Shimano Ultegra PD-R8000 SPD-SL Pedals

I replaced my 11-year-old Shimano Ultegra PD-6700 pedals with these new beauties to complement my new BMC SLR01. The surface platform of these new PD-R8000 pedals is noticeably larger, and much, much lighter than my old scratched-up pair of Ultegra pedals. The difference in weight is rather impressive and I couldn't be happier with these new pedals. I found these here on sale, and as a B-stock item at an unbelievable price. BTD sent them to me with the original box and packaged perfectly. I am very pleased I made this purchase.

I really like the simplicity and so far the reliability of these pedals and cleats. After nearly 4,000 miles, and many rides through rain, these have held up extremely well. Once the cleat position is dialed in, they just work, and I don't have to think about them. I do regrease bearings every 700-1k miles or so because of the rain, but even that might be overkill. Simple to do. I'm also still on the first set of cleats - maybe because I try to avoid walking in them. At the current rate, I expect these pedals to last for many thousands of miles to come.

I'll note that coming from (now ancient) Speedplay X2s with huge, non-adjustable float, the first rides on the SPD-SLs felt very restrictive even with the yellow cleats. In fact, I hated them at first, but it honestly didn't take long to adjust and realize that I didn't need all of that float the Speedplays had. Afterwards even new Speedplays just felt sloppy. If I could change one thing on the shimanos, it might be just 1-2 more degrees of float and was one reason I considered Look Keos. But I'm happy with my choice and see no reason to switch. Also if the cleats get a little dirty, no big deal. I once stepped on a single raisin with my speedplays and had to dig a sandy mess out before I could even clip in.

I do recommend taking an allen wrench on the first couple rides to adjust the cleats on the fly. And once you get them dialed in, mark or spray paint the cleat position to make it easier when you replace them.

I had the +4 Dura-Ace for 22,000 miles until they fell apart. I must have not put them back together correctly when I lubed them and that's a problem. There are two places to tighten and I must have loosened one while tightening the other. Anyway, a pedal came apart when I pushed off and bearings were everywhere. Time for a new pedal. Fortunately, there is now an Ultegra +4, so I can save some $$, and the design is much simpler. There's only one thing to tighten when servicing and I like simple. I try to do as much of my own servicing as possible and since I'm not the greatest mechanic in the world, I need all the help I can get.

I have been a Shimano SPD user for around 20 years, starting with an old Ultegra pair, and then in a "what the heck" moment buying a DuraAce pair for a second bike. Those DuraAce, after around 15 years, started getting dangerously difficult to clip out of, and so after a little fiddling cleaning and lubing failed, I just went and bought these. I was going to spend the extra for DuraAce again, but between the Ultra being on sale, and admitting to myself that after multiple experiences with Ultegra and DuraAce in brakes, gears, and pedals, I honestly could not find any difference in performance between the two, I bought these.

Shimano has improved their design over the years, with these Ultegra pedals being about 25 g lighter per my scale than the 15 year old DuraAce. The platform is both a little wider and has a slightly larger surface area, both making for a reduction in the pressure on the ball of one's foot, which is the main reason one goes to these pedals in the first place. After riding Look and Keo in the past, as well as a miserable pair of Crank Brothers eggbeater pedals, I can attest that more contact area is a good thing, and less is a pain to the point of injury.

I heartily recommend theses pedals. They are light, smooth, easy to clip in and out of, include a pair of yellow (+/-3 degrees) cleats, allow you to adjust the clip-in tension, are long lasting, and have that large contact area you'll want on a road bike. Excellent product.

Just took delivery of a TREK 7.7FX this summer to keep riding a great all-carbon road bike with fitness bike handlebars and controls. Wanted the efficiency of road bike pedals to work with my Sidi Genius 7 road bike shoes. These Shimano pedals fit the bill perfectly. The pedal cleats give me the right amount of float and the manufacturing quality is top notch. Very easy to snap into and out of pedals with adjustable spring loading on pedals. Id suggest this set-up to anyone in their mid to late 60s who still loves the long rides on flats and hills.

I got these pedals to replace Look Keos that I had used for a few years (the Keos were loosing a metal plate on the top of one pedal). These pedals seem solid. Getting the cleats into the pedals is fine, about the same as the Keos. Getting the cleat out takes a bit more effort at the factory setting, which I have not yet changed. I like the availability of a near-zero float cleat (the blue-cushioned ones). However, these cleats have worn quickly - on both shoes, the outside blue pad was gone after a week of riding, and now after a couple of months, the plastic has worn enough to make walking tilted. But the attachment to the pedals is still secure. Not sure I would buy these again because of the fast cleat wear.

As usual, Shimano has come out with a reliable and smooth platform for power transfer at an affordable price here at BTD! Lightweight, dependable, easy setup...what more do you need?!

Tired of rubbing your shoes on the inner heel? Tired of scuffing your cranks? Wanting the same incredible clipless system you've always loved from Shimano? If you, like me, are less narrow footed than most than these are the pedals for you! Not any those things? Then still get these in shorter spindle option. A little lighter than the 105, still cheaper than Dura Ace. Get 'em and don't regret 'em.

I was having problems on swift with my pedal so tried this pedal and it worked great, I am older and have tried many pedals. I have not used them in town but zwift and country ridding is really much better with this pedal.

The construction is tough and easy on my feet I use yellow float.

After 15+ years on Speedplay Zero's I switched to Shimano, primarily for a larger platform to try to alleviate hot foot that I would get after 50-60 miles of riding. Unlike Speedplay, these are one sided, but it is in effect the same, since they are weighted so the clip in side is always up. I am clipped in much more securely with less wasted float (maybe I didn't have my zero set screws dialed in enough?) Entry and exit are a breeze. You still need to get used to placing your foot in the correct location for entry - same as when I switch from road to mountain and back. I also bought the cleat covers - much better than the useless Speedplay aero covers that fall off when you walk and get coated with dry lube so you can;t put then in your pocket anyway.

I switched from Speedplay. Easy set up, very durable. Nice flexibility yet firm peddle motion without any knee pain. Have them on both bikes.

I recently began converting my gravel bike to full road setup. New ties, and pedals . Shimano never fails to impress. To me better value than the Dura Ace model. The weight difference does not concern me..

I use these on my road bike especially for long distance trips of 4 to 7 days. I don't weigh 150 lbs so the pedals get a good workout.

I have been using SPD-SL pedals since the first generation, starting with the R600 version. Probably now on my 5th pair, 3 of which are in regular use. The two big changes over the years are the wider body, which makes the cleatpedal interface more stable, and the replacement of alloy bodies with carbon. These latest R8000 pedals are an incremental improvement over the prior 6800 - slightly lighter, slightly lower stack but difficult to tell the difference in use. My 6800 pedals went onto my 2 bike, replacing old alloy 5700 pedals, and that difference is quite noticeable. Significantly lighter, and it's easier than ever to clip-in without having to look down probably due to better balance and better bearings..

For me, Ultegra is the sweet spot in the Shimano range, especially when I can buy from BTD on sale. I paid less than most places charge for the 105 (R7000) version, and the price difference to Dura-Ace is substantial.

I had been riding some Look Keo carbon pedals for many years. They were getting sloppy and generally worn out. I decided to try the Ultegra pedals this time because the Shimano products are generally pretty solid and well thought out. I did add just a bit of weight to the bike with these but those extra grams were worth it. These pedals are so much easier to find with the cleat and they function so perfectly that I pretty much have to call them perfect. The other factor that was a massive improvement was the cleat. I can walk with confidence on all kinds of surfaces now that I would have avoided previously. I also switched to the blue cleats but that is only about float and nothing more. While I'm sure the Dura Ace pedals are just a little bit better, I highly recommend these as a fantastic intersection of quality, performance and price.

It has taken me aeons to find a combination of pedals and cleat that suit me. I like to take photographs on long rides which obviously involve stopping and getting off the bike. Having knackered innumerable Look cleats by walking on them (and hobbling myself) with my new steed (Trek SL6) I thought I would try these pedals & cleats. RESULT! Not only are they really easy to clip in, and provide a wide three point contact surface to ease pressure on the sole of the foot, the cleats also give a stable walking surface on the road. Brilliant product, terrific price, great website and super service. 5 stars all round!

I purchased these long spindle pedals. They feel so much better than my older narrower pedals. Love the simplicity of the SPD system.

I also have the dura ace 9100; these are very similar

I used to ride Dura Ace components, but Ultegra is so good now that when my old components wore out, I bought all Ultegra components. Like everything Shimano --- they just work.

Seemingly flawless in their design, build quality and performance these pedals will handle years of abuse and look good doing it.