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I'm potentially looking at coming back over to Shimano pedals wholesale, from Crank Bros (they've finally all started to fall apart on me! Hey ho). Just wondering if the 540's are worth the extra over the 520's? I see the weight difference isn't much, and the mechanism looks the same, but is there any longevitiy benefits to be had from the 540's?
FWIW, I'm looking at 3 bikes worth, 2 MTB's and a road bike. Was also thinking maybe something like the new "trail" pedals might offer a bit more support on the road bike too (have to run MTB pedals, as I wear the same shoes and won't be buying specialist roadie pedals and shoes), such as the M530's... Worthwhile?
EDIT: Oh, and even at £16.99 a set from On One, do they still come with cleats? I've got 3 sets of MTB shoes, so will need 3 sets of cleats too.
One benefit is you don't need the special tool to service a 540- the axle bolts in with a standard nut, which is especially nice since by the time Shimano bearings wear, the nut'll be pretty damn hard to move. The tool's not expensive but I'd sooner be fighting metal than plastic.
I could be wrong but I think the 520's central axle is fatter, meaning it doesn't clear mud and snow as well... But that's Official Secondhand Internet Knowledge.
You want a pair of barely used 540s with unused cleats btw? I'm not allowed SPDs for offroad because of my knee, but I thought I'd try these on the cross bike anyway, ended up going back to flats just to be safe...
I've got a set of 540s and 530s.
I've also tried 505s and Ritchey ones.
The 540s look a lot nicer than the 520 and if you need to service them they are easy (but the tool for 520s is cheap).
I've got the M530s on my C456 and they are definitely much more stable and give more confidence for jumps and easier to find the clip zone meaning you can dab on a bend and get back in quick.
The m540s are on my 29er and feel more 'XC' (hard to explain). Lovely pedals though but they will probably end up on my new road bike for now. I might just pick up another set.
The XTR trail pedal is thinner, not sure if the XT version is too. If buying again I would get a thinner one than the M530 as I like them so much.
(OTOH, 520s are barely economic to service- the bearings last forever and the bearing kit costs most of the price of the pedal. So servicability is definately a low consideration I reckon. Wish more pedals were like Shimano.
I got my 540s for £5 from the Bristol bike jumble. No idea how old they are but they work just as nice as my brand new M530s. I'm not going to mess with them.
OK cheers guys
Northwind, maybe, how much do you want for them?
Of course the other option is a rebuild kit for the Candy's that have fallen apart, and new cleats on all my shoes...
I'll need to dig them out, check they're not more marked than I think they are (er, and make sure I can find em!) But, they're about £35 new so I reckon £20 would take it.