Submitted by
Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2007
Strengths: Durable rings
Weaknesses: Expensive replacement rings when you do have to replace them
Bottom Line:
What can I say about the crankset but that they work. I have never had a crankset break or bend ever. No creaks or problems. I am just now having to replace the rings after three years of riding which I consider phenominal compared to Shimano rings that I would have replaced in half the time. I hardly every clean my chain but do use dry lube frequently. Problem is that replacement rings cost as much as a new Race Face crankset and are only available from the LBS. 4 chilis because of the replacement cost for rings.
Strengths: Looks nice, has worked really well sofar, sturdy and durable chainrings.
Weaknesses: Expensive if you have to pay the full price, not as light as it says on the package.
Bottom Line:
Overall good cranks, but not as light as XTR. I think todays XT would also be lighter and cheaper. But if you get them cheap they are excellent. Chainrings haven't suffered from hitting a few stones, they are MUCH harder than eg. shimano LX.
Bike Setup: Santacruz superlight, Marathon S 100, shimano XT, Hayes HFX Mag+,
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Submitted by
Blacky
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2004
Strengths: Light. Stiff. Simple. Bombproof.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Just replaced my trusty Sugar 3 (after riding almost daily for five years) with a 2003 GF Team. The "new" bike has an XTR Hollowtech crank with one season on it. The XTR crank is pretty, but spinning it without a chain I can hear the bearings and it only spins three or four turns. The five-year-old Bontrager bottom bracket is completely quiet and spins a dozen turns, plus the reviews here on the XTR don't make me feel warm and fuzzy, especially the part about the $100 replacement chainrings. I'm tempted to swap it for new a Bontrager. For me a couple of ounces on the bottom of the bike don't make up for zero maintenance.
Bike Setup: I put "0" for cost because it came stock on my 2000 Sugar 3. Whipperman 908 chain. XT cassette. Stock chainrings lasted about 2 years, riding daily (lots of cliimbing, about 10 hours a week). Replaced chainrings with TruVativ, including a steel 22.
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Submitted by
Enosz
a Cross Country Rider
from Budapest, Hungary
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2004
Strengths: Till good it works properly, stressless riding suits it.
Weaknesses: Creaking, ghostsift and bending. When you do it hard, it just gives in.
Bottom Line:
Gives you fine performance till you get used to your machine, but wears of when you turn serious. I got it as a crankset. The bottom bracket was just pulverised after a year and it seems impossibile to get rid of the damn creaking and strange noises, no matter if you are becoming a "wholebuyer" of WD40 of T-40 teflon lubricants. It drives ok, but with heavier loads (I'm 180 lbs and 6+ ft) it just dies with noises. Entry level, but pricey for that and for soft ridding only.
Bike Setup: Trek 8500 (2003) with some mods towards Shimano XT, but going to Truvative
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Submitted by
Paul Watters
a Cross Country Rider
from Marina, CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2004
Strengths: Works fine. Strong large chainring Does not creak (that was the BB)!
Weaknesses: Came with poor racelite BB Middle chainring worn after 20 months but I guess this is typical
Bottom Line:
Don't buy from Footloose at Mammoth Lakes!! The salesman told me that the cranks MSRP=$300 and the BB MSRP=$100. Sold them to me for $225 for the set. Also lied about the weight.
These cranks are fine. They do the job. I've hit plenty of rocks and logs with the cranks and chainring. No problems.
The racelight BB sucks!! Replaced with FSA platinum and the creaking went away.
Purchased At: Ripped off @ Footloose Sports, Mammoth Lakes
Similar Products Used: Specialized Strongarm (nice), Shimano
Bike Setup: 2000 Stumpjumper FSRxc fully upgraded
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Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003
Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: Creaking, chainsuck, chaindrop, ghostshifts, bad quality chainrings that bend and chip.
Bottom Line:
Perhaps mine was a bad unit that came with the bike. However, I wrote Trek and they defered me to the Cycle Center which did everything to make this thing work including a complete rebuild and added a new SRAM 59 chain. After three months of weekly fixes, I purchased the Raceface setup. That was the best thing about the Bontrager. Shame on Trek for lack of support. Thanks to the crew at Cycle Center for putting up with me.
Bike Setup: Trek Fuel 90 disk w Raceface Next LP crank ISIS Signature BB and 48/36/26 chain rings, Rock Shox SID Team, MaxM low riser bar and seatpost, Chris King No thread headset, SRAM 99 chain and 9 11-32t cassette, San Marco Arrowhead seat.
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Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2003
Strengths: i had the bontrager sport crankset but somehow mtbr doesnt have a product review on those? so im doing my reviewe here...shifts ok, i guess... never really had a problem until that thing bent on me
Weaknesses: easily bent
Bottom Line:
the biggest chainring bent.... i dont even know what i bent it on, and im pretty sure i didnt fall when it bent either... that must be a pretty weak chainring.... so i replaced it for the deore lx 44t chainring... other than that, everything else is ok, 4 chilis for holding up even though one of them bent....
The bike is great, but I'm not impressed with this crankset. If I don't soak the bike in oil overnight and put my kung fu allen wrench grip on these things before every ride, they creak like mad! Drives me nuts and makes my $1,100 bike sound like a Wal-Mart jaloppy. Creak creak creak creak creak creak creak is what I hear every time I pedal. I guess a benefit would be that I stay in the saddle more since when I stand up and mash on these things is sounds as if they are going to break in two. I'll give these things two flaming chili's based on the fact that they look okay, go in a circle, and haven't cracked in two yet.
This crankset was a great deal on a known product. Bontrager doesn't make the cranks, they are re-badged Truvativ Firex Team cranks which are great (the BB is Truvativ as well). The cranks are stiff and lightweight and works flawlessly with my XTR setup. I have not had any creaking or shifting problems like some of the others, though, I believe they (Truvativ) made changes to them for 2003.
Bike Setup: Gunnar Rock Hound with XTR, Bontrager Race Tubeless wheels, Rock Shox Psylo SL
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Submitted by
niklas
a Cross Country Rider
from espoo, finland
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2003
Strengths: Color
Weaknesses: Creaking, chainsuck, ghostshifts, the bolts get loose
Bottom Line:
Came stock on my bike. The crankset is CREAKING!!! :( The bolts loosen up regularly, have to tighten them before every ride. Loud if the chain isn't dripping oil, as if the chain isn't suitable for the rings? Shifting is not accurate. On-road they work fine, and look good. Sometimes they are causing some real problems off-road. The creaking isn't a big problem, but sure is annoying!
Similar Products Used: XTR, XT and Race Face Turbine ISIS
Bike Setup: GF 292
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Submitted by
max macnab
a Cross Country Rider
from edmonton
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2003
Strengths: stiff, light
Weaknesses: finish is wearing off after about 6 mos
Bottom Line:
Ok, let's get this straight once and for all. The race, comp and racelights are different cranks all being reviewed under the same category. Why is everybody down on the racelights??? Given that the the others are complete crap, but the racelights totally rock for the $$$ they're awesome.
Bike Setup: Trek Liquid 30 stock except Thomson seat post...
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Submitted by
J Matthews
a Cross Country Rider
from West Chester, PA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
Strengths: These Cranks are Strong and Shift great...The perform on about the same level as a pair of XT's. The self extracting cranks are very nice, all you need is a 10 ml to take them off.
Weaknesses: They do creak a little.....Keep them clean and use a lot of grease...
Bottom Line:
Since I stole these off of Ebay for 73, I have to say that they are worth the money. I have no problems shifting but they do creak but only a little..... If you can get a deal, pick them up, if not get the XT cranks they are predictably good....
Similar Products Used: Strong Arm II's that my wife bent while shifting...
Bike Setup: 02 Stumpy: Race lite cranks, egg beaters, 517 on lx, pc 99 scram chain, EC 90 Easton Post, Race Face BB, Cane Creek Headset S-2, XT levers and Avid Ti rear brake
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