Shimano or Look Keo
guilliano
Posts: 5,495
OK.... I have decided on a bike (my first "serious" road bike)..... the Giant Defy Advanced 2 as I have a short body for my height and won't be racing, just riding sportives and fitness rides. I am looking at either the Shimano Ultegra or Look Keo carbon pedals to go on it. Does the wider platform of the Shimano really make a difference? Are the bearings in one more durable than the other? I'm not a light chap (14st) so need durability more than anything else..... any advice?
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I was a long standing Keo user, but for various reasons I switched to Shimano. Definitely a bigger platform and the cleats last longer. I wouldn't go back!0
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I use both Look keo and delta pedals.The bearings on Look are top notch and they have a needle bearing inside to which is supposed to help take the loading.
The looks have a larger range of cleats than Shimano and certainly alot more range choice too.
I know some people cant get on with certain pedals and it could be that which ever pedal you choose may not be right for you.
One thing which always impresses me though is that look still produce the delta cleats, would shimano still produce cleats for pedals a few years old?0 -
guillano - both are durable. i own both by the way, so am not just making this up and posting complete rubbish.
I have Look Keo Ti Carbon and Shimano SPD-SL Dura Ace. The Keos are lighter and it is noticeable. They are about 1/3rd lighter.
Both have great bearings, no problem there.
The Shimanos are wider and it is noticeable. For sprinting, the Shimano win it.
IME, the Look cleats last longer, in fact about twice as long.
As wappy says, Look does have a wider range of cleats.
Look look better with carbon cranks, Shimano with Alu cranks.
Shimano are easier to walk in.
I'd say go for Look, unless you are worried about the odd short walk in them, and are prepared to sacrifice some weight for the wider platform ... only really a benefit for sprinting IME.0 -
I'll not be spriniting on the bike...... fitness rides and sportives only, not even racing. No intention of walking, apart from the odd cafe stop if I ride a certain loop and then I'd probably take the shoes off...... so it's looking like the Keos win, even though they'll be on alloy Ultegra cranks0
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No-one has mentioned one of the main advantages of Keo pedals, which of course may or may not benefit you...but you can fit different cleats for different amounts of float.
I think Shimano have 3 degress of float, Keo's can have 0, 4.5 or 9 depending on whether you use Black, Grey or Red cleats. The middle option is normal. For me it's a deal breaker and is the difference between foot pain and none.
The new Keo cleats are slightly easier to walk in than the ones of old, as they have grips on the bottom now.0 -
I agree with a lot of what has been written. However I owned a lovely pair of titanium spindle, carbon bodied Look Keo pedals and was very happy with them until shorlty after the warranty ran out and the threads on the pedal bodies started to give way. It started with a strange creaking noise until it developed into the pedal body actually moving downwards on the spindle. If you are a heavier rider I would go for Shimano every time (which I have been riding hard for 2+ years without any problems). Or else you may have to 'Look' at replacing your pedals every year or so.
The Look pedals are brilliant and great for the pros who get them free but the Shimano will win every time on durability. As for the cleats they are cheap and designed to wear out and are definitely a secondary issue.0 -
magliaceleste wrote:No-one has mentioned one of the main advantages of Keo pedals, which of course may or may not benefit you...but you can fit different cleats for different amounts of float.
I think Shimano have 3 degress of float, Keo's can have 0, 4.5 or 9 depending on whether you use Black, Grey or Red cleats. The middle option is normal. For me it's a deal breaker and is the difference between foot pain and none.
The new Keo cleats are slightly easier to walk in than the ones of old, as they have grips on the bottom now.
what? yes we have my good man ... read the thread! you are right this is a major advantage of Looks. Shimano have 0 and 7 degree of float (red and yellow respectively) ... I take a 9 with Look, but was happy with a 7 on shimano ... float is a really personal thing ....0 -
berkan wrote:I agree with a lot of what has been written. However I owned a lovely pair of titanium spindle, carbon bodied Look Keo pedals and was very happy with them until shorlty after the warranty ran out and the threads on the pedal bodies started to give way. It started with a strange creaking noise until it developed into the pedal body actually moving downwards on the spindle. If you are a heavier rider I would go for Shimano every time (which I have been riding hard for 2+ years without any problems). Or else you may have to 'Look' at replacing your pedals every year or so.
The Look pedals are brilliant and great for the pros who get them free but the Shimano will win every time on durability. As for the cleats they are cheap and designed to wear out and are definitely a secondary issue.
it is true that there have been some Ti spindle failures. perhaps my comment should be that Looks are durable, but there is a question mark over the Ti spindle top models. Did you try and get something back from Look on this ... they normally have pretty good customer service.
If durability (and cost) is a big concern then I'd say go for the Keo Carbons rather than the Ti Carbons.0 -
Berkan I think you may have just suffered bad luck as I've never seen a pair of Look pedals with this fault.
Did you ever check the axels to make sure they were tight?If they had worked loose which is possible with any moving part then wear would creak in quite quickly.
guilliano
If you can find some old Look 5.1's around they offer the best of both worlds, 0,3,6,9 degrees of float just by the turn of a dial.
A little heavier than Keo's but will last you years with the alloy bodies.0 -
wappy - the only Keos with Ti spindles are the Keo Tis and the High Modulus model. The Keo Carbon have steel spindles and have had (AFAIK) no reliability issues.0
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wildmoustache wrote:magliaceleste wrote:No-one has mentioned one of the main advantages of Keo pedals, which of course may or may not benefit you...but you can fit different cleats for different amounts of float.
I think Shimano have 3 degress of float, Keo's can have 0, 4.5 or 9 depending on whether you use Black, Grey or Red cleats. The middle option is normal. For me it's a deal breaker and is the difference between foot pain and none.
The new Keo cleats are slightly easier to walk in than the ones of old, as they have grips on the bottom now.
what? yes we have my good man ... read the thread! you are right this is a major advantage of Looks. Shimano have 0 and 7 degree of float (red and yellow respectively) ... I take a 9 with Look, but was happy with a 7 on shimano ... float is a really personal thing ....
Sorry chap, for some reason I completely missed your post :oops:0
