Details
- Fluorine-coated binding claws allow for easy entry and release
- Pedals are dual-sided for easy entry and feature strong, durable chromoly spindles with 8mm Allen wrench mounts
- Low-maintenance sealed bearing cartridge axles
- Shimano SH51 cleats included
- 8mm Allen wrench is required for installation, sold seperately
Imported.
Specs
| Best Use | Mountain Biking |
|---|---|
| Pedal Design | Clipless |
| Cleat Design | 2-hole |
| SPD Compatible | Yes |
| Material(s) | Chromoly spindle |
| Weight | 346 grams |
Rated 5 out of
5
by
pdx_commuter from
Best Pedals for Commuting
When I first built my Surly Pacer I put the Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL pedals on it. Those were excellent pedals once you got clipped in, but they were too hard to get clipped into. I rode with them for a couple of years because I kept thinking that if I just practiced more I would get the hang of them. I never did.
Fairly recently I switched to CrankBrothers EggBeater SL pedals. They were easy to clip into, but I didn't like the feeling they had once I was clipped in. There was A LOT of float, and there was no delineation between float and unclipping.
These pedals are the best of both worlds. They are just as good as the Shimano Ultegra pedals when you are clipped in, and they are just as easy to clip into as the CrankBrothers EggBeater SL pedals.
Date published: 2008-11-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
SmittyMI from
Perfect pedals
I bought these originally for beginning road biking about a year ago and now have over 1500 miles on them. Once I clipped in, I could tell my biking was never going to be the same. They are durable, well adjustable for release tension, and hold you in extremely well. My only word of wisdom is whether you are doing road or mountain bike, get properly fitted with the cleats! Having your cleat position wrong on your shoes can lead to serious knee and joint problems no matter what shoes, pedals, or cleat style you buy.
Date published: 2010-06-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cyclist Kurt from
Excellent
Bought these to replace my old SPD pedals on my vintage Fuji touring bike. That pair was over 20 years old and saw a lot of hard use in the past 5 or 6 years. Gotta say the last pair made me a believer in Shimano pedals.
The new pedals are easier to adjust, easier to get in and out of and overall a major improvement. They have a little more free play while still feeling very solid under foot which makes them overall more comfortable for me.
I like the feel of SPD pedals in general and these pedal are a definite step up in terms of comfort. Highly recommended.
Date published: 2013-12-06
Rated 5 out of
5
by
HikerBabe from
Perfect Pedals
I have recently *become* a semi-avid cyclist. (Was more of a casual rider before.) Just got my first high-end road bike and wanted to go all the way and get my first clipless pedals. I've always been so intimidated by them -- I've heard so many people talk about how long it takes to get used to them. I did have a friend give me a little tutorial, and I practiced getting in and out of them a few times before going out on a long ride. That's something I would definitely recommend if you've never gone clipless before. These are surprisingly easy to use, and I really like going clipless. These pedals have just enough float so that my feet don't feel confined. I like the fact that you can pull up in addition to pushing down on the pedals -- more efficient and takes some of the pressure off of your feet. These are technically for mountain bikes, but there's no reason you can't put them on a road bike so long as your shoes are compatible. These pedals are pretty easy to get in an out of, and they have definitely improved my riding experience. I'm very happy with them -- they made my first clipless experience a very good one!
Date published: 2009-07-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
babzer from
Great pedals!
These are my first clipless pedals. I have a hybrid bike that I use for commuting and long weekend road rides. They were very very easy to install on the bike and on my shoes. I got used to using them after only about three "clips and unclips". Adjusting the spring tension was simple and fast. I highly recommend these.
Date published: 2011-03-31
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Hook1080 from
Workhorse SPD
I originally bought these pedals for my Cannondale Prophet, for light freeriding, cross country, and epic day rides. The all-metal construction isn't the lightest, it sure makes these babies stand up to some heavy abuse. Pedal strikes on rocks, laying the bike down: whatever you can dish out, they'll take.
After awhile, I installed these on my track bike to commute to work. They stood up to abuse in Boston, New York, and Atlanta. I crank the tension WAY up to keep me locked in, and I like the minimal float (I sold a pair of speedplays because they felt comparably sloppy, float-wise).
The real cons for me? I guess to shave a few grams, Shimano removed the traditional pedal-wrench-compatible where you could remove and install these with a pedal wrench. You're left to install these with only an allen wrench on the inside of each spindle—so if they get stuck on, you're in for some work. A local bike shop installed a new drivetrain on my bike, forgot to lube the threads, and I was left with a stuck pedal, and eventually a cracked spindle.
Hence, I'm on my second pair of M540s. I'll be mounting them to my Ti road bike soon.
Bottom line? These things are tough enough for the trail, and reliable enough for daily commutes in slush, rain, and muck. They're my go-to for pretty much everything on a bike.
Date published: 2012-10-17
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Flying Monkey from
Squeaky
I bought these pedals from REI, used them once on my road bike, and had to return them for a full refund. I tested them on my road bike before going mountain biking. When climbing steep hills that require a lot of strenuous push and pull motion, the pedals squeaked. The sound was annoying to me and I knew that I would not be able to stand it. I am the type of person who is bothered by sounds, such as when my office mate eats an apple like horse. I had been using a pair of Look bike pedals for about twelve years and they made no noise. I thought it was time for an upgrade so I tried these M540 pedals but the metal squeak sound when working these pedals was bothersome. [...] I have shopped at REI for several years and this was the first time that I returned an item. I'm fit, I weigh 167 lbs, and I am 43 years old. I don't race but ride a 2-3 times a week for good exercise.
Date published: 2010-04-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Starborne from
Solid
My first clipless pedal, and I am very pleased. Pro riders may find they are too easy to release, although I'm sure adjusting the tension can remedy this (at my current skill level, I like being able to get out of them easily). Just remember to securely tighten your cleats to your shoes before riding, or else you might end up pulling your shoe off the cleat and leaving the cleat stuck in the pedal... oops.
Date published: 2008-07-19
Is the Shimano M540 SPD pedal an upgrade of the Shimano M535 SPD previously offered and is the pedal compatible with cyclocross riding under muddy conditions including the ease of frequent clicking in and out while riding under these conditions?
The M540 pedals are a more updated model of the M535 pedals. Shimano removed the outsdide cage making the M540s significantly lighter. Because the cage is no longer present on the pedals, the M540s will have a little more flex which will help keep mud out of the pedals.
Date published: 2015-09-20
Reviews
Rated 5 out of
5
by
pdx_commuter from
Best Pedals for Commuting
When I first built my Surly Pacer I put the Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL pedals on it. Those were excellent pedals once you got clipped in, but they were too hard to get clipped into. I rode with them for a couple of years because I kept thinking that if I just practiced more I would get the hang of them. I never did.
Fairly recently I switched to CrankBrothers EggBeater SL pedals. They were easy to clip into, but I didn't like the feeling they had once I was clipped in. There was A LOT of float, and there was no delineation between float and unclipping.
These pedals are the best of both worlds. They are just as good as the Shimano Ultegra pedals when you are clipped in, and they are just as easy to clip into as the CrankBrothers EggBeater SL pedals.
Date published: 2008-11-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
SmittyMI from
Perfect pedals
I bought these originally for beginning road biking about a year ago and now have over 1500 miles on them. Once I clipped in, I could tell my biking was never going to be the same. They are durable, well adjustable for release tension, and hold you in extremely well. My only word of wisdom is whether you are doing road or mountain bike, get properly fitted with the cleats! Having your cleat position wrong on your shoes can lead to serious knee and joint problems no matter what shoes, pedals, or cleat style you buy.
Date published: 2010-06-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cyclist Kurt from
Excellent
Bought these to replace my old SPD pedals on my vintage Fuji touring bike. That pair was over 20 years old and saw a lot of hard use in the past 5 or 6 years. Gotta say the last pair made me a believer in Shimano pedals.
The new pedals are easier to adjust, easier to get in and out of and overall a major improvement. They have a little more free play while still feeling very solid under foot which makes them overall more comfortable for me.
I like the feel of SPD pedals in general and these pedal are a definite step up in terms of comfort. Highly recommended.
Date published: 2013-12-06
Rated 5 out of
5
by
HikerBabe from
Perfect Pedals
I have recently *become* a semi-avid cyclist. (Was more of a casual rider before.) Just got my first high-end road bike and wanted to go all the way and get my first clipless pedals. I've always been so intimidated by them -- I've heard so many people talk about how long it takes to get used to them. I did have a friend give me a little tutorial, and I practiced getting in and out of them a few times before going out on a long ride. That's something I would definitely recommend if you've never gone clipless before. These are surprisingly easy to use, and I really like going clipless. These pedals have just enough float so that my feet don't feel confined. I like the fact that you can pull up in addition to pushing down on the pedals -- more efficient and takes some of the pressure off of your feet. These are technically for mountain bikes, but there's no reason you can't put them on a road bike so long as your shoes are compatible. These pedals are pretty easy to get in an out of, and they have definitely improved my riding experience. I'm very happy with them -- they made my first clipless experience a very good one!
Date published: 2009-07-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
babzer from
Great pedals!
These are my first clipless pedals. I have a hybrid bike that I use for commuting and long weekend road rides. They were very very easy to install on the bike and on my shoes. I got used to using them after only about three "clips and unclips". Adjusting the spring tension was simple and fast. I highly recommend these.
Date published: 2011-03-31
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Hook1080 from
Workhorse SPD
I originally bought these pedals for my Cannondale Prophet, for light freeriding, cross country, and epic day rides. The all-metal construction isn't the lightest, it sure makes these babies stand up to some heavy abuse. Pedal strikes on rocks, laying the bike down: whatever you can dish out, they'll take.
After awhile, I installed these on my track bike to commute to work. They stood up to abuse in Boston, New York, and Atlanta. I crank the tension WAY up to keep me locked in, and I like the minimal float (I sold a pair of speedplays because they felt comparably sloppy, float-wise).
The real cons for me? I guess to shave a few grams, Shimano removed the traditional pedal-wrench-compatible where you could remove and install these with a pedal wrench. You're left to install these with only an allen wrench on the inside of each spindle—so if they get stuck on, you're in for some work. A local bike shop installed a new drivetrain on my bike, forgot to lube the threads, and I was left with a stuck pedal, and eventually a cracked spindle.
Hence, I'm on my second pair of M540s. I'll be mounting them to my Ti road bike soon.
Bottom line? These things are tough enough for the trail, and reliable enough for daily commutes in slush, rain, and muck. They're my go-to for pretty much everything on a bike.
Date published: 2012-10-17
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Flying Monkey from
Squeaky
I bought these pedals from REI, used them once on my road bike, and had to return them for a full refund. I tested them on my road bike before going mountain biking. When climbing steep hills that require a lot of strenuous push and pull motion, the pedals squeaked. The sound was annoying to me and I knew that I would not be able to stand it. I am the type of person who is bothered by sounds, such as when my office mate eats an apple like horse. I had been using a pair of Look bike pedals for about twelve years and they made no noise. I thought it was time for an upgrade so I tried these M540 pedals but the metal squeak sound when working these pedals was bothersome. [...] I have shopped at REI for several years and this was the first time that I returned an item. I'm fit, I weigh 167 lbs, and I am 43 years old. I don't race but ride a 2-3 times a week for good exercise.
Date published: 2010-04-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Starborne from
Solid
My first clipless pedal, and I am very pleased. Pro riders may find they are too easy to release, although I'm sure adjusting the tension can remedy this (at my current skill level, I like being able to get out of them easily). Just remember to securely tighten your cleats to your shoes before riding, or else you might end up pulling your shoe off the cleat and leaving the cleat stuck in the pedal... oops.
Date published: 2008-07-19
Questions & Answers
Is the Shimano M540 SPD pedal an upgrade of the Shimano M535 SPD previously offered and is the pedal compatible with cyclocross riding under muddy conditions including the ease of frequent clicking in and out while riding under these conditions?
The M540 pedals are a more updated model of the M535 pedals. Shimano removed the outsdide cage making the M540s significantly lighter. Because the cage is no longer present on the pedals, the M540s will have a little more flex which will help keep mud out of the pedals.
Date published: 2015-09-20
