Nubie

Hey guys,

I did a search for this, but couldn't find the answer. And the Shimano website was less than helpful.

What exactly is the difference between all these pedals? Is it just the weight? They all look exactly the same in the pictures. Do they all take the same cleats? Then why are they priced so differently? I'm just looking for a beginners pedal, don't care much about weight or anything like that. What would you recommend?

PD-M505
M515
M525
M520
M545
M646
M534
M535
M540
M959

Thanks so much!

dahvaio

Weight and the way they look... They all take the same Cleats..

Hugh

I've got M520s and like them. $50 or so.

jsharr

i ride 520s, very happy with them. better metals, less weight as price goes up. If weight is not an issue the 520 should serve you well

johninencinitas

My Trek came with 505s. I do not like them. I find clipping in to be hit or miss. But that's probably just me.

lisitsa

Some claim to have better mud shedding, capabilities, but besides that theres not much sophistication in the mechanism to be a different one at each price level, so functionally, pedals are just about the same.

brianappleby

if you just want a beginner pedal why not get the peformance forte version? I did that when i started, and now i don't feel like it's such a waste as i look for road format pedals to ditch my SPD's.

Edit: Upon reading your "i got run over" post, it seems that you already have a pair of shimano SPD pedals? Why do you need another?

gmason

Take a look at their A515 and A520 pedals too. The 515s were replaced by the 520s this year, so you may get a great deal on them somewhere. And they even look more like "real" road pedals.

gmason

Take a look at their A515 and A520 pedals too. The 515s were replaced by the 520s this year, so you may get a great deal on them somewhere. And they even look more like "real" road pedals.

cooker

They don't actually take the same cleats - there are a few different Shimano cleats - but the cleats are easily switched if you buy new pedals. I use the same shoes with my road (A-520) and mountain (M-515) pedals...they both work with SH-51 cleats. Originally I had SH-55 cleats which unclip in any direction, but I trained myself to only unclip outwards and switched to the SH-51 cleats. Less chance of accidentally unclipping.

cooker

I saw the other thread where you got "clipped" by a jerk while trying to clip in. Since it was your first time clipping in and out in public, why not just keep those pedals and see if you can get skilled at using them? If they're always predictably upside down, you can probably learn to flip and clip without looking down.
Having said that, the two sided pedals like the M-515 are very convenient.

Retro Grouch 

Can't relate to the individual part numbers but I know this much for sure.

My wife and I used to have the old LX version on our tandem. I think that they were 535. I acquired a couple pairs of 747 and decided to put them onto our bike. Wife complained about messing with her half of the bike without her permission. I talked her into trying one ride before switching them back. After about 10 miles we both remarked at how much more positively and crisply they operated than the previous pedals.

I can't say what exactly the difference is, but I know that as you move up the SPD pedal food chain the quality definitely improves.

By the way, if anybody has a NOS or lightly used pair of 747 pedals for sale, I'll buy them.

Nubie

I sort of think that's what got me into the accident in the first place - was looking down and fiddling with the pedal, trying to get the right-side-up, when WHAMO! However, I certainly intend to keep those double-sided pedals on the old hybrid and keep on practicing with them. I was looking for pedals for my road bike, where I wanted something with double-sided cleats. And while I was looking, all the different numbers (while the cleats looked exactly the same!) was confusing. Thanks for clarifying though, I really appreciate it.

cooker

I should add that most of the Shimano SPD pedals work with the SH-51 cleats, which is how I can use the same shoes on two different pedals. Also, you can use either road or mountain pedals on either road or mountain bikes and they will work fine, and the tread on the mountain shoes doesn't seem to interfere with using the road pedals, at least not in my case. Mountain bike pedals work on both sides, the assumption being they may be clogged with mud or you may be clipping in and out a lot in hairy conditions, so you need both sides available. The road pedals are one sided on the assumption you clip in and out less frequently, and in clean conditions.