Back in February element22 reviewed two sets of platform pedals from Xpedo and now it’s my turn to fill you in on the company’s cross-country offerings. I’ve been riding the Xpedo MF-6 Ti/Al mountain bike pedal which is a lightweight, highly adjustable pedal with smooth-as-silk bearings and a great choice for anyone who likes to ride fast and light.
The Xpedo MF-6 Ti/Al pedal features a titanium spindle that spins so freely Xpedo could probably apply for a perpetual motion patent on the thing. From my testing I knew the pedal was smooth but I didn’t realize just how smooth it was until I (unscientifically) compared it to several other pedals I had laying around. Whereas my other pedals would spin freely 2-3 times on a single push, the MF-6 easily got 10-12 spins with roughly the same force. On the trail that lower resistance translated into less energy lost when I was pedaling hard.
This smooth pedal spin is all thanks to the 3 cartridge bearings inside every MF-6 pedal (other pedals typically include just a single cartridge bearing). The titanium spindle isn’t rated for riders weighing over 187 pounds but in my testing I noticed virtually zero spindle flex (I weigh about a buck sixty five). A stiff spindle transfers more energy to your pedal stroke and produces even more speed on the trail.
All MF-6 pedals from Xpedo are SPD-compatible which makes it easy to add them to the mix if you have multiple bikes with SPD pedals. These pedals offer 12 points of tension adjustment via adjustment bolts on either side of the pedal (make sure you set both sides to the same tension). In my tests I found the tiny adjustment screws did tend to get packed with grit in muddy conditions but fortunately I didn’t find myself needing to adjust the release tension much beyond my initial set-up. For me, a toothpick did the job of clearing the bolt heads after a particularly nasty ride. I also added a little lube to the cleat hinges after washing the pedals to keep the hinges working smoothly.
Speaking of mud, the MF-6 pedals do a decent job of clearing mud – about what you’d expect for an SPD pedal. The pedal itself doesn’t really seem to hold onto mud but if you put your foot down in the tacky stuff you’ll have a hard time re-engaging. On the trail you can clean out your cleats roughly with a stick before stepping back in and the MF-6 will do the rest.
Beyond tension release adjustment, the Xpedo MF-6 also offers 3 engagement settings: open, set, and a mix of the two. The open setting allows you to clip into the pedals by stepping vertically while the set setting is for toe-in engagement. The last setting gives you a hybrid vertical or toe-in engagement and it’s the setting you’ll find when you take the pedals out of the box. I personally prefer the set setting to avoid accidental clip-ins but others may prefer the speed and flexibility of the other settings.
The MF-6 Ti/Al pedals are very lightweight for such an adjustable pedal. At less than 300g per pair they’re lighter than all the pedals I own except my Eggbeater sl pedals (which aren’t adjustable and offer zero platform beyond the clips). The aluminum body on the MF-6 offers a medium-size platform that makes it easy to find the pedal with your foot without looking down. I found the MF-6 pedals to be super comfortable on the trail thanks to a generous 6 of float and a fairly standard 152 pedal release angle.
These pedals don’t include wrench flats on the spindle so you’ll need an 8mm allen wrench to install them properly. Add a little grease to the spindle threads and don’t overtighten (Xpedo recommends 25 ft-lbs of torque). Also add some blue Locktite Threadlocker to the cleat bolts before you install to keep the bolts from backing out, even on washboard trails (thanks for the tip ckdake!).
The Xpedo MF-6 is easily the best SPD-compatible pedal I’ve ridden and for cross-country riders this pedal is an excellent choice. With aviation grade spindle bearings, multiple adjustment options, and well thought-out design in a lightweight package, the Xpedo MF-6 Ti/Al is a tough pedal to beat!
Thanks to the riders at Xpedo for providing the MF-6 pedals for review.
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Apr 14, 2010
Apr 22, 2010