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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.)
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.
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.
