Review
Time Speciale 12 Enduro Pedals
Persuading flat pedal riding mountain bikers to clip-in is like getting your toddlers to take a bath. It takes a battle of epic proportions, a ton of sweat and tears just to get them in the damned tub. Once they get in though, the discover it's not so bad and, hours later, you have to pry them out with pruney fingers and toes. At least sometimes it's like that. Frankly, the flat pedal camp is currently winning the diversity war. There's never been a better time to be a flat pedal rider with all the current shoe and pedal choices these days.
A new pedal system,, sufficiently secure to alter pedal decisions has not appeared. You can easily count the companies that make mountain bike-worthy ecosystems with one hand. Shimano, Crankbrothers, HT, Look, Hope and Time are the main players, and the market share is mostly divided between Shimano and Crankbrothers. Time being a close 3rd (it seems to me at least), offers some advantages that work well for me.
Joe Murray, always a few steps in front of me, hiking in his stiff ass ME7 shoes.. mad man... I also may have been hallucinating at this point...
My mountain biking journey started on flat pedals like most and I was quite content with the riding I could do all over the world without much worry about carrying multiple shoes with me. DMR Vaults and afterwards, Shimano XT pedals did the trick. in 2017 I got invited to go to Peru with a few friends. People of various backgrounds and skill sets were all veterans of the sport. Out of 8 of us, only Elladee Brown and I were rocking flat pedals on our bikes. There were days of gruelling hike-a-bikes in high altitudes and some carried lightweight hiking shoes for the ascents. Joe Murray however is made out of a different fabric than the rest, hiking ancient Inca trails in his Shimano ME7 shoes. He is Joe Murray after all.
Time pedals under my Leatt Pro Clip 4.0 shoes Photo : Cooper Quinn
I took the leap to try some Shimano pedals. The DX M636s were not high-end by any means but the connection to the bike on rowdy trails was significant. I could run the suspension stiffer a faster for more push without the worry of bouncing off the pedals. An especially rowdy ride down Ride Don't Slide in Whistler sealed the deal. From then on I have primarily ridden clipped in on my trail bikes.
Tons of float without feeling vague, this is just about where the tension builds up. Photo: Cooper Quinn
The clip-out spot. Feels natural and gives you lots of room for playful riding without the fear of unclipping in the air. Photo: Cooper Quinn
This is not a flats vs clips article and I fall somewhere in the "I don’t give a damn as long as I am on quality gear" camp these days. The Dirt Jumper is on flats and so are the trail bikes when there is snow. In the bike park, I can go both ways but generally I prefer clips but not all of them are equal. This is why I choose Time pedals for everyday riding. My first exploration in the Time pedal system was with the cheap and cheerful MX4 pedals. Composite body pedals were lightweight and they opened my eyes to Time’s excellent cleat system. Unlike Shimano and Crankbrothers, Time cleats are side specific. The L/G and R/D engraving on them point to the Right and Left shoes they are aimed for. If you are follow these markings, you'll get 13° of release angle or 10° if you use the Atac Easy cleats aimed at first timers. However, it is entirely possible to position the cleats on the wrong feet for an increase in release angle. The left-right switch will give you 17° release angle if you maximum freedom on the pedals before release.
For my purposes, I found this much freedom impractical on the trail. 17° was just too much for my knees to handle when I wanted to unclip as fast as I could. A couple of tipovers after, I swapped them to 13° release configuration.
Loves playing and not accidentally unclipping. Photo: Cooper Quinn
Speciale 12s have a premium feel to them with a premium price tag. The French exercise in machining is intricate and beautiful. The finish is smooth with no tool marks visible. While not the biggest pedal platform, the size of the SP12s hint at their downhill positioning in the market. SP12s also come with titanium axles rather than the chromo in the SP8s that I have been using for years. The SP8s, with their smaller cage and chromo axles, are 6 grams lighter. The fine print I came across in the manual however states that the titanium axles are for riders under 90Kg. The spindle is well supported in the pedal body with a couple of bearings on the outside that hide behind a preload cap and an IGUS bushing on the inside that sits securely behind a well constructed seal. You need a special tool to get the preload cap open but I have been successfully using modified needlenose pliers for this purpose.
Brand new SP12 vs beat up SP8.
The size differenace is obvious visually and underfoot
202 grams for the SP12
196 grams for the beat up SP8.
The Speciale 8s have has been to hell and back on the sloppiest North Shore days and have been submarined multiple winters. They also bear the scars of every rock I have smashed them against. Despite this the have very little play at the spindle. A once a year clean and grease is all I have done to them for years. I have not come across a pedal rebuild kit on any of the distributor’s websites and the the SRAM parts catalogue lists some body parts for their Xpressa pedals. Since the SRAM acquisition of Time a couple of years ago, the availability of the pedals and parts has been mixed in Canada, but I hope this improves.
Slightly modified (improved actually) needle nose pliers. Stiffer ones make a difference
The Preload cap comes off and a 10mm socket removes the axle nut for refreshing the internals.
I have used the SP12s with a variety of shoes. My current non-testing shoulder season shoes are the Leatt Pro Clip 4.0s. The overall shape and flex in these shoes works well with the SP12s for contact when contact is needed with the pedal cage. The shoes are not overly stiff but not noodley either. I have tried the SP12s with and without the supplied traction pins and, while the front mounted pins are redundant, the rear mounted ones provide some added security to the feel of the system. The functionality of these pins will entirely depend on your shoe and shoe size, so it is worth experimenting. On one particular slippery ride, when I rode a slippery log ride to an even slipperier chute totally unclipped, the traction underfoot was plenty on the larger cage and the rearward pins. I would not hesitate to repeat this when necessary.
Clipping in is the front first, rear second affair. Similar to Shimano, unlike Crankbrother's top-down entry.
I quite appreciate the adjustable release tension on Time pedals. As the brass cleats wear out ( slightly slower than Crankbrothers cleats) the ability to increase tension has been useful for staying clipped in. The twin-spring design of the Times with the 13° float also comes in handy for spirited riding style. I tend to stay clipped in better with these than with Shimano. Some people may not like the gradual tension build before the release happens compared to Shimano’s "hard wall" tension and release feel.
Overall, I love the way Time pedals ride, maintain and perform. they look great too in my opinion. There are three colours to choose from on the Sp12s (Black, Blue and Red) and the gorgeous Gold option on the Sp8s. If you are in the market for bigger platform, premium pedals with tons of float and mobility for spirited riding or to alleviate knee pain, look into the Time system. If you are after a bit more clearance from the rocks and price is a deciding factor, the SP8s do great.
290USD 390CAD (Discounts currently available at various outfitters including local bike shops)
5'8"
162lbs
Playful, lively riding style
Photographer and Story Teller
Lenticular Aesthetician
Comments
slyfink
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I've been on MXs for years. and years and years and years. A pedal usually lasts me long enough to replace the cleats several times. I like the cost, the plastic body and shape better than the Speciale line-up. And the rounded springs. I've found the squared-off springs of the Speciale's wear out quicker than the rounder ones of the MX. In the pre-SRAM days, it used to be possible to purchase replacement springs. Last year I emailed customer service and they confirmed they don't sell replacement springs. I asked if they were planning on offering them in the future, and they said they weren't but would "take that suggestion up the line". Maybe if others here chime in, the muckity-mucks at SRAM will consider it?
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I have the MX4s still on my gravel bike and apart from the weak spring tension for my liking, especially during aggressive riding, they are geeat.
If Sram hasn't spread themselves too thin with all the branching off they are doing, they really need to work on spare parts for Time
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
I have the MX's on my enduro bike and really dig them. I find them easier to get into in tricky situations than the SP8's on my hardtail. It seems that the SP8's are just a bit harder to get clicked into.
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Offrhodes42
2 months, 2 weeks ago
~25 years on Time pedals. No need to try anything else.
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I see a similar future for me
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Alex Leich
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I’ve been riding Times for a long time and I have yet to find a better combination of performance and durability. The adjustable tension is a great new addition to the product, I just wish the cleats would wear a little slower. Silca does make 3D titanium atac cleats which I may try
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I've added the silca ti cleats to the cart a couple of times but never pulled the trigger. The pricing needs to come down on those considering, Time cleats are 30Cad...
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the prophet
2 months, 1 week ago
In addition to better wear, the Silca Time cleats have 2 more advantages over the brass stockers;
1) They allow for side to side adjustment like Shimano cleats.
2) They don't have teeth on the bottom which need to be filed off if using a carbon soled shoe.
Time pedals go on sale pretty frequently since SRAM bought them. Jenson USA had the 12s for $110 and the 8s for $60 freedom dollars. 12s didn't last long.
https://www.jensonusa.com/TIME-SPECIALE-8-ENDURO-PEDALS
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Matteo Maestri
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Long time lurker, first time poster right here. I'm on a quest to find the right clip-in pedals for my hardtail. I'm on hope's TC pedals and five ten kestrel pro boa, and I hate, hate, hate the free floating feel, but I love, love, love the safety they provided in the chunky sections. Sorry to bring up the same boring discussion about pedals once again, but I find the opinions here on nsmb to be really precious. So, the question is: what is the best, if there is, the best of best (please God forgive me) "flat feeling clip-in pedal"?
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
If the free floating feel you describe is similar to being on ice feel, there could be couple of reasons for that.
Cleats sticking too far out of your shoes.
Shoes too stiff and not making contact with the pedal body
Not the right shoe, cleat, pedal combination.
Both crankbrothers mallet e and dh have big platforms that work well with kestrels.
The time sp12 will also feel more like a flat pedal.
If you want no float, try the Chromag Pilot BA pedal, we reviewed it and i found it to be too sticky. It maybe what you are after.
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Velocipedestrian
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Feeling is going to be too subjective, but I have a set of the DMR V-Twins, and they're fairly customisible with the parts in the box.
They use the SPD system, YMMV on that.
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BarryW
2 months, 2 weeks ago
As I originally learned to ride road type clip pedals I've personally always liked the 'float' you get.
But for MTB I ride Crankbrothers Mallet DH pedals and using the Mallet shoes it's been incredibly interesting dialing up the pins for a little less 'floaty' feeling I'm growing to like.
Look for a large platform, and think about the profile of the shoe compared to the pedal. Does it curve upwards right where you're pedal will sit? Or will it be flat enough to engage the pins?
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
In my experience, hardtails are the perfect application for clipless pedals. I can't seem to keep my feet on flats on a hardtail*. Good luck with your pedal search!
*The caveat is that I'm mainly a clipless rider and so I can't say that I have very good flat pedal technique.
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Matteo Maestri
2 months, 1 week ago
Thanks everybody for the inputs, really appreciated. I'm not willing to give up clipping in yet, so I think I'll fork out some more hard earned money and get a set of Mallet DH. In regard to pedal-shoe compatibility: I nerded a bit online, and looks like Crankbrothers' shoes bend up upward at the front tip just like my kestrels, so I'll try again with those shoes. As a note, I find fascinating how deep the "clipping in" rabbit hole can get, so many details! I find the conversation tend to be less "tribal" than the ones about flat pedals.
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Mike Kittmer
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Went to Times in the mid-2000’s after some year exclusively on flats. Had ridden Shimano XC SPD through the mid to late 90’s. What drew me to Times was the float and how it didn’t aggravate a knee problem I was having. Also that mud and snow had little effect on them. They allow for a more flat pedal type of riding where your foot is free to move (think table tops, etc.) while retaining the benefits of being clipped in. On light trail bikes there are many benefits to being clipped in. I do still swap to flats from time to time just for fun and to keep the skills fresh. It’s an easy transition to make from Times.
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
This!
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
I rode SPD's for over 30 years and finally gave them up for Times because they would release at very inopportune moments. No such problems with the Times. The Times seem to hit that perfect balance between being very secure, but not to the extent that you can't get out of them immediately when you want to.
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Sethimus
2 months, 2 weeks ago
that’s all cool up to the point when you start riding super exposed shit in the alpes, can‘t free my head when i‘m clipped in and there is certain death on one side of the trail
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I will ill confirm that this October!
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BarryW
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Ah, thats the funny thing, I think that's literally why clipped riders like it.
For me I feel so much more in control when I'm clipped and will happily ride way gnarlier stuff clipped than I will on flats.
But for me I started riding clips at about age 12 so it's completely second nature for me. In fact a while back I nearly bit it hard and much to the surprise of the flat pedal rider behind me, I got a foot down faster than he could believe. Like he had to double check I was actually riding clips. Now that's my experience not everyones, and I understand that. But for me the exposed places are where the extra 'connection' feels best.
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
Barry, I'm the same way. I can stick a foot down wherever without the slightest delay.
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Steven Kovalenko
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Oh TIMES. I had a love affair with you during my x/c days and still fondly remember them. I really love the mechanism and longevity of their pedals, and it should have really kicked CrankBros to the curb back in the day. They have not kept up to modern platform design trends, and the 12s are breathtakingly expensive. I refuse to pony up for the 12s. Tried the Speciale 8 and they don't offer up much platform at all - it's basically an XT clip pedal. I hope SRAM eventually remembers they bought TIME and inject some sensible modern designs and prices into the lineup. There's a lot of Mallet marketshare out there for the taking - give me a real platform to stand on.
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
You are not wrong, Steven. I've enjoyed my time on the crankbrothers Mallet Es a lot. Great platform, cleat fleel. It is very close in real world experience for me to the times. I just have too many bikes with Time pedals at home to make the change.
SP8s are small, and offer little underfoot support but I wouldn't write them off for aggressive downhill riding. They feel great with most of my softer shoes.
Also i have seen the 12s at half off in a few retailers lately. I think Sram got the memo on that!
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Cooper Quinn
2 months, 2 weeks ago
> Frankly, the flat pedal camp is currently winning the war.
er.... what.
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Cooper Quinn
2 months, 2 weeks ago
> Out of 8 of us, only Elladee Brown and I were rocking flat pedals on our bikes.
oh.
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
They just have so.. many... options....
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Abies
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Great review. I've been on Time's since about 2011 after too many Crank Brothers implosions. I understand they're better now, but I think pedal systems are one of the stickiest components. I have three bikes that usually run clipless pedals, so it would take a lot to change to another brand.
I need another set for a bike and was thinking about trying the 12s instead of the 8s I've been using. I'm not getting the sense from this review that the size difference is a game changer for a trail bike.
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
My lawyer advised me not to use the phrase "game changer", but the bigger platform definitely allows for a better riding experience...
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Abies
2 months, 2 weeks ago
lol, maybe it’s time to up my game then
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
That's good to know, Deniz.
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Joseph Crabtree
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I use the 8's on my trail/XCish HT and the 12's on the AM bike. The bigger platforms definitely feel more secure but I have clipped a few more rocks on the 12's due to the extra width.
I have one pair of hikeable shoes with the "easy" cleats for the chunkier trails with more consequences.
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
After seeing friends have failures with their Crankbrothers pedals, I'm a bit skeptical of them.
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mutton
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Great article at a "time" when pedals are forefront in my thoughts. I went all in on HT pedals about 5 yrs ago. I run the T2 SX pedal. I love the high release pressure purely because I have a bad left ankle that wants to supinate (and release) especially under compression :(.
I find the HT to be higher maintenance as I grease at least twice a year and full service / bearing at least annually (on three bikes).
Super bummed that HT also seem to have gone dark in the USA. No response to support emails and struggle to find service kits. Even a friend at a shop is not getting a response
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Deniz Merdano
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Stay tuned for HT content
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mutton
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Any info you may have about whether HT is still active in North America would be rad. Zero response to all my outreach. I need rebuild kits. Can't ride without ma pedals. Kinda sad. I'm switching pedals between bikes at the moment.
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grambo
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Been using Time Speciale 12's for almost 3 years now. My first and only clipless pedal after using flats since starting mountain biking. Love the pedals for the all the reasons highlighted in the review, but do have to say durability and serviceability is disappointing for a premium product. Within about 6 months of owning my first pair, I bent the spring clip on one pedal, it would still hold my foot in but the clip was bent a few degrees so it never felt secure. I ended up having to use the opposite side of the that pedal for the next year and a half which was annoying looking down every time I would clip in. Last summer I ended up completely snapping that same spring when I clipped a rock in tall grass at high speed. Time does not sell replacements. Luckily I found a pair of barely used 12's on PB buy/sell since the MSRP on these is ridiculous.
On my second pair I have slightly bent one clip already after less than a year but it still feels solid on both sides, so at least I don't have to look down every time I clip in. My buddy has been running Time forever, and has had the same pair of MX4 for like 10+ years now without any issues.
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AndrewR
2 months, 2 weeks ago
The trouble with the SRAM/ Time pedals is the not quite 'trail' but not quite 'XC' q-factor of 55 mm is really annoying.
It is surprising how muscle memory can really feel and be put off by a 2 mm narrower Q factor at the pedal.
I am guessing it is a taller rider issue once again (like longer chain stays for XL frames, decent length head tubes and handle bars with proper rise etc etc etc) but 57 mm ('trail') q-factor, like the Mallet E LS, is about the bare minimum as far as I am concerned.
Ian Ritz from Chromag actually lent me a set of pedal axle extenders to try for a bit and one can see why they developed the Dagga.
It is one of the reasons I like my Pilot BA pedals but I still prefer the overall bullet proof and mud clearing (actually Chilcotin lava ash when wet) nature of the Mallet E LS especially as their parts supply service is excellent.
As far a form and function the HT T2 are the best pedals I have ever used however their refusal to keep grease inside the pedal for more than five days meant that they did not stay in the bike garage for more than a season.
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Curveball
2 months, 1 week ago
This is a very timely article. It's a great reminder that I need to service my pedals.
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