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Shimano spins out affordable SLX-level trail pedals & colorful, entry-level alloy flat pedals

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals - EF202 & EF205
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Shimano brings top-tier pedal tech down to more affordable prices again with new SLX-level clipless trail pedals and an all-new colorful move into high-quality alloy flat pedals for entry-level bikes. It’s pretty easy to find good pedals that are expensive, but Shimano often also manages to deliver performance & durability at the more affordable end of the spectrum too.

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals – EF202 & EF205

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals - EF202 & EF205
c. Shimano

The thinking goes that tons of people buy entry-level or affordable bikes that come with junk plastic platforms to get them out the door of the shop. But every cyclist can appreciate a well-built pedal, so Shimano created two affordable alloy flat pedals to add a bit of style & performance to any bike – the EF202 & EF205.

EF202 open platform pedals

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals - EF202 & EF205
Shimano PD-EF202

The PD-EF202s are a simple wide, concave alloy flat pedal with large openings in the platform. They get cast-in grip areas featuring 8 grip nubs per side (but not aggressive pins) and are designed for entry trail riding, trekking, e-MTB use, and any general purpose biking with either flat pedal MTB shoes or casual shoes.

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals - EF202 & EF205

The 512g EF202s sell for just $40 / 35€ and come in five anodized colors – black, silver, gold, blue & red. The aluminum pedals spin of chromoly steel axles with premium sealed cartridge bearings for long life & serviceability.

EF205 closed platform pedals

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals - EF202 & EF205
Shimano PD-EF205

The PD-EF205s use the same wide, concave alloy pedal base, but fill in a textured resin friction plate to get a closed platform, more suited for formal shoes. With cast alloy grip (minus the small pins/nubs) plus the resin in-fill grip, Shimano sees them more as a trekking or commuter pedal, less for off-road where mud clearance would be an issue.

Shimano entry-level alloy flat platform pedals - EF202 & EF205

The 612g EF205s sell for just $45 / 40€ and come in the same five anodized colors, plus the black resin infill.

The open black EF202 platforms should be available in early summer (July?), while the remaining filled options & colors will have to wait until summer’s end.

Shimano SLX-level ME700 clipless trail pedals

Shimano SLX-level ME700 clipless trail pedals

These new clipless trail pedals don’t get an official series designation as PD-ME700, allowing them to fall in as an entry to performance clipless trail riding to fill out recent groupsets like SLX, Deore & more. Officially they replace the nine-year-old M530 pedal, but notably get a series number upgrade (to the 7-series of SLX) and a wider, flatter platform directly inspired by recent XT pedals. (Affordable & popular smaller M520 & M540 pedals carry-over.)

Shimano SLX-level ME700 clipless trail pedals
Shimano PD-ME700

They’re meant to be a perfect match for all-mountain style shoes with wide, flat soles, or just XC riders looking for a bigger platform when unclipped. They’re almost 8mm wider than those M530s, and claim an extra 12% shoe contact area.

Shimano SLX-level ME700 clipless trail pedals

The forged alloy ME700 pedals get a chromoly steel axle, sealed cartridge bearings, and a claimed weight of 540g for the pair. The new $65 / 47.50€ PD-ME700 trail pedals are expected to be available in shops from mid-late summer 2020.

bike.Shimano.com

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Josh
Josh
3 years ago

Those PD-ME700s look pretty decent for the money. I used to prefer clipless without the platform, but am warming up to the larger pedals after a dozen stitches in my shin from just missing the meat of the pedal on a sketchy remount, lol.

typevertigo
typevertigo
3 years ago

The PD-ME700s look quite a bit slimmer compared to the PD-M530s they replace. I have a pair of the M530s, and the ME700s’ cages have a slightly daintier side profile while widening the sides of the SPD mechanism’s platform a little.

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