Look Keo Blade 2 2014

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gitsome
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by gitsome

Yes, I agree. But better late than never.
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Kayrehn
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by Kayrehn

Chanced upon this review http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -cr-48501/ and am surprised to see it being rated so poorly, thought it was quite fair to be honest. I don't find the cleats rocking around the pedals excessively unless I'm aggressively pulling up on it, though I do think that the cleats could do with a redesign, if only to maximise the wider platform on the blade 2 now. What are your thoughts on it?

Oh, and one negative point about the new wider platform is that it nicks my calves frequently when I walk beside it, though it's probably my own stupidity. The wider area is really great and is a noticeable improvement definitely.

Velonutter
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by Velonutter

I've now done coming up to a 1000 miles with them now and on a recent trip to Hungary, I have cut my shins numerous times trying to clip in and out through the traffic of Budapest :shock: :twisted:

I've also found that using the normal grey cleats that there seems to be a lot of movement when putting the pressure down.

I have to admit that it was a delight to go back to one of my previous bikes with the original blades on.

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SolidSnake03
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by SolidSnake03

Kayrehn wrote:Chanced upon this review http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -cr-48501/ and am surprised to see it being rated so poorly, thought it was quite fair to be honest. I don't find the cleats rocking around the pedals excessively unless I'm aggressively pulling up on it, though I do think that the cleats could do with a redesign, if only to maximise the wider platform on the blade 2 now. What are your thoughts on it?

Oh, and one negative point about the new wider platform is that it nicks my calves frequently when I walk beside it, though it's probably my own stupidity. The wider area is really great and is a noticeable improvement definitely.


I actually found that a pretty interesting review, it isn't often that you see a negative review for a flagship product but in this case I think it's justified. The Look Keo's in general have some glaring issues (as mentioned) and that really is un-acceptable especially considering how long the design has been out, their competition (Shimano Pedals) and their price point.

It's nice to see a website actually call that stuff out instead of just waxing on about the weight. Interesting point as well about the Exustar cleats as a replacement. In looking at the photo's the Ex's seem to have wider/thicker contact area's around the toe and the back part which might help them fit more snugly?
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ichobi
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by ichobi

If it's a review coming from James Huang, he pretty much call it like it is. Though it's rare to see a product fail to perform as expected these days.

The glowing review in Bikeradar usually comes from the article in their Cycling Plus magazine no?

TimW
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by TimW

Yes..the reviews in there are a joke.

fogman
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by fogman

Rick wrote:Another niggle:
I looked down yesterday and noticed that the thin carbon border at the outer edge of one pedal, at the edge of the stainless wear plate, had chipped off.
I don't even know when this happened. It must have been some minor random bump or a missed entry or something that put stress on it, because I certainly have not touched the pedal in any corners.

I have obviously reaped some bad karma for ridiculing the sharp outer edge of the new Time Expressos in other posts. :oops:

The thin carbon edge of the Looks is also apparently very fragile. Since it left a ragged carbon edge I smoothed it off and rounded it a little with sandpaper so it is just flush with the wear plate at the outer edge. It still looks OK.

I should probably mention that I still like the pedals. But it is easier to posts about specific problems than to just post "worked good today".

Did I mention they are light ? :thumbup:


My Look Keo Blade 2 did the same thing. Small chip in the carbon pedal body on the outside of the pedal. Appears to be more cosmetic than functional. Nonetheless, I am disappointed, as these are the Ti model and they were expensive. Seems like a design flaw. I wonder if a redesigned Keo Blade 3 model will be coming out later this summer?
Last edited by fogman on Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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markyboy
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by markyboy

I got rid of my blade 2s just could not stand the creaking and cracking under load,just like as if I had a crack in the frame.
Now I use dura ace 9000 seems to be very nice.
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Velonutter
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by Velonutter

markyboy wrote:I got rid of my blade 2s just could not stand the creaking and cracking under load,just like as if I had a crack in the frame.
Now I use dura ace 9000 seems to be very nice.


Mark I originally had that and discovered if you put a little grease under the cleat front and rear that it stopped.

I have to admit that the slackness does my head and shins in, total over kill to avoid the ingress of water which to me was never a problem anyway.

markyboy
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by markyboy

Velonutter wrote:
markyboy wrote:I got rid of my blade 2s just could not stand the creaking and cracking under load,just like as if I had a crack in the frame.
Now I use dura ace 9000 seems to be very nice.


Mark I originally had that and discovered if you put a little grease under the cleat front and rear that it stopped.

I have to admit that the slackness does my head and shins in, total over kill to avoid the ingress of water which to me was never a problem anyway.

Hi john,
I have dura ace 9000 fitted now and they seem very nice,also when you unclip they hang in the correct position.
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Velonutter
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by Velonutter

markyboy wrote:
Velonutter wrote:
markyboy wrote:I got rid of my blade 2s just could not stand the creaking and cracking under load,just like as if I had a crack in the frame.
Now I use dura ace 9000 seems to be very nice.


Mark I originally had that and discovered if you put a little grease under the cleat front and rear that it stopped.

I have to admit that the slackness does my head and shins in, total over kill to avoid the ingress of water which to me was never a problem anyway.

Hi john,
I have dura ace 9000 fitted now and they seem very nice,also when you unclip they hang in the correct position.


But Mark you have mentioned that very naughty naughty word!

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G6612
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by G6612

I wanted to wait until I have had some mileage in on my Keo Blade 2's Ti version before giving my review. I honestly so far really like them, I will admit it took some time to get used to them but once I did I see no real hassle with them. I like how the pedals do not drop and in my experience the only real time I am riding and clip out is at a stop light or stop sign. Left foot at the 12 o'clock position I clip out when I start out I do one rotation with my right foot still clipped in and my left pedal is still in a position that I can clip right in. I like the look, the weight and so far the performance of the pedal. Just my 2 cents.

Jdrsvin
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Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:20 pm

by Jdrsvin

Have been using my Keo Blade 2 for about 3 months and I am really happy about them(and so are my knees), compared to the Speedplay Zero I swapped them for. Had been having the same issues with creaking, but somewhere on the internet found a thread about that. I bought a pair of Exustar cleats ( can´t remember what model, but they are red) and so far that has completely eliminated the creaking. Of course it isn´t acceptable to buy a product in that price range and having to change the cleats, but I´m really happy with every other aspect of them.

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

Mine has been silent.. Easy to clip in .. Harder to get out then I thought for a 12nm though.... I like them a lot so far
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Stammer
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Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:10 pm

by Stammer

How do i change the tension? Is the tension blade sold separately and what's the costs? I bought a 12Nm Ti and wish I went for the 16Nm. It's a little bit louder to clip in and out compare to my Keo Max (non carbon) but by all means it's not that tight..just a little bit more than my Keo Max.

Can I buy the 16Nm blade anywhere?

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