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Shimano XTR Pedals over rated for trail use?
Was getting a bit of knee pain lately. So was doing a bit of investigation on the bike, and noticed that my one year old XTR M985 trail pedal bearings were flogged. The spline shaft had a heap of play. Check my 5 year XT pedals, no play. Had a set of old Deores in the shed no play. Will pull them apart tomorrow to see if the bearings can be changed.
I admit I am tough on pedals, I ride rough and rocky trail and have a few strikes but the XT's have never had a problem. I have always been an XT user, only got these because they were on special and only a few more dollars than the XT's. Don't tell anyone really just wanted to have some XTR bling on the bike. Heard it makes you a better rider. So it looks like XTR is for the go fast boys and XT is for the go hard boys.
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Don't know about the XTR pedals specifically
But I've had 4 XT der's and they just keep going for ages
The 2 XTR der's I had (1 came with bike, the other on spec) broke within a few months
Was gonna get XTRs for the new scoot... until I read the reviews. Axle and bearing failure is common with this model apparently. The previous model was bullet proof.
My 2009 XTs have copped a hiding ... still good.
I put current XT Race pedals on the Scalpel and they are nice and supportive if a little heavy
I'm too slow so I need to keep pedalling over EVERYTHING, hence I bash the sheet out of my pedals badly.
Using the M540? (same design as the XT) and they have been faultless, despite my best efforts to destroy them.
I find the bearing design (they aren't really bearings) are pathetic on the XTR. I use a pair of XTR's I've modified (<100gram each) - but the bearings needed cleaning, repacking and adjusting every couple of months or so, even before they were modified. Will be looking at XT or other make soon.
I just put XT trails on my AM bike and can honestly say they feel no different to the 540's they replaced. I was hoping for a bit more support for the longer descents where my feet start to feel a bit sore (also could be a sole prob) but they feel the same.
Also, I just put a set of XTR pedals on the new XC bike (on special as with everyone else and felt the new bike deserved them!) but am a bit worried now with the comments about longevity (or lack of).....
I replaced a worn out set of XT pedals with a set of XTR and the only difference I have noticed is the price.
I managed to broke my right pedal axle (Ti?) after one and a half years of mild use (only riding on weekends and no more than 100km per week). Luckily they come with a 3 years warranty and was pretty easy to replaced them (thanks to CRC). But I found in several forums that this is a common thing, especially the right one.
As Hawkeye said and after a bit of research tonight, appears to be a common occurrence with the right drive side in some cases breaking right of the spindle. My right side is much worse than left side.Funny when you build your own bikes you research the parts your fitting to death. Didn't even think twice about checking the pedals, everyone knows Shimano pedals are bullet proof. Right? Just goes to show newer bling isn't always better. You can get a lot of M520's for the price of XTR's couldn't find any failures recorded, they never seem to rust as much as the XT's or XTR's either.
Racing parts aren't meant to last a long time. That'd be like Mark Webber complaining he's not getting 30,000 k's out of his race car tyres.
I've been running a set of XTR spds (older version) for over three years now and apart from needing tightening every so often the have been absolutely faultless. Still spin beautifully and I've beaten the absolute shit out of em. Just put a set of the XTR trails on my new steed. Hope they last just as long. Ill give you a review in a few months after I've given em a good flogging. My new bike has a low BB height so it will be a good test for them as I'm sure I'm going to get a few more pedal strikes from now on.
I have broken xt's and xtr's. the xtr's got replaced under warranty, the xt's didn't as they were just out of the 1 year warranty. So in my experience xt's were not any more reliable.
my 09 XTR's are now on my third bike (2013 anthem) and I have never had any issues with them and have also never serviced them. I don't ride very fast so that may be the reason!
I have had a set of 770 series XT (older model) pedals for years, been on a few different bikes. Had a second set on my race bike for similar amount of time. Only upgraded to current XTR's on my new race rig for bling factor and wanted mew race pedals to match the rest of the XTR groupo. Old race rig XT pedals went on my every day rig as the others one of the pedals came loose. Thought the inners were stuffed. ended up only needing the endcap thing tightened, but these things have copped an absolute flogging Bashed rocks etc, sometimes really hard, but they just keep coming back for more! So they are a spare set in my race bag incase my new XTRs shit the bed mid race.
RE current series giving more support, they have a much larger contact area compared to the previous model. However, of your shoes are worn, then these contact areas won't reach the pedal and have no more support than the previous models. I had to actually remove a bit of the supports on my shoes (new Shimano carbon sole) so that I could actually clip into the currect XTRs. Or if I got them in, they would basicly lock up (no float what so ever) and play havoc with my knees. Same shoes and cleats on old XT's had plenty of float. So I just ground a bit off and got enought float to not bother my knees but still firm enough to still support the shoe. I can't really tell any difference beteen the two pedals as far as support goes, as the shoe is so stiff and doesn't give at all. so if you're having probs with support, as you said I reckon its's a prob with the soles of the shoes being too flexy.