Shimano Ultegra Spd-sl 6800 Clipless Road Pedals Review
Our Verdict
The best-kept-secret of the Shimano pedal family with indistinguishable ride experience compared to Dura-Ace
For
- - Weight at 248g
- - Price to functioning ratio
- - Availability of spares
- - Operation
Against
- - 105 offers 95 per cent of the operation at an even cheaper price
Shimano Ultegra is 1 of the most widely used performance groupsets in the earth. Equally the pedal contingent of that groupset, Shimano Ultegra pedals accept a lot to live upward to.
Alongside Shimano Dura-Ace 9200, which launched in contempo weeks, we saw the new Shimano 8100 Ultegra launched, too. Much similar its big brother, Shimano didn't feel the need to make any changes to the existing pedals, so the PD-R8000 pedals carried through to go PD-R8100.
With this in mind, for this review, I will focus on the updates from the previous PD-R6800 pedals, compare to the current series 105 and Dura-Ace options, likewise as the competition from Await and Wahoo Speedplay to run across how Shimano Ultegra pedals compare to the all-time route bike pedals out in that location.
Design and specification
The Ultegra pedal features an increased width over the quondam PD-R6800 pedal, matching the Dura-Ace with the widest platform on test, at 65mm. Shimano also shaved an already competitively calorie-free pedal from 260g down to 248g for the pair, this has been done with a combination of refining the carbon composite torso itself and switching the removable steel plates to ones that are bonded into the pedal body. This new plate as well helped to reduce the stack height past 0.7mm, as they no longer needed to account for removable hardware.
When you have all three pedals lined up you can meet the actress refinement betwixt the models that volition account for the weight differences, forth with the different material choices.
Visibly, they fall halfway between the Dura-Ace (PD-R9200) and the 105 (PD-R7000) pedals, with Ultegra sharing visual clues from both. For example, the wear plates appear to exist identical to those found on Dura-Ace, but the axle assembly is closer to that on the 105.
The bearing setup in the Ultegra pedal is the same serviceable 2-begetting blueprint that features on the 105 pedal, as well as the previous Ultegra design.
Performance
I own a couple of pairs of Ultegra pedals, and the oldest have been rock solid for over a yr.
One pedal did develop a small amount of play, only it was easily rectified thank you to the easily serviceable structure of the axle. To exercise this, I simply had to use a 17mm spanner to remove the axle assembly from the body of the pedal, then ii smaller spanners to accommodate the cup and cone begetting organization. Also, while I had the body and beam separated I took reward of the ease at which you tin re-grease the Shimano Ultegra pedals (and all the pedals in the Shimano SPD SL family unit for that thing) by just pumping a bit of grease into the pedal body with a grease gun. Upon re-installing the beam, the new grease pushes the old grease out. The whole process took no more than than 10 minutes and was all refreshingly easy in a world of cartridge bearing and bushes.
With just a single gram separating the Shimano Ultegra pedal from its closest priced Look competitor, the Keo Max 2 Carbon, the immovability of the Shimano pedal is what sets information technology apart from its rival. The Expect pedal, by comparison, has ane cartridge begetting and one needle begetting, which in one case worn, is not replaceable so if you are lax with your servicing, it can deteriorate rapidly, leading to a costly mistake.
The Shimano Ultegra pedals are supplied with the most popular Yellow cleat option, offer six degrees of float. Of all pedal systems we've tried, Shimano pedals have the firmest feeling when clipped in. Both the Look and Wahoo by comparison are very free feeling, even when the bladder is reduced or bound tension increased.
The ride feel of the Shimano Ultegra pedals is virtually indistinguishable from the Shimano PD-R9100, with only the reduced stack height of the Dura-Ace setting them apart in feel. If, still, yous are very sensitive to fit yous may notice the less-than 1mm departure and have to lower your seat. The almost 2mm stack summit difference between the Ultegra and PD-R7000 pedals is more than notable though, especially between the Dura-Ace and 105 models stacking upwardly to most 3mm of departure.
With the supplied cleats, y'all can vary the feeling from very loose with the retentiveness leap on its lowest setting, upward to a very secure fit with it on its maximum setting. If you desire a more secure connexion again, and so you have the pick of the Blue (2 degrees of float) or Carmine (stock-still) position cleats.
Verdict
In use, the Shimano Ultegra pedals offering ninety per cent of the functioning of the more than expensive Dura-Ace model but at a far more acceptable price, especially if institute with a discount, which is commonly possible with Shimano pedals.
The bearings aren't quite as buttery smoothen, and the overall weight is a little higher, simply in apply, I couldn't really feel the difference between the two. If you're basing your buying choice on marginal gains, want that reduced stack height, or want to have reward of the actress year warranty that Dura-Ace componentry gets, and then Dura-Ace might be worth the extra upfront investment, simply if you're basing your purchase on how the pedals experience, it's hard to look past the Ultegra level pedal every bit they really do offering the same level of ride quality.
Tech Specs: Shimano Ultegra pedals
- Cost: £157 / $200 / €185 / AU$249
- Weight: 248g (pair)
- Weight with cleats: 286g
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Peter has been riding and racing road, CX, and mountain bikes since the early on 2000's. He spent a decade working at a large contained bicycle shop, treatment customer service, warranty and technical questions. Thanks to an obsession with production details he loves zilch more than picking over the newest tech. Peter is a fastidious mechanic and will not settle for anything less than perfect when it comes to bike setup, whether it be a child first wheel or a highly integrated peak-tier time trial or road bike. He's been writing for Cyclingnews since 2020 equally a Contributing Writer, where having a 50km commute to his day job allows him to speedily rack up the miles when putting any new products to the test in all weathers. He currently rides one of the post-obit: Specialized Tarmac SL6, Basso Diamate, Talbot Frameworks steel route, Expedition Emonda ALR, Specialized Crux, Santa Cruz Tallboy.
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Source: https://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/shimano-ultegra-pedals-review/