I just purchased a used bike and the owner threw in the pedals. From what I’ve gathered, they are definitely Speedplay Zero Road Pedals, however I’m not sure if they are Stainless or Titanium.
Anybody know the difference based off of just looks?
Thanks!
Can you take a picture?
There’s two ways to tell relatively easily. The ti spindle is shinier, the ti spindle is shorter than the standard stainless and only comes in that one length. This probably doesn’t do you any good as it’d need a stainless to compare it to.
Here you. Let me know if this helps.
Those are stainless
source: I own both
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I guess you could weigh them with an accurate scale and check against published specs.
…but …does it matter? You’ve already bought the bike…
I’ve got two sets of stainless (could not justify the price difference or the negligible weight savings) and they’re just fine.
Put a magnet to them…if it sticks they’re stainless…
Good call, Gawaine.
I’m curious what the resale value is since I don’t ride Speedplays. Thanks all!
Last I checked stainless isn’t magnetic.
Source: my refrigerator magnets
Last I checked stainless isn’t magnetic.
Source: my refrigerator magnets
Some stainless steel (austinitic) is magnetic, some (non-austinitic) isn’t. I have two pairs of the stainless speedplays (X-series) and both sets of axles are magnetic (just checked).
Stainless spindles are 53mm. Ti are 50. measure from the center of the ‘bowtie’ to the shoulder of the spindle.
… the owner threw in the pedals.
This here is probably enough to confirm they are not the Titanium spindles…
Last I checked stainless isn’t magnetic.
Source: my refrigerator magnets
Some stainless steel (austinitic) is magnetic, some (non-austinitic) isn’t. I have two pairs of the stainless speedplays (X-series) and both sets of axles are magnetic (just checked).
Thanks for the laugh.
The magnetic properties of an alloy (like Stainless Steel) is dependent on the alloy make up. Austenitic is a general description for 200/300 series and is not magnetic like Martensitic. As a general rule the more magnetic a Stainless Steel registers the less corrosion resistant it is.
I’ve never shot my stainless Speedplays with the XRF gun (may need to do that tomorrow for fun) but I would be willing to bet they are a 300 series alloy and therefore not magnetic. If you have magnetic Speedplay pedals you have the carbon steel version.
Unless Speedplay put CrMo pedals in the stainless packaging (twice!, several years apart) they are stainless and magnetic.
Per Speedplay’s site: http://www.speedplay.com/...ction=home.zerospecs
they are 17-4 Stainless…a martensitic stainless that is magnetic.
Apologies that I got my austenitic/martensitic terminology switched in the original post; hopefully you have it in your heart to forgive me.
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Late to the party.
I don’t know if speedplay do cromo but that’s what those look like to me ?
Unless they have done some finish on them, I would expect stainless to be a bit more shiny silver than that and Ti has a slightly different look again, very hard to tell from pics though …
Ref stainless and magnetism - I think some of the non magnetic types can take on magnetic properties depending on how hey are processed - especially if cold forming is involved ?
WD 
I don’t know if speedplay do cromo but that’s what those look like to me ?They do, it has a black spindle.
OK, thank
I have cromo pedals that are black (xpedo) and also ones that are kind of a nice matt silver (XTR), I guess that is some form of plating, maybe nickel or similar ?
WD
I don’t know what coating it is, but it doesn’t do a good job at preventing rust.
It’s definitely not nickel, that’s generally yellow-silver.
Sorry, I know I have confused issues naming other pedals … lol
Rust on the speed play, xpedo or XTR ?
WD
Speedplay chromo pedals rust, it’s generally on the spindle and the bowtie.