Shimano XTR PD-M9120 pedals review

Shimano’s XTR PD-M9120 clipless pedals look set to stand the test of time with a sleek, modern aesthetic that is equally at home on a top-of-the-range XC race bike as it is on a trail or enduro bike.

Refined to be a premium, lightweight pedal, the XTR PD-M9120’s domination of the market has been tested by an increasing number of competitors with similarly high-end products.

Fortunately, despite their price, the PD-M9120 pedals deliver on performance, are easily serviceable and should last many years.

Shimano XTR PD-M9120 pedals specifications

The platform’s shape has been designed to optimise weight (395g per pair), while prioritising a wide 70mm edge-to-edge contact area that extends to the rear of the platform. Shimano claims this provides a solid shoe-to-pedal interface for power and control.

Shaped around Shimano’s classic SPD mechanism, the slim axle is ovalised for more efficient mud clearance than previous iterations.

The XTRs feature the standard SM-SH51 steel cleats with 4 degrees' float and a 13-degree release angle, which should offer a predictable, positive engagement and easy release in all situations.

The body covers of the cleat jaws are replaceable, as are the axles. Disassembly is easy using the correct tools and following the PDF guide on the product web page for regular maintenance of the bearings and seals.

Shimano XTR PD-M9120 pedals performance

Just as Shimano intended, the wide and long platform (100x70mm) had millimetre-perfect contact with the soles of my Crankbrothers Mallet shoes, which gives an added sense of control when pressing through turns and generating speed.

For those times when technical sections didn’t let up enough to clip back in, the large platform gave plenty of support and grip without that sketchy feeling of balancing on just the cleat mechanism.

The slim profile (15.4mm) of the tapered leading and trailing edges strikes the balance required to assist cleat engagement, while minimising rock strikes.

The tapered shape of the platform followed the contour of the sole of my shoes to a tee, and with full weight pressing down through the pedals the ridges offered just the right amount of traction to prevent unwanted lateral movement of the shoes.

That said, the 4-degree float had a free action and made pedaling comfortable for my ankles and knees.

The stability and enhanced control the XTRs conveyed encouraged me to adopt the better riding form of dropping my heels on the descents, more so than pedals lacking this good contact.

The standard cleats come complete with metal spacers, which slot perfectly inside the shoe interface to fine tune the cleat’s depth and cleat-pedal engagement.

This is a much smarter, high-end alternative to the perishable plastic spacers of other pricey pedal systems.

How do Shimano’s XTR SPD pedals compare to Hope’s TC Union?

Straight off the bat, the XTRs are not only cheaper but lighter (the Hope TC Union pedals cost £150 and weigh 439g).

There’s little in it when it comes to the cleat mechanism itself, because both have a clear, crisp action for engaging and disengaging your foot that's consistent and predictable.

The Hopes have the option of pins, where the XTRs don’t. However, because of the added interference and damage pins can cause to shoe soles, you may find you opt to remove them in favour of retaining float.

Aesthetically speaking, riders may be drawn in either direction, with both looking the part – as befits their high price.

Shimano XTR PD-M9120 pedals bottom line

The XTRs met my expectations and justified their high price.

Not only are you paying for a set of good-looking pedals, but you also get a slick-functioning, supportive design that's fully serviceable and has readily available replacement parts.