REASONS TO BUY
Decently lightweight
Lightest adjsutable tension pedal we've tested
CHEAP
REASONS TO AVOID
Minimal platform
Only come in black
Shimano M520 Review
The lowest cost clipless model tested that's also among the lightest
Credit: Shimano
RELATED: Best Mountain Bike Pedals
Our Verdict
The Shimano M520 is one of the best deals out there for a clipless mountain bike pedal. It just narrowly misses the Best Buy award to the Shimano M530 SPD. The 530 is better for most people because it has a solid platform. However, the 520 is much lighter and less expensive. The 520 is easy to clip in and out of, incredibly durable, versatile, has adjustable tension, and retails for only $45 (but can often be found for less.) It's the no-brainer choice for someone on a budget who wants to travel light. The higher-end version is the Shimano XTR M9100 Race which shaves 60 grams (about 18%). The M9100 is a better pedal but is about triple the costs.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Shimano M520 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | $44.57 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers | $130.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $92.28 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $65.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | If you want to travel light on a budget, this is your pick | Stable platform, highly adjustable and available in a multitude of colors | The top dog race pedal from Shimano that can punch above its class | Shimano's latest enduro approved pedal grows up a bit and the refreshes are mostly welcome | A solid choice for those wanting next generation stability at an entry-level price point |
| Rating Categories | Shimano M520 | HT Components T2 | Shimano XTR M9100 Race | Shimano PD-M8120 XT... | Shimano ME700 |
| Ease of Exit (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Entry (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (20%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Platform (10%) | |||||
| Mud Shedding Ability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Shimano M520 | HT Components T2 | Shimano XTR M9100 Race | Shimano PD-M8120 XT... | Shimano ME700 |
| Weight per Pair (grams) | 374g | 380g | 314g | 430g | 482g |
| Weight of Cleats and Bolts (grams) | 50g | 62g | 51g | 51g | 50g |
| Cleat Type | SPD Mountain | HT X1 cleats | SPD mountain | SPD mountain | SPD mountain |
| Style | no cage | mini-cage | no cage | mini-cage | mini-cage |
| Platform Dimensions (lxw) | 42 x 61mm | 83.5 x 68mm | 71 x 68 mm | 100 x 71mm | 100 x 74mm |
| profile height | 22mm | 17mm | 17mm | 18mm | 19mm |
| Q-Factor | 55 mm | 56mm | 56mm | 55mm | 55mm |
| Total Width from Crank Arm | 80mm | 90mm | 84mm | 92mm | 93mm |
| Entry | 2-sided | 2-sided | 2-sided | 2-sided | 2-sided |
| Adjustable Tension | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Traction Pins | 0 | 8 grub pins | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bearings | Dual Angular Contact | Stainless Steel sealed cartridge bearings | dual angular contact, metal retainer | dual angular contact, metal retainer | dual angular contact, plastic retainer |
| Cage Material | n/a | extruded/CNC machined aluminum | annodized aluminum | anodized and machined aluminum | painted aluminum |
| Pedal Wrench Type | 8mm allen | 8mm allen | 8mm allen | 8mm allen | 6mm allen or 15mm open end |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Shimano M520 is an incredibly versatile, durable, and inexpensive clipless pedal. Our testers have owned pairs of these for multiple years and have used them on all styles of bikes, from road bikes to commuter bikes to hardtail cross-country bikes, to six-inch enduro bikes. This is the pedal to buy if you are on a budget.
Performance Comparison
The M520 pedals are so inexpensive and durable, that they work well on any type of mountain bike. Here the pedals and the tester are enjoying a ride outside of Las Vegas, NV.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Ease of Entry
This pedal is pretty dang easy to get into. The cleat seats into the mechanism with a satisfying, audible click. The Shimano M530 is essentially the same as this pedal but with the addition of a mini-cage around the clip-in mechanism. That small platform makes that model of pedal just slightly easier to get into than this pedal without a cage, which requires slightly better aim.
Ease of Exit
There is no cage to hang up on, so we think getting out of this pedal is quite clean and easy. It is comparable to other Shimano pedals in their disengagement which is confirmed with an audible click. It is much easier than some other styles of pedals, like those made by Time or Crankbrothers, that require much more twist before you hit the release point.
Adjustability
The tension on the M520 is adjustable using a 3mm Allen wrench, just like on all Shimano mountain pedals. This makes it so someone new to clipless pedals can have very soft tension for easy entry and exit, while a seasoned cyclist can crank up the tension to his or her liking.
One of the biggest benefits to the Shimano pedals is that the tension of the clip-in mechanism can be adjusted from very firm to very soft. The hole on top of the pedal is where this adjustment is made with a 3mm allen.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Weight
The M520 are relatively lightweight, but not as light as you would think for such a small pedal, weighing 374 grams per pair. These are comparable to the Crankbrothers Eggbeater models which also don't have any cage or platform, but the Eggbeaters weigh just 278 grams. If you are interested in going as light as possible, we suggest those pedals over the M520.
The Crankbrothers Eggbeater 2 (left) and Shimano M520 (right) are two pedals we tested that lack a platform. The Shimano, even without a platform, provides more surface area than the Crankbrothers pedal.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Platform
There is no cage or platform on this simple pedal, however, when compared to the Eggbeater 2 there is twice as much surface area to stand on. If you want a little bit of a cage to help you clip in faster, we suggest the M530, which is the same great pedal with slightly more surface area.
Size comparison between the Shimano M530 (left) and the Shimano M520 (right). The extra platform on the M530 makes it a little easier to clip into.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Mud Shedding Ability
The mud shedding ability of the M520 is as good as it could be for an SPD pedal. Crankbrothers and Time pedals do have an advantage over SPD style pedals because of the more open design of the retention spring.
Durability
There is no cage around the clip-in mechanism to protect the pedal itself, but our testers have owned pairs of these affordable pedals for years and they never seem to die. For just $45 it would be hard not to get your money's worth out of these burly pedals.
Curtis Smith testing the Shimano M520 with the Giro Terraduro shoe at the Northstar Bike Park in California. This pedal has a common cleat, is extremely durable and versatile, and is also very affordable.
Credit: Karl Anderson
Value
This is the least expensive pedal we've tested. Consider the versatility and durability of this pedal, and we think it is the best deal out there for a mountain clipless pedal. It retails for just $45, but you can find them for even less using our price finder tool. Additionally, the use of a common cleat means you are likely to already have a pair of shoes with these SPD cleats, so getting this pedal for your second bike is the most economical way to go.
Conclusion
The M520 is a quality clipless pedal at an unbeatable price. It is a supremely versatile and durable pedal with a very low entry cost and it will last for years.
Recommended Pairing
This pedal works best with a hard-soled, cross-country-oriented shoe. It can work on a wide range of bikes from commuter bikes, to hardtails, to bikes with 4 to six inches of travel.
—
McKenzie Long and Luke Lydiard
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