Look Kéo 2 Max Carbon pedals review
The Kéo 2 Max pedal has had a subtle make-over, which builds on its existing strengths
The old Kéo 2 Max was a good pedal design. Look has made subtle changes with its redesign which only make it better.
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Light weight
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Increased foot contact area over predecessor design
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Good bearings
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Adjustable release tension
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Look cleats wear quickly
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Look says that its Kéo 2 Max pedal is aimed at the Granfondo rider, whereas it pitches its Kéo Blade at the racer. The blade design makes the pedal a bit lighter and more aero than the Kéo 2 Max, but also less adjustable.
Within the Kéo 2 Max family, there’s the standard model, with a composite body and the Kéo 2 Max Carbon, which has a carbon fibre body. There’s not much difference in weight between the two, with the Carbon version losing around 10g a pair.
>>> Clipless pedal systems explained
At 252g, the Kéo 2 Max Carbon is comparable in weight to a pair of the considerably more expensive Shimano Dura-Ace pedals at 249g.
Look has redesigned the Kéo 2 Max pedals for this year. The changes are subtle, yet significant. First, there’s a wider stainless steel mid-foot plate with a changed shape. It’s only added another 3mm, putting the width up to 60mm, but the length has increased too. This increases the cleat contact area by 25% from 400mm2 to 500mm2.
>>> How to fit and remove pedals (video)
Look says that this increases foot stability. If so, the results are subtle: riding the old and new pedals back-to-back, I didn’t notice any difference. But the new Kéo 2 Max pedal is still easy to clip into and comfortable to use.
Whereas the Kéo Blade pedal’s carbon blade spring comes with fixed release tension levels, the Kéo 2 Max is adjustable using an allen key to change the resistance of the rear spring.
Look has also subtly changed the shape of the body of the Kéo 2 Max pedal, with a more angular front and side profile. The graphics look smarter too. Other changes are internal: there’s a redesigned bearing with a conical spacer, which Look says reduces friction and should improve bearing longevity.
>>> How Look makes its clipless pedals
The Kéo 2 Max pedal still fits the standard Look cleat. This is significantly narrower than Shimano’s SPD-SL equivalent, leading to a less awkward-looking profile on the bottom of the shoe. It’s also more prone to wear than Shimano cleats and so you’ll need to replace it more often.
I’ve been using the older version of the Kéo 2 Max pedals for years and not had any issues with them – they just work. The updated version looks to have only improved on the design.
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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
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