Generic SPD-SL cleats VS authentic Shimano
12-06-18, 07:36 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,681
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1163 Post(s)
Liked 441 Times
in
314 Posts
Generic SPD-SL cleats VS authentic Shimano
Just a quick inquiry to try to find if anyone knows if there is a distinction between SPD-SL clipless pedal cleats that come in a genuine Shimano packaging versus ones that do not.
I need a replacement yellow set for some Fizik winter shoes I purchased and noticed these generics are quite prevalent on eBay, presumably coming from China and selling for anywhere between 1$ & 8$.
The real deal Shimano ones seem to sell for about 11 or 12$ on up to $20.
Just curious if if anyone who has used the cheapies could review their experience either good or bad?
BTW - i’m Going to stop by my Performance Bike (sadly going out of business as most already know) and check their cleat prices with whatever this week’s discount applied is...
I need a replacement yellow set for some Fizik winter shoes I purchased and noticed these generics are quite prevalent on eBay, presumably coming from China and selling for anywhere between 1$ & 8$.
The real deal Shimano ones seem to sell for about 11 or 12$ on up to $20.
Just curious if if anyone who has used the cheapies could review their experience either good or bad?
BTW - i’m Going to stop by my Performance Bike (sadly going out of business as most already know) and check their cleat prices with whatever this week’s discount applied is...
12-06-18, 09:36 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times
in
446 Posts
Amazon is also full of "Shimano-compatible" cleats of indeterminate provenance, mingled in with the real thing. I figured that the shoe-pedal interface was sufficiently important (based on the possible consequences of the cleat failing at an inopportune moment) that I'd spring for genuine Shimano cleats. As it turned out, Amazon prices for real Shimanos differed little from those at the LBS, so I bought local, where I could see what I was getting.
12-06-18, 09:44 AM
#3
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times
in
346 Posts
I got these for my Zwift bike this winter. I have two pairs of shoes, an old set I use on my Zwift bike and good shoes for summer riding. My Zwift shoes needed new cleats really bad and didn't want to drop $25 for cleats again. Sooo I hit up fleabay.
www.ebay.com/itm/EXUSTAR-RSL11-SPD-SL-ROAD-RED-CLEATS-Rubber-Pads-4-5d-Float-fit-SHIMANO-SM-SH11/291262572512?epid=710189250&hash=item43d09a27e0:g:1FUAAOSwT6pVwjzM:rk:19
f:0
I got these Exustar just to try. I found they fit and look very close but not as finished. Only negative I found was that I had to tighten up my pedal tension because they were easier to disengage out of the pedal. I kept coming out of the pedal, I had to tighten them up to 90% for my liking anyways then I was great. I usually am at around 50%. I tried them on my road bike pedals and same thing just for comparison.
I will buy them again when I need new cleats though. Only used them for about 100 miles so far and they are good. Unless they wear super fast I will go this rout and save some cash.
www.ebay.com/itm/EXUSTAR-RSL11-SPD-SL-ROAD-RED-CLEATS-Rubber-Pads-4-5d-Float-fit-SHIMANO-SM-SH11/291262572512?epid=710189250&hash=item43d09a27e0:g:1FUAAOSwT6pVwjzM:rk:19
f:0I got these Exustar just to try. I found they fit and look very close but not as finished. Only negative I found was that I had to tighten up my pedal tension because they were easier to disengage out of the pedal. I kept coming out of the pedal, I had to tighten them up to 90% for my liking anyways then I was great. I usually am at around 50%. I tried them on my road bike pedals and same thing just for comparison.
I will buy them again when I need new cleats though. Only used them for about 100 miles so far and they are good. Unless they wear super fast I will go this rout and save some cash.
12-06-18, 10:09 AM
#4
Callipygian Connoisseur
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,373
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 564 Post(s)
Liked 350 Times
in
190 Posts
In my experience, off-brand cleats do the job but perform less consistently than genuine Shimano. Some have required significant adjustment of the pedal tension, some are finicky to release, and some are slightly more difficult to engage. It's impossible to know what the issue will be from one set to the next. Because of such annoying inconsistencies and the little to no price difference with the genuine article, I've given up on generic or off-brand SPD cleats.
-Kedosto
-Kedosto
12-06-18, 01:47 PM
#5
Banned
History, FYI..
3 bolt, It's actually a Look design, Shimano licences,
until the French company patent expired ..
until the French company patent expired ..
12-06-18, 03:00 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,212
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18397 Post(s)
Liked 15,485 Times
in
7,316 Posts
Amazon is also full of "Shimano-compatible" cleats of indeterminate provenance, mingled in with the real thing. I figured that the shoe-pedal interface was sufficiently important (based on the possible consequences of the cleat failing at an inopportune moment) that I'd spring for genuine Shimano cleats. As it turned out, Amazon prices for real Shimanos differed little from those at the LBS, so I bought local, where I could see what I was getting.
/Thread
12-06-18, 03:10 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
