Submitted by
powerpantz
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL Date Reviewed: June 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
TNT
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Easy to take apart... over.... and over......, and over again.
External bearings and uhhhh, you can attach a bash guard, but they weigh more than the large chain ring.
Weaknesses:
The thing weighs a ton and make a terrible squeaking/creaking noise when you pedal it and even when you pedal backwards. Apparently it isn't fixable or available for warranty claim. I tried everything, wasted hours searching the whole bike for the source of the annoying sound and came up with nothing but the same damn metallic squeaking noise from the crank/bottom bracket. 19 mm FSA BB1000 (bottom bracket) doesn't match any other crank spindles, this thing is an avoid at all costs piece of crap. FSA is hard to deal and won't back up their product. Had to replace small cog within one year because it was causing chain to stick.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano.
Bike Setup:
Motobecane Fantom Elite DS
Bottom Line:
Never pay for this - do not accept it on your bike. Absolute crap. You can find more reliability anywhere.
AVOID
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Øyvin Eikeland
a Weekend Warrior
from Trondheim, Norway Date Reviewed: May 28, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Easy to disassemble
Weaknesses:
Weak bearings (Left bearing broke after 8 months) Heavy
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore XT anno 1997. Never had a problem with that one. Still works like a clock.
Bike Setup:
Nishiki Maniac XC Shimano Deore XT drivetrain Formula oro disc brakes Linus (something) wheels
Bottom Line:
I use my bike to and from work and occasionally take a trip in the forests of Trondheim. This crank came with my bike and has lasted less than a year of very mild abuse. I should have taken it back to the shop for a replacement, but decided I should rather upgrade to something decent. The 19mm spindle is not compatible with any other bearing on the market. I then had to choose if I wanted another (crap) Gamma Drive bearing, or if I should get a complete new crank-set. I just installed a brand new Deore XT set, which is 300g lighter. If the new Shimano crank is anything like the one on my former bike, I am sure it will :)
I can only recommend this product if you would actually like to go shopping for a new crank in the very near future (Who wouldn't? ;)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marcin Sylwestrowicz
a Cross Country Rider
from Poland Date Reviewed: May 8, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
cme with bike
Strengths:
im not sure if any
Weaknesses:
Its heavy, squeaky after rain, lame and powerless
Similar Products Used:
Truvativ Firex Team 3.3
Bike Setup:
'06 Corratec X-Vert Expert
Bottom Line:
I never realised how lame it is before i changed it... It needs to service it after every ride in rain of it squeak After 2 seasons it started squeaking all the time...
It is soft and weak.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Austin
a
from Oregon Date Reviewed: October 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
It hasn't failed yet. It is incredibly stiff and strong.
Weaknesses:
The bottom bracket tends to tear itself apart - starting with the little plastic cups that 'shield' from dust/dirt/etc. They're also incredibly heavy, however, a lot of that weight, as I found, lies in the chainrings. Rated for XC.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore.
Bike Setup:
2006 Kona Kikapu w/ parts from a 2006 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, Mavic Crossrides.
Bottom Line:
If you get it on your bike at the shop, it's great for an entry level crankset. However, as an upgrade or replacement, I wouldn't buy another. It is immensely heavy for a XC crankset, but these other reviews don't do it justice, I feel. Also, having pulled off the small and large chainrings, it feels far lighter.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Looks nice, external bearing bottom bracket.
Weaknesses:
Are designed so that a pedal wrench is a requirement to install pedals, if one is not used it will feel as if the pedals are tight when they are not. Middle crank ring also won't fit shimano cranksets with out some grinding.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
07 Iron Horse Warrior 5.0 stock except for Shimano Deore crankset/bottom bracket.
Bottom Line:
Seemed like a good crank when I got it, but the pedals mounts got fubar'd because of the weakness mentioned above. I've known more than just me that have had this problem.
If it comes on a bike that is assembled from a shop, check before you leave, but I wouldn't buy them aftermarket.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nick
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Strengths:
Bends like blades of grass. (I'm 140lbs)
Weaknesses:
BB still holding up.
Similar Products Used:
Race face, shimano
Bike Setup:
SS XC bike
Bottom Line:
Bent them twice. First the left side, on a small drop. I never crashed when it bent. Figured it was a fluke. Got a replacement. Month later I bent the drive side into the frame hopping a 6" log. Never crashed. These are the worst cranks I have ever used. I guess they'd be okay if you were 70 pounds and never so much as went over a curb.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Jordan
a Weekend Warrior
from Bonita Springs Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
cost; and can take a beating with the trails and with the torque wrench
Weaknesses:
in reality, none.
Similar Products Used:
had a set of LX Shimano cranks back in 1994...
Bike Setup:
2005 IronHorse HT, Marzocchi DropOff fork, Team Issue Pro Carbon FSA cranks, Kenda Nevegals (2.1), and BSH Designs 'Prison' bars.
Bottom Line:
You will not beat these cranks for the money if they are on your bike from the shop. Get yer legs, then sort out the upgrades. You CAN torque the pinchbolts on the L arm to keep it from creaking; lithium grease all the loaded points and they will last; 19mm spindle has it's drawbacks, but c'mon,... whast you see is what you get.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Jones
a Downhiller
from NC Date Reviewed: February 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
peewees
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$85.00
Strengths:
they hold pedals ok...
Weaknesses:
the left side crank arm torqued after the first ride. i have watched my freind torque 3 different sets of them.
Bottom Line:
these cranks torque....and that is not good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BRIAN POMEROY
a Weekend Warrior
from ENDICOTT Date Reviewed: September 30, 2005
Favorite Trail:
SINGLETRACK
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
DICK'S BIKE ASSEMBLED
Strengths:
STIFF CRANKARMS, EASY REMOVAL, STRAIGHT SPIDER AND RINGS.
Weaknesses:
CRANKARM REMOVAL A LITTLE TOO EASY IF PINCH BOLTS ON NON DRIVE AREN'T TORQUED DOWN BIGTIME. HEAVY AS @#%&*. DRIVE SIDE BEARING LOOSENED UP AFTER 20 MILES, NEVER HAD SHIMANO DO THAT IN 15 YEARS!!!
Similar Products Used:
SHIMANO, ISIS, PROFILE SPLINE TYPE.
Bike Setup:
TRAILS, FUN BIKE,
Bottom Line:
NOT CHEAP ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY HIGH MAINTENANCE THUS FAR. THE COMPETITORS: SUGINO, SHIMANO, AND TRUVATIV HAVE BETTER FOR LESS $$$$ THE HIGH END FSA STUFF LOOKS BULLETPROOF N LIGHT(DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND LAYOUT). BEST OF LUCK. ASK THE SHOP TO SWAP IT. WHO SHOULD BUY IT? DARNED IF I KNOW. WHO SHOULD STAY AWAY? DIRT JUMPERS, HUCKING DOWNHILL, SLALOM ETC. ANYBODY WHO LIKES HAVING FUN ON 2 WHEELS FOR THAT MATTER.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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