"very reliable product at a great price. Perfect for the cyclist that wants to enjoy a ride and not break the bank."

"I ride around in downtown San Diego, and with tons of stop and go's, these pedals are a breeze to click into. Nice, wide base for a easy-on-the-body feel. Easy to clean and look great. I haven't had any issues climbing hills (Laurel). Pedals and cleats are glued in place. Oh, the cleats are great too and they are easier to walk in and have durable plastic. They havent worn down too much from putting a foot on the ground waiting for a green light. I have these with Sidi shoes. A great combo."

"These pedals are great for training and sometimes racing. Easy in easy out. The trouble is sometimes getting them in when climbing a hill. But that is very common for Look style pedals.



There is one side affect. If you use the float cleats, they will wear out the friction plate. So you're better of with a fixed cleat, to prevent friction.



They are extremely reliable, unlike Time (which breaks after somewhat miles) it is fantastic. They are as reliable as Look Keo pedals. The R540 is a great pedal for the price.



The good thing about Shimano's pedals are that they only have two different types of cleats Floats, and Fixed. Unlike Keo pedals they have 3-5. So you will always find the right cleats."

"The PD-R540 is Shimano's entry level pedal for road using their SPD-SL system. In the few years since their introduction on Lance's bike at the TdF, the SPD-SL system has become quite popular, using a large triangular cleat similar to Look. Unlike the Look system, the SPD-SL system sports "pontoons" on the cleat to prevent wear on the mating surfaces when walking as well as providing a bit more stability when off the bike. General positive comments about the SPD-SL system apply to this pedal as well. Cleat lifetime is typical for road pedal systems -- the cleat interface is plastic and will wear after a few thousand miles. That said, if you are planning on putting thousands of miles on these pedals, consider the newer PD-5610, PD-6700, or PD-7810 pedals. The PD-R540 uses a plastic plate on the pedal as the interface surface to the cleat -- technically called the "pedal body cover". Shimano underestimated the wear that the part would receive -- they last about 1500 miles before replacement is needed -- of course your mileage may vary. The newer pedals sport a stainless steel pedal body cover which will be more durable, albeit at a higher price point. The internal mechanics of the PD-R540 are bulletproof -- the pedal spindle and bearings are the time-tested design that have been used on Shimano MTB pedals for years. In fact, they are the same as used on the pricier Ultegra pedals (minus the flashy nickel plating). Overall, the PD-R540s get 4 stars since they deliver value -- if you know you are going to ride thousands of miles and are willing to make the investment, opt for the models with metal body covers."

"This is my first bike. I put half of it together from used parts on Ebay. These pedals however, I bought brand new. So glad I did. These are pretty easy to clip into, and learn. And getting out is a simple lateral twist. A couple times I nearly fell, but the pedals released in time so I could pull out and drop a foot. NO CRASH! I am glad I found these as my first pedal.

The clip-ons are a little large. When I stop and put down a toe for balance, my weight goes onto the clip insert. However it seems to be holding up well. If they fail early, I'll post again. Until then, A++"

"I tried these in place of my 2 bolt SPD's on my commuter. I put the 2 bolt back on. With the constant in and out I found that the two sided peddles were easier to deal with in traffic. I kept them and put them on my new road bike that I use for centuries, without all the stops they were GREAT!! Great power transfer for a mid-line pedal and comfortable over many miles."

"You know a good product when you buy it a 2nd time. I lost a pedal after returning from Hawaii. They are solid to lock into, but release when you need to escape. The tension is adjustable. Most importantly, they released when I crashed going downhill. I've been using these pedals for over 3-years. Great for the price and awesome for a beginner."

"These are the first set of clipless pedals I have used. I was surprised with the ease with which the cleats engage and disengage. Once the cleats are set, pedalling is much more efficient and comfortable than with regular pedals with clips."

"These pedals are a great buy. They are essentially mechanically identical to the much more expensive Shimano SPD-SL pedals (check the official documentation for details), and about the same weight, yet they cost much less.



When you consider that they come with a pair of cleats (which by themselves, can cost $25), there is no reason not to give these pedals a try.



The SPD-SL design itself is great for road biking. The cleats are plastic and won't scratch up wood floors or cause you to slip and hurt yourself on hard surfaces, yet they last a reasonably long time. They offer a good contact surface and a reassuringly positive click when engaged."

"user friendly/ easy to click in and out/ the best feature of these pedals are the wide base of the cleat. they make for a very stable base."