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Shimano PD-M8120 XT SPD Review

The capable all-mountain pedal renowned for its durability and solid performance ratchets up the performance specs
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Shimano PD-M8120 XT SPD Review (The robust Shimano XT M8120 in early fall testing)
The robust Shimano XT M8120 in early fall testing
Credit: Joshua Hutchens
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Shimano
By Joshua Hutchens ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 18, 2020
81
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 21
  • Ease of Exit - 25% 8.0
  • Ease of Entry - 20% 9.0
  • Adjustability - 20% 8.0
  • Weight - 15% 7.0
  • Platform - 10% 8.0
  • Mud Shedding Ability - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

With the new XT M8120 pedal Shimano added a bit more platform to its stalwart clipless pedal allowing for more contact between pedal and shoe. By machining down the alloy body, Shimano was able to substantially lessen the profile giving the rider a lower, more confident perch. Having experienced none of the durability issues we had with the Shimano XTR M9120 we feel that the XT pedal is likely the sweet spot in the Shimano lineup. For the price, you'll have a hard time beating the durability or performance metrics of this pedal, read on to see what impressed us and what we have to gripe about. Check out how it compares to the competition in our review of mountain bike pedals.
REASONS TO BUY
Substantial platform underfoot
Legendary durability
Solid value
REASONS TO AVOID
Oversized locknut can interfere with proper fit and float feel

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Awards Top Pick Award
Another Great Trail Riding Pedal
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Mountain Bike Pedal
 Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
 
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Overall Score Sort Icon
81
87
82
75
68
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Shimano's latest enduro approved pedal grows up a bit and the refreshes are mostly welcomeStable platform, highly adjustable, and available in a multitude of colorsThe top dog race pedal from Shimano that can punch above its classA solid choice for those wanting next generation stability at an entry-level price pointIf you want to travel light on a budget, this is your pick
Rating Categories Shimano PD-M8120 XT... HT Components T2 Shimano XTR M9100 Race Shimano ME700 Shimano M520
Ease of Exit (25%)
8.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
Ease of Entry (20%)
9.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
Adjustability (20%)
8.0
10.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Weight (15%)
7.0
8.0
9.0
5.0
8.0
Platform (10%)
8.0
8.0
5.0
8.0
3.0
Mud Shedding Ability (10%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
Specs Shimano PD-M8120 XT... HT Components T2 Shimano XTR M9100 Race Shimano ME700 Shimano M520
Weight per Pair (grams) 430g 380g 314g 482g 374g
Weight of Cleats and Bolts (grams) 51g 62g 51g 50g 50g
Cleat Type SPD mountain HT X1 cleats SPD mountain SPD mountain SPD Mountain
Style mini-cage mini-cage no cage mini-cage no cage
Platform Dimensions (lxw) 100 x 71mm 83.5 x 68mm 71 x 68 mm 100 x 74mm 42 x 61mm
profile height 18mm 17mm 17mm 19mm 22mm
Q-Factor 55mm 56mm 56mm 55mm 55 mm
Total Width from Crank Arm 92mm 90mm 84mm 93mm 80mm
Entry 2-sided 2-sided 2-sided 2-sided 2-sided
Adjustable Tension yes yes yes yes yes
Traction Pins 0 4/side 0 0 0
Bearings dual angular contact, metal retainer Stainless Steel sealed cartridge bearings dual angular contact, metal retainer dual angular contact, plastic retainer Dual Angular Contact
Cage Material anodized and machined aluminum extruded/CNC machined aluminum annodized aluminum painted aluminum n/a
Pedal Wrench Type 8mm allen 8mm allen 8mm allen 6mm allen or 15mm open end 8mm allen

Our Analysis and Test Results

Back in 1983 Shimano debuted two new products, a group called Deore XT for the burgeoning mountain bike market and the other was the first SPD pedal. After 37 years of evolution, both products have found their respective grooves and the Shimano XT M8120 is the latest product to carry both names. Shimano's innovation has allowed them to engineer and build products that continue to push the rapidly evolving sport of mountain biking. A reliable performer, the XT M8120 offers similar performance to the XTR M9120 without the durability issues. Just 26-grams heavier than its predecessor, this pedal features more surface area and lower stack height. The anodized and machined body extends further toward the heel with space that looks usable but rarely sees contact from the shoe. The unpolished Chromoly steel spindle houses a very familiar set of bearings, seals and a slightly revised 17mm lock nut. While the previous version used the same sized locknut, its 21mm body hid the edges of the hexagonal shape. Now that the body has been slimmed down to 18mm, the 17mm hexagonal locknut can protrude into the sole of the shoe, a small but unfortunate oversight.

Performance Comparison


shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - there's a lot to like here but that substantial rear platform is...
There's a lot to like here but that substantial rear platform is pretty useless.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens

Ease of Entry


Crisp, clean engagement is an attribute of Shimano pedals and the XT M8120 is no exception. Finding the slightly larger pedals is simple and the SPD mechanism engages readily. The pedal's machined aluminum surface provides a little bit of grip and consistent float regardless if your shoe is wet or dry. Due to the significantly larger size compared to its predecessor, clipping in was lightning fast, earning it high marks in this test for ease of entry.

shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - mud, grit, sand, loam and even snow; the xt pedals provided reliable...
Mud, grit, sand, loam and even snow; the XT pedals provided reliable engagement everywhere we took them.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens


Ease of Exit


Ease of exit is of obvious importance, we found the XT M8120 let us rapidly disengage when we needed to. The distance your heel travels from the end of the float to release is short, consistent, and accompanied by an audible click. When you unclip, you know it; there's no in-between or second-guessing and while still not an ideal place to perch, the larger platform is slightly more accommodating to an unclipped shoe. The XT pedals don't use grub pins as we find on many of the other pedals. The grub pins can aid in the entry but sometimes interfere with a smooth exit, delaying how fast our feet can get to the ground.

shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - the new xt pedals are fine trail companions.
The new XT pedals are fine trail companions.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens


Adjustability


The XT M8120 features adjustable release tension and installs using an 8mm Allen key inside the spindle. Release tension is adjusted with a 3mm Allen key on either side of the pedal, this adjustment features 20 detents from loose to firm hold. Shimano offers an alternative cleat that can change the release behavior by allowing upward release but there are no other ways to adjust this pedal. There are no grub pins, no float adjustment, no shoe pads or replaceable bumpers. So grip is not adjustable. In this metric, there are several other models that beat the XT in terms of adjustability.


Weight


Weighing in at 430-grams, the new pedals are 26-grams heavier than the XT M8020 pedals that they replace. While it's fairly uncommon for the new product to be heavier than the outgoing model it replaces, we'd be remiss to judge these based solely on weight. The similarly shaped XTR M9120 weigh in 33 grams lighter but proved not nearly as durable in our testing.


shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - a side by side comparison of the new version on the left and the...
A side by side comparison of the new version on the left and the previous version on the right.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Platform


The XT M8120 and XTR M9120 share the same shape but oddly, neither pedal is really able to make use of the machined area at the rear of the pedal. That said, the platform of 100mm long x 71mm wide is quite substantial. Visually, it's apparent that the XT hasn't been machined quite as aggressively and it seems to provide a touch more contact with all of our test shoes, particularly on the locknut, which is odd. The locknut tightens into the pedal at 10Nm, if that torque is achieved while the hexagonal locknut sits proud of the pedal then it will interface with your shoe.

shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - you can see the shoe wear out on the 17mm locknut, this isn't really...
You can see the shoe wear out on the 17mm locknut, this isn't really supposed to be part of the platform but because its proud of the pedal and it interferes with the fit.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens

The locknut sticks up just enough to feel different than the other pedal and provides a touch more resistance while floating. To solve the issue, you could over-torque the bolt, under-torque the bolt, file it off or stand on it but this is a pretty unfortunate oversight in our opinion.


Mud Shedding Ability


The current generation of SPD pedals does quite well in the mud and the XT M8120 is no exception. The longer body provides someplace for mud to hang on but jamming the engagement mechanism took a wildly contrived effort. They couldn't shed the mud like a Crankbrothers Eggbeater 3 but we were pleasantly surprised by how they seemed unaffected by the muck.

shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - grit and grime packed into the xt pedals after a few soggy miles
Grit and grime packed into the XT pedals after a few soggy miles
Credit: Joshua Hutchens

The engagement mechanism on this pedal doesn't feel quite as slick as the XTR M9120 pedals but we found them virtually equal in their ability to remain functional in the nasty stuff.


Value


Shimano offers an incredibly diverse range of SPD pedals, we find the XT M8120 best suited for the mountain biker wanting a bit more connection with the bike without breaking the bank. At 404 grams, they're light enough that we'd recommend them for just about any bike. All-mountain, Enduro and aggressive Cross country riders will certainly benefit from the substantial connection they provide.

shimano pd-m8120 xt spd - the new pedals feature changes all around, many of them welcome...
The new pedals feature changes all around, many of them welcome additions.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens

Conclusion


Sometimes the real gem of the line up isn't all the way at the top. The new XT pedals have gotten wider, thinner, and have more surface area to connect with, all positive changes. While we found the terminal position of the locknut poorly engineered, it's not enough of an annoyance to distract from a package that is otherwise quite impressive. They picked up a few grams and kept the price around two-thirds of the XTR, which makes them a pretty compelling value and our Top Pick. We'd recommend them to riders looking to try a robust clipless pedal or anyone currently riding older SPD pedals, the additional stability feels worth the upgrade.

Joshua Hutchens