Pedals: 5800's vs. R550
02-25-15, 01:26 PM
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At this very moment, the price difference you at your links is $3.00 dollars ... $69.99 vs $72.99. Shimano apparently doesn't think so...
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02-25-15, 01:36 PM
#4
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Well that's actually not quite true, the R550s I can remove with a regular pedal wrench, whereas the Ultegras (and the 5800s I believe) will need hex wrench, which I find a bit more fiddly to deal with.
02-25-15, 01:56 PM
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What the hell am I looking at then? Is this one of my senior moments?
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02-25-15, 02:12 PM
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^ the OP is in Canada. Maybe the conversion and/or tax differences are providing an extra wrinkle here.
You have direct experience with the PD-r550 and find them to be fine...so I'd say save your money.
You have direct experience with the PD-r550 and find them to be fine...so I'd say save your money.
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02-25-15, 02:26 PM
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few questions:
Aren't the size of the 5800's bigger than the 550? I was under the impression they were even though they are lighter. For me, a larger 'footprint' is better.
the 550's are a plastic composite of some sort while the 5800's are carbon. Should you get them struck against something, would one hold up better? This might be worth the extra cash.
Do they both engage equally? spring tension could be different and engagement could be smoother on one over the other. does anyone know?
For me, I went with the 5800 and got them from chain reaction for $69.99 or something like that....
Aren't the size of the 5800's bigger than the 550? I was under the impression they were even though they are lighter. For me, a larger 'footprint' is better.
the 550's are a plastic composite of some sort while the 5800's are carbon. Should you get them struck against something, would one hold up better? This might be worth the extra cash.
Do they both engage equally? spring tension could be different and engagement could be smoother on one over the other. does anyone know?
For me, I went with the 5800 and got them from chain reaction for $69.99 or something like that....
02-25-15, 04:05 PM
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The weight difference per pair is 15g, according to the specs. The difference is completely negligible. My 5700's on the Roubaix are not carbon, but fits with the stock 5700 group.
I've no problem engaging either pedals. The 105's have gone up in price since the $CAD has tanked. Should've bought them four months ago.
I've no problem engaging either pedals. The 105's have gone up in price since the $CAD has tanked. Should've bought them four months ago.
02-25-15, 07:43 PM
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All the UK stores have the 5800's for cheap:
Shimano 105 PD-5800 SPD-SL Pedals - Carbon Sports & Leisure | ProBikeKit.com
Not sure what the shipping, or any other fees would be for you.
S
Shimano 105 PD-5800 SPD-SL Pedals - Carbon Sports & Leisure | ProBikeKit.com
Not sure what the shipping, or any other fees would be for you.
S
02-25-15, 08:20 PM
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Save the money. The weight difference isn't worth it - use the savings for a pair of gloves, or socks or tubes or you get the point.
02-26-15, 08:28 AM
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Is one being a plastic and the other being carbon suggest that one might be more durable or stiffer?
02-26-15, 08:45 AM
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Carbon will also be more durable, but again, not sure to what end. I've never really put any damage on a pedal...
02-26-15, 09:07 AM
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the links do not show what cleats they come with...I know the ultegra comes with the yellow cleats that have what i think is 6 degrees of float, what do the others come with... what amount of float do you want and will you have to buy different cleats to get that? The price of additional cleats may determine which one is a better buy... I use the ultegra pedals on 2 of my bikes... when I went to buy a 3rd set, the dura ace were on sale for just a bit more than the ultegra... I use the blue cleats (2 degrees of float) and the dura ace come with the blue, where as ultegra comes with yellow, so for me, in that situation, the dura ace was actually cheaper as I would not have to buy a set of cleats too.
02-26-15, 09:36 AM
#16
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See description: https://www.artscyclery.com/Shimano_P...-SHPDR550.html
$48 from that website, quite a deal I'd say.
EDIT: OK, there seems to be some differences as to what the PD-R550s are made of, different places call it a "carbon composite" others call it a "composite", others "resin". I'm no material scientist, so maybe the materials are different, but they sure look pretty similar!
Last edited by dr_lha; 02-26-15 at 09:50 AM.
02-26-15, 09:40 AM
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02-26-15, 09:46 AM
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The website just says lightweight composite body. That could be fiberglass reinforced nylon. Somewhere else they say they are resin. The 5800 (105) says it is a carbon composite.
PD-R550L
https://bike.shimano.com/content/sac-...pd-r550-l.html
PD-r5800 (105)
https://bike.shimano.com/content/sac-...d/pd-5800.html
The 550 review on bike radar puts it nicely:
Shimano R550 SPD-SL pedals review - BikeRadar
and
PD-R550L
https://bike.shimano.com/content/sac-...pd-r550-l.html
PD-r5800 (105)
https://bike.shimano.com/content/sac-...d/pd-5800.html
The 550 review on bike radar puts it nicely:
Shimano R550 SPD-SL pedals review - BikeRadar
The Shimano R550 pedals are a feature packed, resin bodied road model that sits below Shimano's new 105 5700-C. The Japanese componentry behemoth is no stranger to using trickle down technology, and features that just a few years ago were only available in its top-of-the-line Dura-Ace range are now available in this lower end sibling.....
... We had the misfortunate of a crash during testing of the R550, and this certainly highlighted a downside to the lighter-weight composite material used. While metal-bodied pedals would shrug away such an incident, the resin body has a clear chunk of material missing. A quick use of a file and the pedals are useable once more, but it’s something worth noting....
So the big question many will ask is, if the R550s are so close to Shimano's 105 carbon pedals, why would you buy the 105’s – or even Ultegra, or Dura-Ace?
The answer's not a simple one, and for many it will come down to a decision over whether all-out durability and low weight is the prime concern, and if replacing the whole pedal every few years is an acceptable option. The R550 resin composite build isn’t as light – at 309g – or durable as the higher-end options, which weigh in at 276g (105 carbon), 256g (Ultegra carbon) and 248g (Dura-Ace). But for many riders, a pair of R540 will last many, many years – and, the odd nick aside, we'd expect the lighter, broader R550 to put in an excellent stint too.
The answer's not a simple one, and for many it will come down to a decision over whether all-out durability and low weight is the prime concern, and if replacing the whole pedal every few years is an acceptable option. The R550 resin composite build isn’t as light – at 309g – or durable as the higher-end options, which weigh in at 276g (105 carbon), 256g (Ultegra carbon) and 248g (Dura-Ace). But for many riders, a pair of R540 will last many, many years – and, the odd nick aside, we'd expect the lighter, broader R550 to put in an excellent stint too.
Last edited by Fly2High; 02-26-15 at 09:59 AM.
02-26-15, 09:55 AM
#19
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@Fly2High: Right, but they're comparing the durability there to aluminum pedals, not carbon composite ones.
These pedals are not just pure resin, they definitely have something fiberous in them. I think you might be right that they use a fiberglass reinforced nylon, rather than a carbon composite.
These pedals are not just pure resin, they definitely have something fiberous in them. I think you might be right that they use a fiberglass reinforced nylon, rather than a carbon composite.
02-26-15, 10:01 AM
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ok, they both come with yellow cleats....it is still back to a subjective choice for the op...
if the price difference is indeed $3 I see no reason to waste time thinking about it...and if it is $25, hell .... just flip a coin.
if the price difference is indeed $3 I see no reason to waste time thinking about it...and if it is $25, hell .... just flip a coin.
Last edited by obed7; 02-26-15 at 10:29 AM.
02-26-15, 10:03 AM
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@Fly2High: Right, but they're comparing the durability there to aluminum pedals, not carbon composite ones.
These pedals are not just pure resin, they definitely have something fiberous in them. I think you might be right that they use a fiberglass reinforced nylon, rather than a carbon composite.
These pedals are not just pure resin, they definitely have something fiberous in them. I think you might be right that they use a fiberglass reinforced nylon, rather than a carbon composite.
02-26-15, 10:08 AM
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@Fly2High: Right, but they're comparing the durability there to aluminum pedals, not carbon composite ones.
These pedals are not just pure resin, they definitely have something fiberous in them. I think you might be right that they use a fiberglass reinforced nylon, rather than a carbon composite.
These pedals are not just pure resin, they definitely have something fiberous in them. I think you might be right that they use a fiberglass reinforced nylon, rather than a carbon composite.
So the big question many will ask is, if the R550s are so close to Shimano's 105 carbon pedals, why would you buy the 105’s – or even Ultegra, or Dura-Ace?
The answer's not a simple one, and for many it will come down to a decision over whether all-out durability and low weight is the prime concern, and if replacing the whole pedal every few years is an acceptable option. The R550 resin composite build isn’t as light – at 309g – or durable as the higher-end options, which weigh in at 276g (105 carbon), 256g (Ultegra carbon) and 248g (Dura-Ace). But for many riders, a pair of R540 will last many, many years – and, the odd nick aside, we'd expect the lighter, broader R550 to put in an excellent stint too.
02-26-15, 10:22 AM
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When looking at the parts of each from Shimano's parts diagrams, they do have different part numbers on the axle assembly but most of the remaining parts, including the bearings, are the same (outside of course the material the frames are made from). So unless the addition of carbon yields some improvement in durability or stiffness that appeals to you, they are essentially the same. get either otherwise.
02-26-15, 10:54 AM
#24
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I will tell you this: I have both 6800 and R550s and cannot tell any difference between them when riding.
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