Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 SPD-SL pedals

Shimano's top-level Dura-Ace R9100 pedals offer loads of security and stability and they're a few grams lighter than the previous version, although still not quite as light as some of their biggest rivals.

The pedals feature an injection-moulded carbon composite body with three small stainless steel plates across the centre to provide protection from wear. These plates are moulded in and aren't replaceable (the screwed-on plate of the previous generation Dura-Ace R9000 pedal wasn't replaceable either).

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The pedal platform is 66mm wide – a little wider than previously – and provides plenty of stability. That broad platform is one of the best things about these pedals, and is especially welcome when you're riding out of the saddle.

I've been using the pedals for a couple of months and there's barely any sign of wear on them so far – although, to be fair, you wouldn't expect much at this stage. There are a few little scratches, but nothing that's going to affect the performance. I've used the previous generation Dura-Ace pedals loads over the past two or three years (not all the time; I swap between systems fairly often) and I've not found wear to the pedal body to be an issue. I don't see why these wouldn't be similarly durable.

The partly hollow axle is made from nickel chromoly steel and the pedal body spins on widely spaced bearings – two ball bearings and a needle bearing (which lower level Shimano pedals do not have). As a rule, Shimano bearings tend to be very good, and that's certainly the case here. They're smooth and, in my experience, don't creak or squeak. If any issues do develop, you can open up the pedals and give them some TLC, or even fit a new axle assembly.

I've been using the standard length axle and that has been fine for me, although you can get a version with an axle that's 4mm longer if you want a little extra shoe-to-crank clearance.

The Dura-Ace pedals still offer wide-ranging tension adjustment via a hex bolt, which is something you don't get with Look's Kéo Blade pedals, for example (where each carbon blade provides a given amount of tension). I can't say it's impossible to release accidentally with the tension adjusted to max, but I never have.

A pair of Shimano's blue-tipped SPD-SL cleats are included in the box, offering a middling (+/- 2°) amount of float (the amount your feet can move while remaining clipped in). If you don't feel they're right for you, yellow (+/-6°) and red (zero) are available too (£19.99). The cleats are held in place by hollow bolts – a tiny weight saving, but I guess it all counts – and they stand up to wear pretty well.

> When should you replace your cleats?

Dura-Ace pedals aren't quite as light as top-level models from key rivals. Look's Kéo Blade Carbon Ti pedals (£249.99), for example, have a claimed weight of 180g (pair) while the much cheaper standard Kéo Blades (£99.99) are 220g. Shimano gives an official weight of 228g for its Dura-Ace pedals, although we measured ours at 239g. That compares to 248g for both previous generation Dura-Ace and new Ultegra 6800 pedals (which we've not yet tested).

That might bother weight weenies a little, but I've found the Dura-Ace 9100 pedals to be solid and reliable and there's every indication that, like their predecessors, they'll prove to be durable too. Add in a warranty of three years (you get this on Dura-Ace and XTR products) rather than the standard two, and they're a very good choice.

Verdict

Stable and reasonably light with internals that will go on for an age, although you have to pay top-end pricing