The Xpedo Sonik pedals combine the brand’s expertise and knowledge for lightweight and fast pedals into an SPD-SL compatible design. With the Sonik pedals, Xpedo has undercut the Shimano Dura-Ace pedal weight without sacrificing adjustability or longevity. Retail price on the Xpedo Sonik pedals ranges from $189 for the CrMo spindles up to $269 with the lighter titanium pedals. Regardless of the spindle material, the Sonik pedals are carbon injection molded and utilize three sealed bearings for smooth operation. Xpedo uses a standard square SWP spring retention system with an adjustable tension design that uses a simple hex adjustment bolt.
The Xpedo Thrust 8 pedals combine a carbon composite body with a smooth and lightweight titanium spindle for optimal performance.
| Retail Price | $189 – $269 |
| Rating | 9.0 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 184 (Ti spindle) |
| Likes | + Lightweight construction + Serviceable design that doesn’t require special tools + Adjustable tension with wide platform |
| Dislikes | – Low maximum weight for Titanium version |
| Where to Buy (US) | Xpedo |
UNBOXING
The Xpedo Sonik pedals come in a black cardboard box with bright orange graphics around the exterior. A cutout on the top of the box lets you see and touch the pedals. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Sonik pedals
- 0 & 4 degree float cleats w/ hardware
- Instruction manual
With the included cleats, the Xpedo pedals are ready to install and start riding right out of the box. The pedals use a standard 8mm bolt at the end of the spindle to install it on crank arms. As with all pedals, you have to remember that the pedals are reverse threaded on the non-driver side.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Xpedo Sonik pedals look quite similar to the Xpedo Thrust pedals with a wide platform and large cutouts. The pedals are currently only offered in a single black color with either titanium or chromoly spindle options. To keep the weight down, the body is a carbon injection mold with an optimized design to optimize performance without additional bulk. In contrast to the Shimano Dura-Ace pedals which have an oversized outboard bearing, the Sonik has three sealed cartridge bearings along the spindle. This makes the side profile a bit thicker as the spindle diameter is constant along the entire body. This bearing design leaves the exposed portion of the spindle clean with a smooth tapering design.
Installing the pedals is done by the hex bolt on the inside of the spindle rather than using a pedal wrench. The Sonik pedals are also easy to service as they use standard hex bolts instead of proprietary hardware to install or remove the spindle from the body. Branding on the pedals is limited to subtle Xpedo logos on the spindle and body with no additional colors. Unlike the Thrust pedal which has a beautiful multi-colored titanium wear plate, these Sonik pedals seem to just have a standard steel wear plate.
The Sonik pedals use a standard Square SWP spring retention system mounted on the rear of the pedal. This is the same design as most pedals on the market and provides a reliable and secure connection. The tension is also easy to adjust by rotating the hex bolt on the rear and using the tension level display. That means you can make the pedals softer and easier to clip in and out of, or tighten them up for more force if you do high-effort sprints and don’t want to accidently unclip.
ON THE ROAD
With the Xpedo Thrust pedals on our Specialized Tarmac, we were excited to see how the Sonik felt on our Trek Emonda. Given their similar appearance and construction, it wasn’t surprising that the Sonik pedals had the same smooth and secure feeling. We tested the pedals with both the provided Sonik cleats and the Shimano SPD-SL cleats from our Shimano 105 pedals. The performance is nearly identical and offers a wide platform that is easy to walk on and secure feeling while sprinting or just cruising. From the factory the cleat tension is on the lighter side, but it’s easy to adjust to match different rider preferences.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Xpedo Sonik pedals to be lightweight and fast. Xpedo has taken their same lightweight philosophy and combined carbon and titanium materials to create the SPD-SL compatible Sonik pedals. Not only do they undercut the equivalent Shimano Dura-Ace pedal but they also look a bit sleeker with tapered spindles and cartridge bearings inside the body. The pedals have the standard adjustable spring tension and non-proprietary design that uses simple hex bolts to hold the spindle in place. Our only real complaint with the pedals is that the titanium version has a fairly low 187lb weight limit. That said, if you’re looking for ultra-light pedals for SPD-SL cleats then the Xpedo Sonik is an excellent option.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Xpedo. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.