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Shimano has released a new range of gravity and all-mountain footwear and pedals.
The flagship All-Mountain AM901 shoe is designed for Downhill and Enduro riding and with the inclusion of a revised upper, offers reduced water ingress, quicker drying times and increased endurance over previous models. The added molded toe cover offers protection and the quick lacing cord further reduces water ingress and improves adjustability in all weather conditions.
The grippy and high-traction rubber sole makes walking easier and improves contact with the pedals. A pedal channel on the sole behind the cleat creates a stable pedal connection when clipped out. At 400g the shoes are best paired with the 546g SAINT M820 SPD pedals.
Below the AM9 is the AM701, which is now also an SPD shoe. Unlike the AM9, the AM7 removes the lace shield, offers a harder sole and uses an ankle gaiter to offer protection and keep out debris. The AM701 has a stiffer midsole than the AM9 for trail riding.
Completely new for 2018 are two dedicated Gravity shoes. The top-level GR900 shoe shares many of the protection attributes of the AM901 such as the asymmetric raised ankle collar, armoured lace shield and molded toe cap, but the difference comes with the GR900’s simplified sole construction; the GR900 is 35g lighter than the AM901, weighing in at 365g. The GR900 is best paired with the SAINT M828 493g flat pedals.
Much like the All-Mountain line-up, the gray, green or blue GR700 does away the armoured lace shield for increased heat ventilation and a more multi-purpose looking shoe. The GR7 is also available in a dedicated size for female feet.
Shimano footwear expert Falk Schlienz commented: “We’ve had flat pedal shoes in our line-up for many years but we’ve found that more people want flat pedals for more difficult trails or for e-MTB riding so we’ve brought in a range of flat Gravity shoes. We designed them together with our flat pedals so we can completely focus on making the system between the foot, the shoe and the pedal as natural and as connected as possible.”
Shimano’s revised Gravity pedals feature one SAINT-level SPD option, three flat pedal options at SAINT and DEORE XT-levels, and a non-series option, all designed to fit optimally and offer optimum pedaling connection with Shimano ́s Gravity and All-Mountain shoes.
The SAINT-level PD-M820 is one half of Shimano’s advanced Downhill and Enduro-specific pedals offering control, contact, grip and durability with SPD efficiency and stability. The M820’s wide alloy body is system engineered to match with the AM901 shoe providing a solid pedal/shoe interface. The double-sided durable alloy pedal body protects the SPD mechanism from impacts whilst the low profile design lowers the stack height and the weight. Four adjustable pins per side offer grip when the user is not clipped in.
The SAINT-level durable PD-M828 is an eight-sided concave platform pedal offering grip and support. Twelve stainless steel pins per side deliver downhill or free riders a balance of connection to the bike and pedaling stability.
The DEORE XT-level PD-M8040 comes in small-to-medium or medium- to-large options for optimized support. With ten pins on both sides and a slight concave design for comfort, these trail and enduro pedals offer the off-road performance associated with Deore XT.
Finally, the PD-GR500 builds on the reputation of its as a Shimano branded durable flat pedal for entry-level trail and all-mountain riding. The PD-GR500 features height-adjustable pins and low-maintenance sealed cartridge bearing chromoly axles, available in black or silver options at a weight of 533g.
The PD-M820, PD-M828 and M8040 pedals will be available from November. The GR500 will be available in August.
