Average Customer Review:
 ( 118 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 found the following review helpful:
 Great pedal for the priceJan 08, 2010
By P. Herlihy
Shimano M-520 pedals are a great, reliable cheap pedal and a good pedal for a newcomer to clipless. If you can find the plastic insert that fits into them, you can have a platform on one side and clipless on the other which allows a beginner to choose, initially, and grow their confidence in unclipping.
The M-520 is heavier than its others in the SPD lineup, but not so much to worry most cyclists. The higher end models are made with lighter, stronger components and should be more reliable over time and for heavy use. I've found that the M-520 can clog up with mud making it difficult to clip in, but only in very bad conditions.
I've used the M-520 exclusively on my road and mountain bikes but have just upgraded to the XT and XTR versions as I found that the M-520 *does* need maintenance. On several pairs now, they began making a clicking noise which I resolved by overhauling them and tightening up the internal retaining nuts.
Over time, you may find it more difficult to unclip, or there is excessive movement when clipped in. This is usually the cleat in your shoe - expect to replace this fairly regularly, especially if you walk in your cycling shoes.
28 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 Beginner with learning curve - Easy to use!Jun 20, 2007
By J. Marz
I'm new to the sport of Mtn Biking and bought these for my Specialized Hard Rock. They are awesome! Easy clip in and you can get out fast (tention is adjustable). They were easy to install and were very compatible with my Specialized shoes. I even bought the plastic clip on pedal covers (to function as normal pedals) so I could do some street riding with my kids.
32 of 33 found the following review helpful:
Works great! Smooth, sturdy, adjustable, reliable.Nov 15, 2008
By Robert M
Have been using this pedal for road bicycling for about a year. Haven't been disappointed. The pedal has been working smoothly for over 1000 miles, requires no maintenance, clips in/out smoothly, and has adjustable tightness (from very easy in/out to very tight). Overall a very solid pedal, smooth clipping in/out, and simply works great! The paint and aluminum has been scratched, but the cro-moly clipping mechanism is in perfect condition.
Overall, very well priced at forty with a set of cleats. Don't really see a reason to upgrade to the PD-540 or PD-770.
Before you expect to hit the road, loosen the pedals about 1 full round (there are two 3mm hex screws per pedal for adjusting tension) so that it is not too tight. And practice getting in and out. I fell twice within the first weeks because I was not accustomed to getting in/out quickly. After you get used to it, adjust it to your preference.
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
 Good value, reliable pedals.Feb 11, 2010
By Tony Chinn
"mastachinn"
After some investigating on Shimano clipless pedals, I decided this M520 is the best value for a decent reliable set of clipless pedals. The higher end models share the same components, based on the Shimano web site where part numbers and exploded views of the pedals are available. The innards seem to have the same part numbers. I conclude the difference is the higher end models are lighter because some of the outside components are made of lighter more expensive materials, but the functional parts, i.e. bearings, bearing races, etc. are the same. I bought some clipless pedals from Nashbar that appear almost identical to the M520, but after a few thousand miles, the right pedal seized up on me. Prior to that I was very happy with the Nashbar pedals, they were cheaper than Shimano. I now have two sets of Shimano M520 pedals (on two different bikes) and I am happy with them. I have close to ten thousand miles on these pedals without any problems. Well I did recently replace a cleat on my right shoe as I started get an inadvertent release. I engage and dis-engage on the right when I stop for any reason. The new cleat solved that problem. I guess the cleats can wear out. I could have increased the spring tension but I replaced the cleat as I had extras. I have not adjusted the spring tension; I just use them "as is" right out of the box. I also considered the Shimano road versions of the clipless pedals and concluded it is not worth the higher cost. By the way, I ride exclusively on the road. If weight is your key criteria, you might consider the road versions and be prepared to pay the higher prices. I went on e-bay too and concluded Amazon is a more reliable and consistent source for this product.
14 of 15 found the following review helpful:
good enoughMar 04, 2008
By Alex
My old Centurion road bike came with the strap pedals. They bothered me and I decided to buy clipless ones. My price range was $30, and after reading various reviews they seemed to be the best choice. I am happy about the purchase. The cleat is durable, easy to walk in, easy to set up and the pedal mechanism holds your foot in when you want it and releases when needed.
Few years back I had Lemond Zurich with Look pedals, but I like these better, although they are meant for mountain bikes.
If you are a weekend warrior or getting clipless for the first time, I recommend these pedals. They are reliable, safe and the price is good.
See all 118 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
based on 118 reviews
