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Submitted by
RandyBoy
a Cross Country Rider
from Mammoth Lakes
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Blackrock CYN | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | I've owned 2 sets of these, one 6 months, one 12 days. aOn separate 29'er bikes. Like the Firex, they have smooth external bottom brackets, one being 68mm with spacers, the other being 73mm and no spacers. GXP bearings have lasted well for this 225# clyde | | Weaknesses: | I've replaced 3 sets of granny and middle ring gears on these, one made early 2006, which were strong and properly heat treated, one set that went to crap, both granny and middle in 600 miles, and the newest one, with a 12th week of 2009 build with a granny gear that crapped out, failed shark toothed 6 consecutive teeth and slipped in 12 days and 135 miles, as logged on my GPS with only sit and spin pedalling, no mashing in granny.
It's my belief that Truvativ has either a material QC problem from their vendors, or a heat treating problem, and these ring gears are soft as butter and fail dangerously when you least expect it, while climbing, risking injury falling over the bars, and crashing, and or injuring ones knee on the stem when the slippage,/ failure occurs.
I've had zero problems and 1200 trouble free miles after changing out to cheap, mild steel ring gears for granny and middle gear on my 6 month old set. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, Truvativ Firex | | Bike Setup: | Niner AIR, Manitou 120, Hadley's, thomson, all X-9, SRAM 990, Racing Ralphs. Also Niner RIP, same build standard. | | Bottom Line: | Until SRAM /Truvativ addresses the QC problems, as well as torquing and loctite on all ring gear bolts, avoid these like the plague. They are an injury waiting to happen if you are a Clyde, and the failure occurs at the worst time under extreme load when climbing. I've never once broken a SRAM chain, but I've stretched and worn them out consistently in 600 miles, 4 chains in a row, SRAM 971's. I can't trust hollow pin 991's at my weight. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yeti14b
a Cross Country Rider
from Danville, VA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | The One I'm On | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Strong design, shifts as well as the XT it replaced, external bearing BB is cool. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | Norco Manik, Fox Float, Avid Juicy's, XT shifters and gearing. | | Bottom Line: | Hard to beat for the money. Mine is the 2008 model and is a definite value. Read the instruction when installing. The left arm requires a very low torque setting (so much so I thought it was a typo)and as the instructions indicated, I had to torque the left side and then work it loose by applying lateral pressure to the arms and then re-torque them(I actually did this twice). I'm 215 pounds, riding a 21" frame and run them pretty hard and they have not loosened up yet after about 40 hours. I like'em. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martino0626
a Weekend Warrior
from Memphis, Tn
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Stanky, IH Mangt. Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicyclewarehouse.com | | Strengths: | Solid and Durable | | Weaknesses: | Finish Rubs Off but Oh Well, Nothing of Substance | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing worth mentioning | | Bike Setup: | Haro Xeon S FoxShock 32 RL, Rock Shox Pearl 3.3 Bontrager Pro Rhythm, Juicy 5s, Ricthey Cock Pit, Sram X9 (front,rear,and trigger) | | Bottom Line: | The Crank is heavy but its an "ALL MOUNTAIN" crank NOT an XC crank..If you want a lighter crank check out the Truvativ NOIR 3.3s (800g) cranks..But mine were installed by Haro and have needed no maintenance, very solid in my honest opinion... plus they are affordable | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al Garcia
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft. Laud. FL
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dupont, NC | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | light, quick and smooth shifts. good value and easy to mount | | Weaknesses: | crank arm falls off | | Bike Setup: | GT idrive 5.0, x 7 sram drive train, 50x50 pedals, tekro disc, ritchey stem / bar, rock shox suspension. | | Bottom Line: | these cranks (stylo 3.3 - 2007 model) give you great performance (clean shifts) except that the left crank arm untightens itself and falls off. the tightening system is not realiable. i contacted the manufacture and they replaced arm without issue though my LBS. only thing the replacement arm is 2008 model and it does not match the drive side arm. however, im hopping this solves the problem. it's my understanding that these cranks were re-engineered in 2008 mainly to resolve this problem. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zeb
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Douthat State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Light, Stiff, great shifting, looks good. | | Weaknesses: | see below... | | Similar Products Used: | old truvativ stylo's, FSA, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kikapu Deluxe with various upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | Let me say that this crank is absolutely amazing, when its working. Went through a set of bearings in 4 months and had to replace the bottom bracket. at about the 1 year mark the crank bolt sheared in half, through the thick part. Went to Carytown bikes, who are awesome all the time, and they ordered the bolts. Week later Truvativ sent a pair of bolts free of charge, so kudos for that. 3 on value cause I didn't spend the money for XT, 2 for the overall cause I've already had to replace 2 things that should not have been needed. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bonaTERRA
a Cross Country Rider
from statesboro, ga, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | ebikestop.com | | Strengths: | great setup, i really like the external bb, so easy to work on and maintain. i have read about some of the problems on here and i can say i have had none. im 6'6 240lbs with the 180mm's and ride the hell out of them. i have the larger of the two bb shell sizes and do not need any spacers, but if you have the smaller size you need to be sure and use the spacers and plenty of grease on the axle, nuts, and threads of the bb (for both shell sizes). go ahead and buy the ext bb tool, its cheap. after i toqrued it down for the first time i got about 10 good miles and then it needed to be tightened again and i haven't heard from it since. | | Weaknesses: | none, i think they should include the tool though | | Similar Products Used: | shimano fc series, deore xt, alivio, race face | | Bike Setup: | trek 4500 beefed out on steroids | | Bottom Line: | for the money you cant beat them, i could see some problems arising with older frames, consider refacing. 5 flaming chilis! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Naples, Italy
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | messy singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Stylo Team CARBON - Price, ridability, looks | | Weaknesses: | carbon fiber finish scuffs easily | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, Race Face Turbine LP | | Bike Setup: | Fork - Rock Shox Judy XC,Rims - Ritchey Girder XC,Hubs - Ritchey Zero,Spokes - Ritchey ultra-lights,Tires - IRC Mythos XC Kevlar,Pedals - Shimano M540,Crank - Truvativ Sylo Team Carbon,Chain - SRAM 951,Rear Cogs - Sram PG-970 11-32,Bottom Bracket - SRAM GXP,Front Derailleur - SRAM X-gen,Rear Derailleur - Sram X-7,Shifters - Sram X-7 twist,Handlebars - RaceFace Deus XC,Stem - Kore Elite,Headset - Ritchey WCS,Brakeset - Avid SD7's,Brakelevers - Avid FR-5 Saddle - Sette AMP,Seat Post -Sette APX alloy,Extras - Sette XE2 Carbon Fiber bar ends, Ritchey grips, XTR cables/casings
| | Bottom Line: | If you're looking for the best XC crank for the $$, you have to buy this crank. I was scared that it would feel soft compared to XTR/RaceFace and that hasn't been the case at all. I weigh 215lbs and this crank is as stiff as anything I've ridden. On top of it all, it is a work of art, absolutely beautiful. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
UnderDog
a Cross Country Rider
from Phat City
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | slickrock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Stiff, Affordable, smooth shifting, smooth bearings. | | Weaknesses: | A bit beefy at 918 grams but the weight may ensure durability and stiffness. | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Turbine LP, Ritchey Logic (both with square spindle Shimano BB.) | | Bike Setup: | An Extremely Nice Bike | | Bottom Line: | This is the 2008 version of the Stylo 3.3 crankset with GXP bottom bracket. Weighed in at 918 grams including BB. Not too heavy considering the price - $100 complete- along with the solid construction. Only ridden for 6 miles thus far but immediately notice that this crank is MUCH stiffer than my old school square spindle BB and just as smooth spinning with the large outboard bearings. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade. Excellent value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nismo driver
a Weekend Warrior
from dirty jersey
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | campmor | | Strengths: | thie review is the 08 with new chain rings..
they are solid stiff and silky smooth far supior to the oem junk ive rode it the past, they look pretty sweet as a bonus.. | | Weaknesses: | they arent the lightest cranks but there not really in the price range of the light weight xc cranks.. | | Similar Products Used: | truvative isoflow and five d, neither are even close to the saem class as the stylo | | Bike Setup: | access xcl frame, manitou r7 elite, truvative stylo, the rest is oem junk of my dakar.. | | Bottom Line: | great bang for the buck with no problems so far, good looking stiff and smooth couldnt ask for much more at this price..
igive it four chilis because it would be nice if they were a bit lighter but for this price and the stiffness i shouldnt complain | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockville, MD
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | Look great and very stiff | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ Isoflow (OEM) | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche frame with custom build kit | | Bottom Line: | Haven't used them that long yet, but a world of difference compared to the cranks that came with the frame. These cranks are so stiff it makes it easy to climb. Bearings are nice and smooth and make rolling in low gear a piece of cake. Can't imagine how nice these cranks would feel with some ceramic bearings. For the price these can't be beat! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Georgiy Romanov
a Weekend Warrior
from Solnechnogorsk, Russia
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | solnechnie trassi | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Strengths: | Looks good, light. | | Weaknesses: | It's made from plastic! | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ Hussefelt, Prodigy DH | | Bike Setup: | Yeti AS-X + Z.1 Light ETA | | Bottom Line: | I'm a all-mountain rider and i was searching light and cheap cranks for my bike. If you weight over 210 lbs - don't buy this cranks anyway.
Then i setup them it's all be ok, but after a month of riding they are starting creaking. After 500 km i replace all chainrings, then i broke the main aluminium bolt, and after all that i broke groove on the left crank.
P.S. The self extractor can self extracting =))) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Black Hawk, SD, USA
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$149.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Looks good, fairly light. Good value and great alternative to super high dollar cranks (XTR, Stylo Carbon) for a small amount of weight. Replacable chainrings. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Specialized cranks (Strongarm?) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardrock (2000) w/Truvativ 3.3 Team cranks, Avid SD5 brakes and levers, XO rear derailleur, XO carbon trigger shifters, XT Cassette, PC-991 chain, Mavic wheels with Deore hubs, Specialized Fast Trak Pro tires. | | Bottom Line: | They look good, they're light, and they're strong. All in all they're leaps and bounds better than my 7 year old Specialized cranks that they replaced (had to have a bike shop jackhammer the rusty bottom bracket out). My old crank was missing three teeth on the middle ring and the rings weren't replacable so I had to upgrade.
I'm not a weight weenie but these things are rather light. They're really not that much heavier than XTR's or Stylo Carbons and as far as I can tell they perform about the same for less than half the price.
I'm pretty happy with them so far but I don't have a lot of miles on them yet. I'm gonna abuse them for a few months and write another review. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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