Look Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals review

Look’s Keo 2 Max pedals sit mid-range in the iconic pedal brand’s line-up and bring the company’s top-end technology to a more appealing price point.

The carbon body is topped with a wide, stainless steel plate that aims to offer improved power transfer, with a 25 per cent increase in the surface area compared to the cheaper Keo 2 Classic model: 500mm² compared to 400mm².

The steel plate is shaped to match the cleats to ensure a perfect connection and consistent pedal-to-cleat contact at all times. Inside is an oversized chromoly steel axle that spins on both needle and ball bearings. A conical spacer replaces the old serrated washer to reduce friction.

All of this helps to ensure that the pedals spin smoothly, even under the most powerful pedalling.

Set-up was a breeze. The small cleats were easy to line up and use a regular three-bolt pattern. The pedal release tension is easily adjustable with an Allen key, and while I found the factory settinShimano SPD vs. SPD-SL pedals: what’s the right system for you?g ideal for me, you can slacken them off, which is handy if you’re new to riding clipless.

The pedals always hung at an angle on the crank, which minimises the time and effort to push the cleat in, and as with all Look pedals, getting in and out is very easy, making them ideal for a wide range of cyclists.

Engagement was reassuring with a pleasant ‘click’ and disengaging was similarly straightforward with a smooth push through the release tension and audible feedback.

On the road, the cleats remained firmly locked with no unwanted movement even during hard sprints, and the extra security of the large stainless steel metal plate is a good upgrade for more demanding cyclists who want the best performance.

The range of float (4.5 degrees) was adequate for my requirements but more or less float is available with a change of cleats.

Walking was a bit precarious due to the small size of the cleats, but they seemed robust enough to cope with the usual pre- and post-ride trots.

My testing time wasn’t enough to trouble the two-year warranty, but Look has a good track record for durability and I’m confident these are a good investment.

These are solid and reliable mid-range pedals but offer few benefits over cheaper models in the range, such as Look’s excellent entry-level Keo Classic 3 Plus pedals.