Submitted by
mcmoonter
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2008
Strengths: Stiff, light, exceptional shifting.
Weaknesses: Pedal tread insert came loose.
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome crank, despite the loosening of the pedal thread insert. FSA replaced it by return of post, no questions asked. A fantastic company to deal with. I'll be using their products again in the future.
Submitted by
jawndoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Norcal
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2008
Strengths: Looks good at first. Lightweight, and plenty stiff for me. Oh yeah and is like a Timex watch takes a beating and keeps on ticking.
Weaknesses: Looks ugly after being used for a while. Bottom bracket bearings blow.
Bottom Line:
I love this crank. It has taken plenty of hits and it shows, yet is still strong. Several mechanics that I know say its still good to ride despite some of the cosmetic scratches to the clear coat. Its stiff (I weigh 140lbs (give or take 5lbs depending upon day and season) and is easy to pedal. The bearings in the bottom bracket are crap though. I am probably going to be upgrading them to full ceramic soon!
If you can find a good deal these are worth the purchase.
Strengths: Looks good, bike bling porn - probably really good for pure XC riding. Excellent warranty.
Weaknesses: Threaded pedal inserts are a weak point, shame otherwise a good set of cranks.
Bottom Line:
The crank does what it is supposed to do. BUT, if you want to do any riding other than XC, get a different set of cranks. Any pedal knocks will eventually leave the crank with a pedal flopping around, due to the threaded insert coming loose in the carbon fibre crank arm. FSA warranty is really good but I've gone back to XT cranks and will be putting the gleaming new FSA replacements on E-bay. 3 Chilis due to outstanding warranty, but no better than you would expect for such a bling item.
Strengths: stiff, light, great rings, didn’t wear out at all.
Weaknesses: Pedal insert on non drive side came out, but this is after 3 years of hard core xc.
Bottom Line:
FSA - hands down best company to deal with great customer service.
First let me say the crank is a great performer since the beginning, never had a problem not even a worn ring after 1500 miles!!! Beginning of this season the pedal insert on the non drive side arm came out. Called FSA and they gave me a new crank!! FSA ROCKS!!
Submitted by
Erik Balay
a Weekend Warrior
from NY, NY
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2007
Strengths: STIFF as all HELL, and the PIMP/TRICK factor Tops all others.
Weaknesses: oh that pretty fininsh... kiss it good bye after one muddy gritty ride. Most important is the pedal inserts. The early production run has issues. They come loose.
Bottom Line:
I don’t ride light, I am 215 and 6'+. These cranks have kicked ass for over a year and change. The power is awesome especially with the exterior bearing on the BB. One bolt to attach or extract the crank arms is pure heaven.
Not sure what the other review below (Mark) is referring to about a 10 year warranty but FSA only has a 2 year policy. Getting FSA on the phone is not easy (9 attempts) but once they picked up easy and friendly.
I was told that the early production had issues with the pedal inserts coming loose due to contamination weakening the carbon. Mine shows cracks all around the insert on both arms. They assured me that the new inserts have been re-engineered and loosening will no longer be a problem. As of now I am just waiting for the new replacement cranks to be shipped to me. Everyone should get a second chance. If the new set holds up FSA gets more flaming turds.
Submitted by
ben smith
a Racer
from sydney,australia
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2006
Strengths: looks great when first on brand new
Weaknesses: my first and main problem is that like many other riders the threaded pedal inserts have worked loose in the cranks. meaning that the cranks is now a throw away item. before this i also got a cricking sound when loading the pedals (standing with the crankarms parrallel to the ground)and then rotating them 180 degrees and loading them again.
Bottom Line:
dont buy this crankset, you will regret it after 3 months you dont expect topshelf product like this to be fit for the bin. too many other reviewers are adding the same feedback. fsa should not be offloading poor quality/faulty equipment like this
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Ventura County, Ca.
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006
Strengths: Light wieght, beautiful looking, and what appeared at first to be a nicely engineered crankset. Good warranty service...I hope!
Weaknesses: First the bottom braket went south and replaced it. Was told they had improved them...apparently they had as the BB is still OK. Second, the aluminum fixing bolt failed...the load bearing flange has cracked! Third, there is now excessive tolerance in the spline assembly. And last but not least, I get a cricking sound when loading the pedals (standing with the crankarms parrallel to the ground)and then rotating them 180 degrees and loading them again. I suspect there is slippage between the CF and metalic inserts.At first I thought it was due to the tolerance in the splines but upon further investigation I discovered a slight movement of the metalic insert within the CF.
Bottom Line:
When I built my Ventana X-5 12 months ago I thought I'd try the FSA K-Force MegaExo CF cranks to see if they could hold up to the riggers of mountain biking. 12 months later I've got my answer....couldn't cut the mustard!!! I've never had a problem with my FSA CF road bike cranks however!. I weigh in at 175 lbs @ 5'11" and ride four days a week...not a light weight but not a clidesdale either. Anyway, I'm hoping FSA will warranty these units and will make improvements to the above mentioned cranks. For now, I would not recommend these cranks to anyone over 150 lbs. And as one might suspition I have replace the MegaExo cranks with XTR! Finding a happy compromise between reliability and light weight parts is always risky business when it comes to finding serious mountain bike parts. Don't get me wrong....I still think FSA makes some great stuff! They do however need some engineering improvements on the MegsExo CF cranks if they expect them to live on a mountain bike with a 175 lbs rider!
Similar Products Used: This is the first set of CF MTB cranks I've ever tried!
Bike Setup: Ventana X-5, Fox Talas fork, RP3 rear shock, Hope brakes, XTR drive train, Easton CF seat post, FSA stem, Easton CF bars, Swiss 240 hub/Mavic 717 rims Weighs in just under 28 lbs and is a dream to ride!!!!
Strengths: They look amazing, are very strong, the shifting is superb, and they are extremely lightweight.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
These cranks are great. They are smooth shifting, and in use. The look compliments my bike well, as does the lack of weight. And none of my friends have 'em, nor do the geeks I know. I havn't had any problems with the pedal thread insert at all, but it's covered for a long time anyways. Buy it.
Bike Setup: Intense 5.5 with a Marzocchi AM1 blah, blah, blah...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Naglack
a Racer
from Northern , Italy
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006
Strengths: Lighweight & great shifting
Weaknesses: Pedal thread inserts have come lose from carbon arm.
Bottom Line:
Great crank until I noticed the loose pedal this past weekend. Not too happy with the overall crank after this find. I will probably down grade to an XTR to prevent this from happening again. I have sent my crank set back to Colorado Cyclist to see if FSA will exchange them. They have a 10 year warrantee so we will see how they treat me. I feel that Colorado Cyclist should give me the 100% satisfaction guarantee that Performance bike gives. This will probably be my last purchase from CC. More to come once CC responds...
Strengths: gorgeous finish; light and stiff; easy to install; excellent shifting
Weaknesses: overly expensive (subjective opinion) retail price makes it poor value; reports of weak pedal attachment but covered by long warranty
Bottom Line:
this is a beautiful crankset; i bought it secondhand off ebay, making it good value; i've had good experience with the alloy V-Drive crankset and the K-Force proves as good in shifting and a step up in lightness and build quality; however, unless you're a weight-weenie and/or have the $$, the K-Force is not fantastic value and i consider the far-cheaper V-Drive to be a better choice in this regard; but if you can afford it, go for it! it looks awesome onboard a carbon frameset =D
Bike Setup: Giant NRS; SRAM derailleurs; XTR chain
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
T.N.T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2005
Strengths: Stiff, Light and Smooth Shifting
Weaknesses: Looks great when brand new, but clear coating tend to get scuffed easily.
Bottom Line:
This crankset is very stiff and light, it can take the beating of any trail that I ride. Very smooth shifting, I'm very impress by the quality of this cranks. The only thing is that the clear coating gets scuffed real easy. I guess I can try to buff it out, but what for this isn't for a road bike. A little bit of a rough look doesn't hurt it, long as it performs well I'm happy with it.
Weaknesses: There is a weak link at the pedal attachment. Three friends of mine had this fitting shear completely out, leaving them stranded!
Bottom Line:
FSA needs to shore up the attachment between the crank arm and pedal. The glue that holds the fitting with the pedal threads are not strong enough for those who mash pedals in extreme conditions. (I am not sure if their aluminum cranks are tapped or if they have a fitting like the carbon ones.)
Similar Products Used: XT integrated cranks/bottom bracket
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Marshall
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2005
Strengths: Lighweight, stiffness, ease of removal for cleaning
Weaknesses: None so far.
Price could be if you pay MSRP ($499.00) but they are on eBay for avg. of $350 from reputable sellers.
Bottom Line:
Great cranks, ultra stiff, very durable (I had doubts about carbon, but so far they have survived Moab, Fruita, and multiple rock strikes with no cracks), no leaks, bearings still great after 8 months of riding, smoothest shifting cranks I have ever ridden; so smooth I look down sometimes to make sure I have shifted between the 3 rings.
So easy to remove for cleaning, too; just a one-key wrench pops off the non-drive crank and the rest just slides through the BB shell.
Just be sure you get the new blue crush rings from FSA vs. the old rubber o-rings sold until December 1994; otherwise very hard to get them tight without binding and inhibiting the crank from turning easily.
Similar Products Used: XTR, XT, Race Face Next LP.
Bike Setup: 2005 Moots Cinco, PUSH'ed Fox Talas RLC/Fox RP3, XTR dual control shifters, XTR 952 rear derailleur, XTR 11-34 cassette, XT front derailleur, XT calipers, XTR rotors, Galfer kevlar/carbon composite pads, Moots ti seat post, Thomson stem, Maxxm hi-rise bars, Oury Lock-on Grips, WTB Lazer V seat, Rohloff ST-99 Chain, two sets of wheels: one is a set of DT 4.1d's with DT 240s disc hubs, DT triple butts, other is a set of Mavic 819's w/ XTR hubs, 14 gauge spokes, various UST tires according to the terrain, Candy SL pedals.
