How to Adjust SPD-SL Cleats

SPD-SL cleat help keep you moving down the road.

Shimano SPD-SL cleats are part of a clip-and-retention package designed to keep your bike shoe clipped into your pedal while biking. This pedal system increases performance by transferring more force from the cranking cycle to the drive chain when you are pedaling. To optimize performance, you need to do some fine tuning when your first mount the cleat to your bike shoe. Unlike older SPD cleats, SPD-SL cleats have three posts for attaching the cleat to the shoe. Attach SPD-SL cleats only to shoes designed for these three-post cleats.

Things You'll Need

• SPD-SL compatible bike shoes
• SPD-SL cleats
• 4 mm Allen wrench

Instructions

1. Loosely attach the cleat to the bottom of the shoes by lining up the three holes in the cleat with the three holes in the shoe. Use only the provided hardware that came with the cleats. Using other hardware may damage the shoe or cleat.

2. Use the 4 mm Allen wrench to tighten the cleats to the shoe to prevent any displacement when testing. Don't overtighten the cleats because more adjustments may be warranted.

3. Practice engaging and disengaging the shoe from the pedal. Perform this test with each shoe on the corresponding pedal.

4. Test the shoe and pedal to determine the best position on the pedal. Readjust the cleat position by slightly loosening and then retightening the cleats using the 4 mm Allen wrench.

5. Tighten the bolts fully to 43 to 52 in. lbs. using the Allen wrench, once you have found the best cleat position.

Tips & Warnings

• SPD-SL cleats come in two basic varieties: The red cleats, SM-SH10, have no float or play in them and are meant for advanced cyclists or racers. The yellow cleats, SM-SH11, have a bit of side to side play or float in them and are more forgiving.

• Everyone has a different natural knee rotation when pedaling. Adjust the cleats so that the natural rotation of your knee and leg feels comfortable while pedaling.

• The cleats have an adjustment range of 15 mm front to back and 5 mm side to side.

• You should practice clipping in and out of the pedals before attempting an actual bike ride.

• SPD-SL cleats are not designed to unclip when falling. They will only disengage when you intend for them to release.

References

• Shimano: Technical Documents: SPD-SL Pedals PD-7800, PD-6610, PD-R540
• Shimano: Technical Documents- SPD-SL Pedals PD-7810, PD-6620, PD-5610