Shimano SPD Float

wesk

Do all Shimano pedals have float these days? It's time to bin my mid 90's spd's and replace with either the xt 770's or the 540's (although other than colour, I can't work out what the differance is!), but only if they have side-side float. It only needs to be a few degrees, but it has to be there for my knees. Is it built into the pedals or is it down to the cleats?
Thoughts welcome.

jairaj

They are pretty much the same pedal. At a guess the 770 may be lighter and have better bearings or sealing? most people will find they both probably feel exactly the same in operation.

I believe the float is due to the pedal design not the cleat. Shimano have 2 cleat types, single angle cleat, where only a sideways flick will unclip or multi angle cleat where a tug in almost any direction will unclip and both cleat types float.

allthegearnoidea

if you need the float then look at crank brothers or time pedals, both rumoured to have a lot more float than shimano's,
there's quite a bit of weight difference between the 520's and the 540's so i'd guess equally so from the 540's to the 770's, possibly better bearings seals etc.

Frodo1095

iirc the shimano pedals have about 4 degrees of float with adjustable release tension, crankbrothers have 6 degrees of float with a 15 or 20 degree release angle.

allthegearnoidea

crankbrothers dont have adjustable tension either, (have just replaced my trusty candy's!) iirc time's have 7degree's of float??

ride_whenever

speedplay... hmmmm floaty