Shimano

XTR PD-M980 XC Pedal

The XTR Race PD-M980 Pedals are lighter, provide more stability, and shed mud better than ever before. These improvements are the result of a refined pedal body shape. The design is leaner than the 970, with all non-essential material shaved away. While this amounts to a pedal that is roughly 20 grams lighter than its predecessor, it also lessens the potential for mud accumulation.

The retention mechanism is basically the same as the benchmark 970 pedals with wide, open ended tabs that allow easy entry and security for your cleats. In this case, no change simply means that Shimano had their pedals completely dialed already. The open design allows muck to flow through, not hampering your ability to engage in a hurry. The most significant design change is that the pedal body has small, flat platforms on the inboard and outboard edges to keep the sole of your shoe from twisting on the pedal. By small, we mean four times larger than the platforms on the 970 pedals.

The XTR Race PD-M980 Pedals come with SM-SH51 (single release) cleats and are also compatible with SM-SH56 (multi release) cleats. They have chromoly spindles and spin on sealed bearings. The tension of the retention mechanism can be adjusted via a hex screw on the back of each pedal on both sides.