Along with the updated S-Phyre XC shoes released in 2018, Shimano has put out a new XTR pedal.
The Shimano XTR M9120 pedal body is made from aluminum and the spindle is made from chromoly steel. Shimano designed the XTR M9120 to play well with their AM and ME shoes, which are trail- and enduro-ready.
Shimano XTR M9120 pedal specs
- Chromoly and aluminum construction
- Available in black and silver only
- Includes 1mm cleat spacer
- Dual-sided binding
- Cleat retention adjuster
- Weight: 398g per set
- Price: $190
- Buy from REI.
The contact area of the pedal is wider and longer than the previous version for a better shoe and pedal interface. and they are of course an SPD pedal.
On the trail
I’ve had the new XTR pedals for a few months now and they have been around through variable fall and winter-like conditions. They’ve seen fall sunshine, a little bit of mud, and a little bit of snow.
I have mostly used the XTR M9120s with the the Shimano S-Phyre shoe, but have also ridden them in the Northwave Himalaya mountain bike boots. The pedals include a 1mm cleat spacer to give the cleats a little bit more room to sync up to mountain bike shoes.
Both sets of shoes have clipped in and out of the XTR pedals without any issues, even when the pedals are wet and grimy. On a break in Moab, I made my way down to the Colorado river, through thickets of weeds and impressionable mud, purposely seeking to clog up the cleats to see if they would present an issue.
Of course, the grit was noticeable between the cleat and pedal, but it wasn’t harder at all to clip in or out of them.
I appreciate the low profile of the M9120 pedal. It’s slim, but still wide and a little roomy. This makes for a platform that can be pushed, but isn’t more than a rider really needs. Sometimes running a meaty pedal like a Crankbrothers Mallet or Shimano Saint SPD just means more rock strikes, although even the new Saint has slimmed down a little.
The cleat retention bolt works as it always has. I added a bit more tension to the M9120s which makes them a little tougher to engage, but more secure once the cleats are in.
The spindle bearing is smooth and precise, after a noticeable amount of grime and they haven’t developed any play.
The bearings and spindle are replaceable if they wear out. The L-shaped body covers are also replaceable through Shimano, but the cleat retention hardware isn’t because of the spring hardware. Shimano notes that these don’t usually wear out though.
Conclusion
The Shimano XTR line always represents a combination of light weight, performance, and durability and these latest pedals are no different. They’re a pricier option, but I expect the XTRs to last a long time without slowing down.
