Test: Pedal to the metal… Old saying, I know. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do without on your bike; nothing works without pedals. As one of the few points of contact between rider and bike, they deserve more attention than they usually get. We tested the latest Shimano Saint platform pedals, the PD-M828.
Shimano has had products for all gravity pilots in its Saint line for a long time. These are known for the highest quality, reliability and stability. Now the Japanese have revised the flat pedal. Frankly, that was due. The design of the previous Saint Flat pedal is simply no longer up to date.
What Shimano says about the PD-M828:
“Experienced, aggressive off-road bikers today expect pedal solutions that are tailored to their riding style, trail and weather conditions. The Shimano platform pedal range delivers the performance, quality and durability that cyclists everywhere have come to expect from Shimano.”
The Japanese also praise the pedal’s versatile off-road performance. The PD-M828 series is intended to set the standard for Shimano flat pedals.
“Saint-class design details include a 1mm front-to-back concave on each side, as well as a virtual concave with 5mm front and rear pins and 3mm center pins.”
With a flat pedal, the connection between shoe and pedal is even more important, says Shimano. The pedal was designed as a system solution with the in-house SH-GR900 shoe - but it will work with any footwear, regardless of the manufacturer.
The Shimano Saint PD-M828 – the first impression:
The new pedal is big - finally - because the contact surface of the predecessor was small - too small. Visually, the pedal has managed to catch up with the competition. In terms of color, it remains true to the Saint line. Black anodized, a few “raw” metallic surfaces and the striking gold on the axle. You can buy them for around €150 standard price and also significantly cheaper in some offers. At 533 grams (manufacturer's information), they are not the first choice for weight fetishists, even if we only found 499 grams on the scales.
The Shimano Saint PD-M828 on the trail:
I immediately switched to the long pins because I prefer maximum traction. These are included in the scope of delivery. On the bike they behave the way you want them to, maximum grip on the shoe, a decent contact surface and otherwise inconspicuous. One positive thing we noticed was that the pedals seem indestructible. Due to the deep bottom brackets that modern bikes have, it can happen that you occasionally scrape a stone or come into contact with the ground somewhere else. But this can't harm the massive pedal. Even after prolonged use, there were no signs of aging on the pedal body or bearings.
