Customer Review: Xpedo Mountain Force 8 Ti Pedals

Xpedo Mountain Force 8 Ti Pedals

The Mountain Force 8 Ti Pedals are beautifully sculpted from titanium, which shines in terms of lightweight, precision casting/milling, and silky smooth feeling. Stated weight is 215 grams/pair. My actual measured weight: 214.7 grams/pair. These pedals are 95 grams lighter then Shimano’s venerable XTR PD-9000 Race pedals. In addition, the M-Force 8 Ti pedals are fully compatible with Shimano’s SPD cleats. I’ve used XTR pedals for decades and Shimano’s XPD cleats operate seamlessly with Xpedo pedals, and Xpedo’s XPT cleats work flawlessly on XTR pedals. I’ve read reviewer’s that claimed Shimano cleats bind on M-Force pedals but I have never experienced this so-called binding, and vigorously disagree with their opinions. The XPT cleats are installed using a 4mm hex key. Xpedo recommends these pedals for riders that weigh under 187 pounds (85 Kg) but I know a few riders that weigh a bit over 200 pounds and they reported no problems using these pedals. The M-Force 8 Ti pedals come in silver titanium color and have a suggested retail of $269.00.

The pedals and axles are cast and milled respectively from titanium and contain three cartridge bearings. Their dimensions are: 50.5 X 42 X 14.4mm, and they are double-sided. The insertion threads are 9/16”, which is standard on most crank-arms, including my favorite Race Face Next and GL4 cranks. Tension adjustments are simple and are made via a bolt that accepts a 3mm Allen key. A sliding red bar indicates the level of tension on the cleat-release mechanism. The factory sets them on the low, loose end, and I usually adjust mine about midway on the scale, which requires a firmer foot movement to disengage the cleats from the pedals. Relative to installing the pedals, the left-sided pedal is indicated by a small line located near the inner-side of where the threads end and the axle continues inwards. It is reverse (left-handed) threaded while the right-side pedal has no markings and is normally threaded (right-handed).

Installation is a breeze and requires only an 8mm Allen key and Loctite. I prefer the Allen key method of installing pedals versus a pedal wrench that can readily scratch or damage the pedals if care is not exercised. It’s much easier inserting an Allen key thru the inner side of a crank arm and then engage the pedal. It’s simple and clean, however, precaution must be taken to screw the pedals in properly, meaning straight, so the threads are not stripped. I run a bead of Loctite around the pedal’s axle threads prior to insertion. I snug the pedals firmly and never over tighten them. I can resort to a torque wrench, but after doing this for years on my bicycles, “installing by feel” works perfectly for me. However, for those of you that prefer torque specifications, Xpedo recommends 35 Nm or 25 ft-lbs.

Pedaling is smooth and precise. I ride daily in the dry mountainous regions in the Arizona Valley that encompasses Phoenix; where dust, sand, and rocks hold court. After a year of riding on these pedals, 5 times per week and 12-18 miles per ride, these pedals are a bit scarred from the rare rock strike, yet function as if they were taken right from the box. I’m replacing my XTR pedals on my other mountain bikes with M-Force 8’s given their lightweight, durability, and superb functionality.

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