Confident Grip, Stable Control, and Trail-Tested Durability
In this article, you will:
- Learn about how SHIMANO translated its legendary pedal durability into a new generation of flat pedals.
- Explore how the pedals’ platform shape, pin layout, and thickness affect performance on aggressive terrain.
- Read about the key differences and shared DNA between SAINT and DEORE XT flat pedals.
For more than three decades, SHIMANO SPD mountain bike pedals have set the benchmark for performance, reliability, and durability. Now SHIMANO brings that same proven engineering to its flat pedal lineup with the introduction of the new SAINT PD-G8040 and DEORE XT PD-M8240 flats. Both models are built to meet the uncompromising demands of modern mountain bikers, from laps in the bike park to all-day backcountry adventures.
SAINT PD-G8040 Flat Pedals
At the top of SHIMANO’s flat pedal lineup sit the new SAINT PD-G8040 pedals. Drawing from SAINT’s bombproof, gravity-focused heritage, these pedals hint at what’s next for one of SHIMANO’s most iconic component families, while standing confidently on their own as a premium upgrade.
The PD-G8040 delivers secure grip, excellent stability, and long-lasting durability. An extra-wide, dual-concave platform measuring a healthy 121 mm x 110 mm provides generous support front to back and side to side, allowing your shoe to settle naturally into the pedal under your body weight. The result is a planted, confident feel when the trail gets steep or chaotic.
Grip comes from 10 traction pins per side, plus four optional inner pin positions to fine-tune feel and bite. SHIMANO includes additional 6 mm and 3 mm pins along with a dedicated E5 socket wrench pin tool, making it easy to dial in your setup based on shoe choice, terrain, and riding style.
SHIMANO’s flat platform design maintains consistent pedal body height, even around the axle, maximizing usable contact area and improving the shoe-pedal interface. Your foot stays secure, yet mobile enough to reposition quickly or dab when things get sketchy.
A thin pedal profile improves ground clearance when navigating rocky, uneven terrain where untimely pedal strikes can knock you off your line, or worse. If you do clip a rock, durability isn’t a concern. A reinforced alloy pedal body, composite skid plate, impact-resistant pins, and robust axle and bushing construction ensure the PD-G8040 can handle big hits, season after season.
Serviceability is built in, too. Replacement parts, including skid plates, pins, and axles, are readily available, keeping these pedals running strong for the long haul.
DEORE XT PD-M8240 Flat Pedals
The DEORE XT PD-M8240 flat pedals share much of the same DNA, tailored for riders who want dependable performance without overthinking it. An extra-wide, dual-concave platform – also 121 mm x 109 mm – delivers confident grip and control, paired with 10 traction pins per side and two optional inner pin positions for a locked-in feel when it counts.
Like the SAINT pedals, the DEORE XT flats include additional 6 mm and 3 mm pin options, as well as a dedicated tool for easy customization. SHIMANO’s flat platform design and thin pedal body maximize contact area while maintaining a predictable, stable interface between shoe and pedal.
Built with the same robust axle and bushing construction, reinforced pedal body, and impact-resistant pins, the PD-M8240 pedals are fully serviceable and designed to take repeated abuse. Affordable replacement parts ensure long-term reliability and consistent performance, no matter how hard you ride.
Whether you're hitting the bike park, hunting for traction on technical climbs, or simply looking for a flat pedal you don’t have to think about mid-ride, SHIMANO’s new SAINT and DEORE XT flats deliver where it matters most. With wide, confidence-inspiring platforms, tunable grip, and proven durability built to handle real-world abuse, these pedals bring SHIMANO’s performance pedigree squarely under your feet. Pick your line, drop in, and ride knowing your connection to the bike is solid, run after run, season after season.
