Shimano XTR SPD M9120 trail clipless pedals

The Shimano XTR Trail SPD Pedals, in this M9120 incarnation, are a refinement of a classic. Aimed at trail riders who want some platform support, these have a useful tension adjustment range, rattle-free engagement, and are smooth and consistent operators. If you’re after some grip when unclipped, though, the lack of pins won’t be for you.

Shimano XTR PD-M9120 Trail pedals – Technical Details

The Shimano SPD system harks back 35 years to 1990, and whilst the basic recipe hasn’t changed, it’s certainly been refined and improved over the years. The large platform – 77mm wide, 100mm long and 17mm thick – is there to increase shoe contact for support, stability and power transfer, and during those dicey unclipped moments it’s something to stand on. The platform also shrouds the binding mechanism and protects it from strikes.

The bearings are sealed against dirt and moisture, and spin on a strong chromoly axle.

Tension is adjustable for the mechanisms, and you get a dial indication to help you match them properly. The open design of the bindings (along with a slim axle sleeve) leaves plenty of room for mud and debris to fall through, which helps with keeping the mechanism clear and effective. Total thickness of the pedal across the bindings is 30mm.

These pedals are supplied with Shimano SM-SH51 cleats, which are single-direction and give four degrees of float (the loose wiggle room before you start levering the mechanism open). Shimano also includes 1mm metal spacers for fine-tuning shoe/cleat clearances.

Shimano XTR PD-M9120 Trail pedals – Performance

First impressions were good – these are beautifully built pedals with a slender profile and, at 200g each, a sensible weight. When it came to clipping in, however, I struggled to get that audible snap-in for which the SPD is so well known. I discovered my shoe was rubbing the cage, which was stopping the cleat from fully engaging and making it hard to unclip. With the provided cleat spacer fitted, however, the clearance was fixed. I got a very positive and audible clip-in experience.

SPDs of old could feel a little loose and vague as you got towards the end of the float, but I’m happy to report that these feel a lot more secure. There is zero rattle whilst clipped in and plenty of feedback when unclipping, so you know exactly what’s happening under your feet. The clipping in and out process is very tactile – it’s a solid snap-in and snap-out which leaves you in no doubt whether you’re secured or free.

The tension dial has detents every 1/8th of a turn or so, which really helps you match adjustments across the pair. I don’t like to run too much tension, and found my happy place approximately halfway across the dial, so there’s plenty of headroom for a very locked-in feel if that’s what you’re looking for.

Durability is very encouraging so far: the early grease leakage was excess from assembly, I assume, as it stopped after the first ride. After some very wet rides and 500km or so, they’re still spinning smoothly and showing no signs of play.

Shimano XTR PD-M9120 Trail pedals – Verdict

At £140, these aren’t cheap, but then XTR is the top of the range, and they’re priced reasonably against similarly premium competition. The performance and quality are certainly enough to justify the cost.

Looking elsewhere, the OneUp Components Clip pedals are very similarly priced at £143, and they’re also very impressive. I really rated them for their consistent performance, rattle-free operation, and top-notch build quality. The option to run pins is nice too – these Shimano’s can’t do that.

Hope offers CNC goodness in the form of its Union TC clipless pedals, though they’re a little more at £160. Again, you get excellent build quality and easy engagement, though on the (potential) downside, you can only be able to run Hope cleats with them.

The Shimano XTR PD-M9120 Trail pedals offer a high-quality build and solid on-trail performance. The SPD system has a very usable range of adjustment and has a very confidence-inspiring snap when you engage and disengage, which – along with the support from the body – makes them very easy to use. While some might miss the ability to add pins for grip, this design nevertheless works extremely well as it is.