Submitted by
Metalhead
a Racer
from San Diego, Ca.
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2010
Strengths: Super tough
Weaknesses: Kind of squeaky
Bottom Line:
Really dig the 180 mm, they seem to be tough enough for me jumping on and off anything I can find in the city and the forest. I use the Power Lite 180 mm on one Free Agent Limo and Caramba 180 mm on another Free Agent Limo and they both keep up with my play style. Of coarse there are always those cases when the product was made on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon when the builder is in la la land but over all a great product. If you are looking for a 3 piece crank set you wont have to replace, try to find some of these.I am thinking about getting another set of double barrels so both bikes have them.
Any body know where to find a set in polished aluminum or black (new)
Weaknesses: None before this weekend! Left crank exploded (literally) into about 1000 shards or metal during the landing of a < 2 foot drop. They have been flawless up until now and I would definitley buy another set. Just a word of warning!
Bottom Line:
Caramba cranks is a great product (I think). Just be find full of taking a drop or riding DH with technical bumps and dolls heads. Again a good product, would buy again, but blew one up during "normal" riding.
Bike Setup: Bontrager Cro-Moly Frame, XTR front and rear, ceramic rims, carbon bar, Marzochi Z3 fork, Chris King silenced hubs, DEAN titanium seatpost, Race Face stem, Salsa skews and Oury grips
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Submitted by
loonyOne
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterloo, IA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2004
Strengths: Ultra stiff, especially laterally One of a kind cool looks Bombproof at this point
Weaknesses: Problems with the spider's machining...the spider arms are not machined exactly, as far as the mounting of the chainrings. I ended up adding beer can shims underneath the chainrings in a couple of spots, and a couple of different thicknesses. Not made anymore!
Bottom Line:
Other than the machining 'defect', I have had ZERO problems with these crank arms. They are the stiffest crank arms I personally have ever owned. I had some Race Face Turbines that were stiff as well, but I really didn't like the lateral flex that they had at the 180 length. I have used the Magic Motorcycle cranks by way of my brother's bike, and they are the only other cranks that I have used that I have noticed zero flex in. I'm sure that there are stiffer crank arms out there, but definitely none with the attitude the Double Barrels have.
Similar Products Used: Race Face Turbines, Ritchey Logic, Coda Magic Motorcycle, multiple, lesser Shimano and Sugino as well.
Bike Setup: Bontrager Race, single speed, Skareb fork, Avid brakes, Velocity/White Industries wheelset (first hand-built set)
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Submitted by
Anthony G
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2004
Strengths: Looks---nothing looks cooler. Stiff, strong fairly light, and LOOKS!!! I got anodized orange which turn heads.
Weaknesses: None- Not in business anymore
Bottom Line:
Buy them if you can find them. These cranks rock, they are stiff fairly light they look beyond awsome. They are not cheap but I would pay double what I paid and still be happy.
Bike Setup: Pre 97 GT Agressor Manitou shocks, Rhynolite rims(Black) Cramba Double Barrel cranks Kooka Rings All XT drive train, Sram Attack shifters, USE seat post, Selle Flight gel, Time Attak Pedals Precision Billet Brakes
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Submitted by
weather expert
a Cross Country Rider
from iowa
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2003
Strengths: stiff. reasonable weight. good looks.
Weaknesses: no longer made.
Bottom Line:
excellent cranks. when i built my single speed i decided to stay away from isis for a while to let the manufacturers figure out the bearing thing. i believe the hollow crankarm design is superior to a solid piece of metal (unless it's cold forged), but i don't like the incompatibility issue with shimano cranks. so i went with square taper and was fortunate enough to run into a deal from The Pedaler (highly recommended, the owner is very helpful).
to be honest i really dig the way these cranks look. but when i'm doing all the standup gear mashing associated with single speeding, the only thing that i care is how stiff they are. double barrels didn't disappoint. i feel they are at least as stiff as the raceface turbines that i used for a while. no creaks either.
too bad they aren't made anymore. if you run into a deal on these, jump on it! (or let me know).
I've had these cranks since '96/'97, and they're still as sweet as the day I bought 'em! ..excellent power transfer while keeping things light. Even though I ride aggressive cross-country, as opposed to freeriding etc., I've seen my fair share of jumps and drop-offs, and these cranks are still the sweetest.. I give 'em 10 chilis, burning in agony just to show how much I love these cranks!
Bike Setup: Mountain Cycle San Andreas, discs, Marzocchi Marathon SL
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Longmont, CO
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2002
Strengths: Light, stiff, strong, purty, durable*
Weaknesses: * but seven years of component life may be too much to ask for. I've had these cranks since 1995 and broke the drive-side arm yesterday, sheared off the piece inside the spider right around the BB spindle! The only thing holding it on while I rode 10 miles home (down Flagstaff Mtn) was the fixing bolt on the backside of the crank arm. I'm only about 145 lbs, so if you ride as much as I do, better pull those cranks apart once in a while and look for cracks!
Bottom Line:
Great cranks until they break! But a seven-year life of hard riding mixed with trials ain't bad.
These look like no other out there. I've had them for six years. I don't know why I'm bothering to submit a review for a product whose maker is out of business, but these are great cranks! If you find a set in nice shape, buy it or e-mail me!
If anyone out there wants to sell a natural color Caramba crank spider, I'd be interested. It would match my new bike better, all raw carbon fiber and no colored stuff any more.
Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Grapevine, TX
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002
Strengths: Ultra Stiff, Super sweet looking. Most unique looking cranks you will ever see. These cranks have out performed 3 bikes, thousands of miles and still look, feel and perform like their brand new. If they still made them I would buy two more sets.
Weaknesses: None. They are sort of wide but thats no problem. They fit fine with time pedals too.
Bottom Line:
Da Shiiiiiiitttt. One of the best products ever made. Up there with top mount thumb shifters. I give them 5 flaming turds.
Similar Products Used: None. Other cranks don't compare
Bike Setup: Ventana El Saltamontes (used to have a Marble Peak) X-fly 100 fork, King Headset, Mavic wheelset, Syncros post, Ibis titanium bars, If you saw it you would probably piss on yourself.
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Submitted by
jumping jackass
a Cross Country Rider
from san francisco, CA , USA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2002
Strengths: stiff as hell, makes yer chops flap with saliva.... sweet looking! bomb proof
Weaknesses: alittle on the heavy side
Bottom Line:
these things are the SH$t...good solid feel, quality build, theyve lasted 3years of blasting buy em if you find em!
Bike Setup: GT zaskar, xt/xtr, avid brakes/levers, sid ti race, king rear hub, king hs, blah blah blah
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Submitted by
carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from san antonio, texas
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001
Strengths: stiffer than an erection.
get it? waaaaaaay stiff.
replaceable spider.
Weaknesses: the Q factor was a bit high BUT we're not roadies!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
stiffer than, ok already went over that.
i used them for about 2 years off and on. i loved my Syncros much more though so i went with the Syncros and sold the Double Barrels toa buddy of mine for cheap. he liked 'em better since the q factor was high and he's a big guy.
never hand a single problem.
i'll have to agree with the last guy, "not everyone should pick up a wrench". just because you work on your own bike doesn't mean you know what the hell you're doing. there are tons of qualified, that's the key, mechanics who have the knowledge. ask questions, let them know what's going on and and don't always assume a product failed because it sucked. some people ride like battering rams and need to accept that in the end, it's going to cost them.
Weaknesses: crap they broke two pairs I have ran and both of them cratererd.. the first ones the nuckle bent I sent them back too Caramba they did replace them after a few phone calls.. then the next set just bent in the same place and I find out that caramab has went out of buisness
Bottom Line:
the cranks are crap .. sure I ride urban love drops so I expect to break sh*t .. but I am burned cause caramba cant replace these cause they are not there any more and I bought these with the belief that they could handle drops.. I weigh bout 180 and I ride full floater so watz up Caramba adios to you I should of bought proflie 2 years ago
Similar Products Used: xt-ritchie logic-cook bros-race face
Bike Setup: Kelly IG fox5 alps marzochi Z1 QR 20 MCR xtr sunn rims
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Submitted by
belmont111
a Cross Country Rider
from Little Rhody
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2001
Strengths: Stiff. Stiff. Stiff.
Weaknesses: None found (knock on wood)- but have not used them long, so I have not gotten the time and torture in yet...
Bottom Line:
Put these cranks on my rig with a White Industries Ti 110mm BB in between and Middleburn rings. Thing is incredibly responsive and stiff. When you are off the bike and you put a food on one pedal and push down hard- the FRAME flexes- not the drivetrain.... I actually feel like all the power that I am putting in is going to the right place.
Increasing my confidence and my acceleration. Could all be in my head- but so what? At least I am having fun! As soon as the ice melts a bit I will be able to see how well they take some drops- but if the White Industries/UN-72 (shimano XT) combo could handle it- these should do just fine.
What Fattt (next reviewer) said about the company is disheartening to say the least- as I would hate to have spent money on something that is not backed up- but maybe that is why I got them for half off retail.... Can't complain much, I guess. If I have problems, I will review again- but getting a big-time crankset for a bit over $100 is not a bad deal. You ride any crankset at your own risk.
were perty and stiff till I broke to pair first time I broke Caramba after 6 months replaced them with a set that had the ..ID ot the spindel machined by a greenhorn machinest and ..now I have had to ..pop can it on to my arm.. and guess what they are out of buisness so I cant get new ones...400 cannuck dollars ..gone.. guess you pay to play.. and just gotta look guichie .. be differnt be better than
I have had these for over a year and they still look new. I just bought a new pair for my other bike last week because they are the best. I would recomend them to anyone I am 200 plus.
Hi Guys,
Just picked up a cheap frame on eBay to, among other things, learn some bike building skills. Frame came with some RaceFace Ride DH cranks that I would like to remove. Read More »
So after about 2 miles of simple asphalt riding the left crank arm becomes loose, really loose, I end up checking it and the bolt was barely threaded in the BB. Upon inspection at Read More »
The title says everything. I'm looking at buying this crank, but according to the spec only one certain type of chain will work. Is this true? I don't think it is and that is co Read More »
Repost from drivetrain.
I am looking to buying this crank, but everything else on the bike is 9 speed. I just want to make sure everything will be compatible.
[url=http:// Read More »
Anybody using an X9 double crankset with their XT double drive-train? I really have no preference between the two, they are both great as far as I am concerned.
I am thinking of Read More »
