Trek has redesigned its pedal line, and they have a very familiar Look. The new Kovee and Line clipless pedal family has been redesigned to fit Trek’s clipless offerings.
What is it? Trek Pedals
The new Trek Kovee and Line pedals will be familiar to Look pedal users. The body shape, stack height, and width are nearly identical to the Look X-Track line of pedals, and that’s not a bad thing. Where the pedals diverge is the spindle and the bearings (and, I’m sure, other places), and they are SPD compatible.
Trek XC Kovee Pedals
The XC range offers three pedal configurations: Kovee Pro, Elite, and Comp. The Comp offering is the entry-level Kovee priced at $65.00 with a die-cast alloy pedal body. The Elite upgrades the pedal body from die-cast to a forged alloy with anodized plates for $105. The Pro is top-of-the-line for the Kovee XC pedals; the body is a lightweight composite body with knurling for added grip for $150.
Trek Line Trail Pedals
Trek’s new Line Pedal family aims at the trail, enduro, and downhill clipless crew. The Line pedals offer the same clipless feel as the Kovee, with a larger pedal platform. Like the Kovee line, they use the same SPD-compatible Look style cleats with a two-bolt pattern. The main difference in the Line pedals is the larger pedaling platform and added stability.
The Line family only has two offerings: Line Elite and Line Comp. The Line Elite pedal boasts a forged alloy body with some anti-slip machining on the surface, costing $120. The Line Comp has a die-cast alloy body with a less refined shape and is $75.
All pedals in the Kovee and Line offerings have the exact clipless mechanism. The Kovee and Line pedals have the same dual-sealed ball bearings with chromoly spindles, cleats, and mounting hardware.
The mounting hardware is nearly identical to the Look X-track pedals, excluding the washer. The washer for the Kovee and Line pedals isn’t as shapely as the one from Look, but it doesn’t affect the pedal function.
No more Bontrager?
Trek seems to be quickly moving away from the Bontrager naming, and the pedal line is the latest to move to “Trek.” When will we see Trek wheels and Trek shoes? We’re guessing reasonably soon, especially considering the rate at Trek corporate bike shops are opening across North America. But we’ll have to wait and see…
Full Details — Trek Cross Country Pedals
Kovee Pro
- Dual-sided, SPD-compatible XC MTB clipless pedals
- Fully adjustable clip in & clip out tension
- Lightweight composite body with knurling for added grip
- Dual sealed ball bearings with chromoly spindles for smooth spinning durability
- Actual Weight: 338g
- Price: $150.00
Kovee Elite
- Dual-sided, SPD-compatible XC MTB clipless pedals
- Fully adjustable clip in & clip out tension
- Durable forged body with anodized plates for added durability
- Dual sealed ball bearings with chromoly spindles for smooth spinning durability
- Actual Weight: 390g
- Price: $105.00
Kovee Comp
- Dual-sided, SPD-compatible XC MTB clipless pedals
- Fully adjustable clip in & clip out tension
- Durable die cast aluminum body
- Dual sealed ball bearings with chromoly spindles for smooth spinning durability
- Actual Weight: 384g
- Price: $65.00
Full Details — Trek Trail Clipless Pedal
Line Elite
- Dual-sided SPD-compatible trail MTB clipless pedals
- Fully adjustable clip in & clip out tension
- Durable forged body with anodized plates for added durability and cage
- The cage on trail pedals provides a platform for easily clipping in
- Dual sealed ball bearings with chromoly spindles for smooth spinning durability
- Actual Weight: 451g
- Price: $120.00
Line Comp
- Dual-sided SPD-compatible trail MTB clipless pedals
- Fully adjustable clip in & clip out tension
- Durable die cast aluminum body & cage to protect against rock strikes
- The cage on trail pedals provides a platform for easily clipping in
- Dual sealed ball bearings with chromoly spindles for smooth spinning durability
- Actual Weight: 432g
- Price: $75.00
First Ride Impressions
The Trek Kovee Pro pedals arrived just a few days ago, so we have limited time on them but some strong impressions. First, I was excited to see that the new Trek pedal line is similar to the Look X-Track. It makes sense… the Trek XC Factory Team rides Look, and the pedals are SPD compatible.
I switched to Look X-Tracks this season, and I’ve been thrilled with the Carbon Race Pedals.
The installation and setup are very straightforward. The pedals have a torque spec listed on the spindle and are a beefy 8mm fitting. The cleat install is similar to the Look pedals. The washer resembles a Shimano SPD design without the same sculpting as the Look cleat. This lack of curve doesn’t affect the installation at all.
The bearings are tighter than most pedals straight out of the box but will loosen up after a few rides. I chalked this tightness up to the updated seals and being fresh out of the box.
The pedals come in the lightest engagement setting and are lighter than most SPD for clipping in. I prefer a slightly tighter pedal engagement, and I immediately upped the tension. The Look and Trek style pedal has a softer and slightly easier time engaging, and upping the tension doesn’t augment the clip-in sensation.
While riding and performing cyclocross intervals, I forgot that I had changed my pedals. They were so similar to the Looks. When compared directly to the Look X-Track Race, the engagement, float, and stack height are right on the money.
My limited time on the Trek Kovee pedals has been excellent. The performance is solid; the weight is super competitive.
The Pros weigh 338g for the set, and the Look X-Track Race Carbon weighs 350g. The difference between the two is $5.00; the Look X-Track Race is $145.00, and the Trek Kovee Pros is $150.00.
No matter how you stack it, Trek has a competitive and effective pedal line with the new Kovee and Line family. The shape and clipless mechanism are dependable, the pricing is competitive, and it is SPD-compatible.
Stay tuned for a full review as we take the Trek Kovee Pro pedals through the remainder of the cyclocross season.
For more information, check out TrekBikes.com.
