there may be a gap between the platform and the shoe, but maybe this is due to a shoe design perhaps.
I'm using the 2FO Clip shoe. I'm coming from flats. Feels very stable, very in place, you don't feel like the shoe is floating above and even when miss the entrance it gives you enought support to keep pedaling untill you found the spot to clip in again.
It looks like only the back half has contact with the shoe, which might be a good thing, but might also be bad depending on your preference. I haven't tried these though.
I'm on my second set of 520s,first one got stolen with my bike. Just before I bought my second bike, I had a new set of 520s ordered. Very strong and sturdy. Can't beat the price to quality of those. Also there's a special tool to open and service them. You could buy it for a few dollars. Inside they are basically like the shimano cup and cone hubs. Clean the old grime and put fresh grease on the ball bearings. Tighten just the right amount and then beat the hell outa them 💪
I've got XT 8020's and the left seal keeps pushing out. I've rebuilt/re-greased them a number of times and they are just a bit sloppy. Other than that they have been great and coming from a long lived pair of Ritchey SPD compatible pedals from the late 90's that seemed bombproof but were built similarly to the more XC/race pedals. I find the difference between XTR and XT tends to be mostly weight at this point and tend to go with XT when possible.
I have the platform XTR pedals on my XC bike and the non-platform (520s?) on my road bike. Both I got with bike purchases. I need to pay more attention to the difference but since they’ve been different use I haven’t really. I use the same Giro shoes that aren’t super stuff (look like regular tennis shoes or 5-10 flats) with both but obviously do more standing with the XC bike so I figure the platforms probably help. But I would like to hear your follow up on how you compare them.
I have M9020. Sliced a deep cut into my calf with these sharp edges (missed pedal with my shoe). Kinda regretting I did not go with smoother XTs M8020 at that time. But these M9120 look like they don't have sharp edges anymore. Or do they?
I would go with the Deore XT PD-M8120. Just 30g more on the scale, but saving some cash. Also no seal which is working its way out of the pedal. This happens to my XTR XC pedal.
Agree, the XT version is nearly identical. Had them for about a year - trouble free as expected. I am a big proponent of the 56 cleats for those who aren't racing. They are easier to use and safer.
My M8120s are pretty good, way more supportive than the 520s I was using before. My sole doesn't contact most of the backwards extended area though, despite using flexy AM5 shoes which is annoying. Got them for £40 brand new as a take off from a bike which was a bargain so can't really complain!
@@LoveMTB The platform on the left and right of the spindle is a lot larger, and there is a little of the extended cage that touches the shoe. I get noticeably less cramp in my feet on steep technical stuff where you're relying heavily on the pedals.
I thought the cage is more to help with pedal strike vs offering more of a platform. Thus, I went with the smaller and lighter XTRs. Plus, I ordered (for my gravel bike) from ebay at a substantial savings.
I was tempted by ebay discounted prices. But they were mostly coming from China. Very likely clones. Only way to be sure to get authentic Shimano product nowadays is to go through an authorized dealer. I found a shop that gave me 20% off and bought 9100 race versions today.
@@LoveMTB i didn’t really had fancy shoes when I made the change, but it was the rotation of the foot what made the difference. You can rotate your foot more with the XC pedals (not the rotation to take off the foot, the other motion) Kind off hard to explain
Bought them a few weeks ago. So far so good, love the feel and love that you can adjust the spring. I use them with the 56 cleat that is for multirelease ditch the 51 cleat.
@@LoveMTB I don't do XC. I tend to ride more aggresively and prefer the 56 cause in case of an emergency they unclip like a wind. Least thing I want is going downhill fall and have me being clipped to he bike. 😆😆😆
I also use the Multi-Release cleats, but sometimes when pulling too hard on the pedals I actually unclipped, which was quite dangerous. I unclipped quite frequently when bunny hopping with my gravel bike. Did you ever encounter similar issues? But I still prefer the SH-56 over the Single-Release ones. On my MTB I didn't like clips at all though, so I switched back to flat pedals. However I would definitely give pedals like the ones shown here another try if they weren't so expensive.
@@sebastianjost for me that was a learning curve, but if you bunny hop and jump using the same technique as when you are using flats everything will go smooth. If you tend to pull specially up that's when you might get unclipped.
@@elkat_bori_pr7791 on flats I have absolutely no issue with bunny hopping, but I guess the slightly different foot position and lack of pins on the pedals makes a difference I may still have to get used to.
Hey bro can i request a comparison between SR Suntour Axon 32 LO-R vs Rockshox Recon Silver RL ? Can't decide on w/c one is better in the long run. Thanks
@@LoveMTB Ive been clipless for only about x2-3 years now initally on the trainer using shimano m520. then a pair of xt XC peddals for my gravel bike and then finally the XT MTB platform pedals recently. I cant seem to kill the 520s i got them seccond hand and ive done 30k+km and zero maintenance. I like the xt xc pedals but swaped them out for a pair of assioma power pedal with the XC hack, i like the power but cliping in and out is definatly worse than shimano. The MTB xt have been good and every time ive gone to put a foot out ive been able to, limited use though.
My seals on the XTR pedals came out after I re-greased them. I had put too much grease in the axle body and it forced the seal out after a couple of rides. I stripped them again and used much less grease and not had a problem since...they have a particular orientation as shown in Shimano's instructions. One thing that really annoys me is that you cannot buy the seals separately. Any slack in the bearings that develops over time can easily be taken up during a strip down. I have even put in ceramic balls to see how that works out and the pedals spin better but it is not required. Do not be tempted to lighten them further with a titanium axle from a third party because the design of bearing uses the axle surface for one side and titanium is much too soft for that and quickly wears away.
The seals on these pedals are junk. There is no way one should have to do maintenance to keep the seals from coming out. I had two sets of these warranted by Shimano and an axle replacement. Even on the second set the seal came out in the first mile and a half. Finally Shimano switched them out for XT's and no issues at all and I have had them for two years. I had to eat the cost difference.
I got the XT version and I feel the difference between the shimano hybrid pedals. I love it.
These are serious pedals 🙂
Pd-m520 should be a national treassure of Malaysia, considering how much happyness they brought to the world :-)
You asked if we had similar experience with pedals...
I rode a pair of SLX-level XC SPD pedals for years. In 2021 I went to Whistler and rented a bike and asked for SPD pedals. The rental bike came with an older XT trail SPD pedal and I really liked them; the extra platform felt solid and more comfortable and it was easier to "find" the pedal in awkward situations. Coincidentally, the rental bike was a Yeti SB165 :-)
When I got home, I bought a pair of XT 8120s, one step down from your 9120s. The extra 100 grams is unfortunate... but worth it.
Hope you enjoy your 9120s!
The popping out axe seals are a fact. Which, to put it mildly, is rather odd for the flagship product made at Shimano's home. Even more odd that they didn't tweak the design to eliminate the issue in spite of the sheer number of public complaints about these.
I've been rocking a pair of these for a year and 7.5K km now. And, don't get me wrong here, that's a great pedal with no single issue but that popping out black washer or seal thing. Greasing and tucking it back helps - but only temporarily; sooner or later at least one will pop back out. Most oddly, in my case it's the left one that doesn't stay in place more often. Sending them back was not an option for me since, as said, they work great, and I believe that even if I threw away the stubborn seals altogether, they'd keep performing.
But the proud made in Japan tag calls for better sitting seals.
Wonder how long the seals last. I'm on my 4th warranty replacement PD-M9100s because of the poor seal design slipping out.
Hi, Was that the short or long axle version you had/have?
@@Dreamcee Long axle.
I saw a fix online at mtbr. I don't remember the exact dimension, but get some o-rings with an inner diameter of around 10mm--whatever fits snugly on the spindle. Put them over the threaded end of the spindle onto the spindle. About 4 of them will butt tightly up against the seal, and prevent it from backing out. I am receiving a pair of 9100s next week, and will do this mod before first use.
My 520s, or whatever the equivalent was in 2006, are still holding strong. They came with a mountain bike back when that was still a spec on new bikes. I now use them on my cyclocross bike, which also acts as part time commuter and gravel bike. Seems like you can't go wrong with any Shimano SPDs.
Thanks for the review. I use Saint SPD. Did you ever try Crankbrothers Mallet pedals? I would be interested in comparison. I also like the clean look if their Eggbeater pedals. People say Crankbrothers are much better in a mudd.
I'm curious how the platform interfaces with shoe sole. Would be good if you could show that. Because I've heard that there may be a gap between the platform and the shoe, but maybe this is due to a shoe design perhaps.
I'm using the 2FO Clip shoe. I'm coming from flats. Feels very stable, very in place, you don't feel like the shoe is floating above and even when miss the entrance it gives you enought support to keep pedaling untill you found the spot to clip in again.
It looks like only the back half has contact with the shoe, which might be a good thing, but might also be bad depending on your preference. I haven't tried these though.
i use the m9020 on my summer road bike.. im usually the only one showing up to group rides with shimano spd sandals :-O
Used multiple shimano pedals for over 10 years. Never... ever had a single problem. Ever.
I use XT m8100 XC oriented and the quality is already high. These m9120 look great!
Los he usado haga hace unos meses Xt de plataforma y ahora xtr 9120 ambos una maravilla nunca he usado otros solo Shimano
I'm on my second set of 520s,first one got stolen with my bike. Just before I bought my second bike, I had a new set of 520s ordered. Very strong and sturdy. Can't beat the price to quality of those. Also there's a special tool to open and service them. You could buy it for a few dollars. Inside they are basically like the shimano cup and cone hubs. Clean the old grime and put fresh grease on the ball bearings. Tighten just the right amount and then beat the hell outa them 💪
The Japanese take pride in everything they do. That’s a quality product. Good stuff.
XTR race with shorter axles are great! Fell so good with less Q.
I've got XT 8020's and the left seal keeps pushing out. I've rebuilt/re-greased them a number of times and they are just a bit sloppy. Other than that they have been great and coming from a long lived pair of Ritchey SPD compatible pedals from the late 90's that seemed bombproof but were built similarly to the more XC/race pedals. I find the difference between XTR and XT tends to be mostly weight at this point and tend to go with XT when possible.
I have the platform XTR pedals on my XC bike and the non-platform (520s?) on my road bike. Both I got with bike purchases. I need to pay more attention to the difference but since they’ve been different use I haven’t really. I use the same Giro shoes that aren’t super stuff (look like regular tennis shoes or 5-10 flats) with both but obviously do more standing with the XC bike so I figure the platforms probably help. But I would like to hear your follow up on how you compare them.
I have M9020. Sliced a deep cut into my calf with these sharp edges (missed pedal with my shoe). Kinda regretting I did not go with smoother XTs M8020 at that time. But these M9120 look like they don't have sharp edges anymore. Or do they?
I would go with the Deore XT PD-M8120. Just 30g more on the scale, but saving some cash. Also no seal which is working its way out of the pedal. This happens to my XTR XC pedal.
Agree, the XT version is nearly identical. Had them for about a year - trouble free as expected. I am a big proponent of the 56 cleats for those who aren't racing. They are easier to use and safer.
My M8120s are pretty good, way more supportive than the 520s I was using before. My sole doesn't contact most of the backwards extended area though, despite using flexy AM5 shoes which is annoying. Got them for £40 brand new as a take off from a bike which was a bargain so can't really complain!
@@LoveMTB The platform on the left and right of the spindle is a lot larger, and there is a little of the extended cage that touches the shoe. I get noticeably less cramp in my feet on steep technical stuff where you're relying heavily on the pedals.
I thought the cage is more to help with pedal strike vs offering more of a platform. Thus, I went with the smaller and lighter XTRs. Plus, I ordered (for my gravel bike) from ebay at a substantial savings.
I was tempted by ebay discounted prices. But they were mostly coming from China. Very likely clones. Only way to be sure to get authentic Shimano product nowadays is to go through an authorized dealer. I found a shop that gave me 20% off and bought 9100 race versions today.
@@DiGiTaLdAzEDM Agreed! My ebay purchase lasted one year and I then purchased replacements at an AD at a much higher price. Lesson learned!
I used to have the M540 on my XC bike, but now for my trail bike I have the XT M8120
@@LoveMTB i really like the extra support you get from the bigger platform. It feels safer when you are pushing harder
@@LoveMTB i didn’t really had fancy shoes when I made the change, but it was the rotation of the foot what made the difference.
You can rotate your foot more with the XC pedals (not the rotation to take off the foot, the other motion)
Kind off hard to explain
Cannot go wrong with #shimano clips!
Bought them a few weeks ago. So far so good, love the feel and love that you can adjust the spring. I use them with the 56 cleat that is for multirelease ditch the 51 cleat.
@@LoveMTB I don't do XC. I tend to ride more aggresively and prefer the 56 cause in case of an emergency they unclip like a wind. Least thing I want is going downhill fall and have me being clipped to he bike. 😆😆😆
I also use the Multi-Release cleats, but sometimes when pulling too hard on the pedals I actually unclipped, which was quite dangerous. I unclipped quite frequently when bunny hopping with my gravel bike.
Did you ever encounter similar issues?
But I still prefer the SH-56 over the Single-Release ones. On my MTB I didn't like clips at all though, so I switched back to flat pedals.
However I would definitely give pedals like the ones shown here another try if they weren't so expensive.
@@sebastianjost for me that was a learning curve, but if you bunny hop and jump using the same technique as when you are using flats everything will go smooth. If you tend to pull specially up that's when you might get unclipped.
@@elkat_bori_pr7791 on flats I have absolutely no issue with bunny hopping, but I guess the slightly different foot position and lack of pins on the pedals makes a difference I may still have to get used to.
Hi. Have you had an issue with the seals coming off? Many people say they come off after a few rides.
Hey bro can i request a comparison between SR Suntour Axon 32 LO-R vs Rockshox Recon Silver RL ? Can't decide on w/c one is better in the long run. Thanks
Oh ok .. Thanks
Xtr best . Platform help when you miss 😇
Im a fat slob, can this hold 330 lbs?
I wanted some XTRs but I was put off by the seal blowout
@@LoveMTB I’m unsure I haven’t seen it personally but for me with the extra cost for the XTR it was an easier decision to get XT
@@LoveMTB Ive been clipless for only about x2-3 years now initally on the trainer using shimano m520.
then a pair of xt XC peddals for my gravel bike and then finally the XT MTB platform pedals recently.
I cant seem to kill the 520s i got them seccond hand and ive done 30k+km and zero maintenance.
I like the xt xc pedals but swaped them out for a pair of assioma power pedal with the XC hack, i like the power but cliping in and out is definatly worse than shimano.
The MTB xt have been good and every time ive gone to put a foot out ive been able to, limited use though.
My seals on the XTR pedals came out after I re-greased them. I had put too much grease in the axle body and it forced the seal out after a couple of rides. I stripped them again and used much less grease and not had a problem since...they have a particular orientation as shown in Shimano's instructions. One thing that really annoys me is that you cannot buy the seals separately. Any slack in the bearings that develops over time can easily be taken up during a strip down. I have even put in ceramic balls to see how that works out and the pedals spin better but it is not required. Do not be tempted to lighten them further with a titanium axle from a third party because the design of bearing uses the axle surface for one side and titanium is much too soft for that and quickly wears away.
The seals on these pedals are junk. There is no way one should have to do maintenance to keep the seals from coming out. I had two sets of these warranted by Shimano and an axle replacement. Even on the second set the seal came out in the first mile and a half. Finally Shimano switched them out for XT's and no issues at all and I have had them for two years. I had to eat the cost difference.
@@LoveMTB Yes it is. I had the previos gen XTR pedals for 4 years with no issues.
I propose channel name change to:
Love spending money & MTB
;-P HA HA
@@LoveMTB And with the parts availability being what it is, you must be paying full price!