Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from ohio
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2005
Strengths: Great Quality. Stiff
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
I got my set on my 2000 Trek 8000 SL Ran them til 03. I got hit by a car and bent the non drive arm about 30 degrees under the BB. Frame was undamaged Bent the wheels,Stem,and Bars (Trek Is strong.) I bought a second set on Ebay for $25 with a bb and mint rings. The rings are top notch XT quality at least. I ran it for a year and a half on my Chameleon Single Speed with a race face bash rink and the original 32t middle ring. This set now takes 2-3 jumps on a FSA Ti BB SC lizard. And Im 6' 200 Oh yea I also now have a drive side arm from my old trek just incame FAT CHANCE.
Bike Setup: Came on 00 Trek 8000 SL. I run it on a 02 Santa Cruz Chameleon Single Speed.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steven Zellers
a Weekend Warrior
from Sterling Heights
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2002
Strengths: Cranks are very stiff!- but I am only 145lbs. These shift excellent and I have had no problems with the arms falling off or having to be adjusted after break-in.
Weaknesses: Only about 6 months after purchasing my bike, I bent the large chainring. This REALLY pissed me off because I was extremly careful not to grind it over any logs. I upgraded the big ring to Shimano LX and now it shifts better than ever.
Bottom Line:
Even though I am going to give these a decent rating, I really wouldn't recommend buying these for MSRP, which is something like $200-250. You actually can't even buy them anymore because Trek dissolved their Icon component line. I would recommend a higher quality, name-brand crankset. Something along the lines of Shimano Deore or higher. Maybe even something with the new isis standard, like truvativ or raceface.
Strengths: Shifts great, looks pretty cool, holds up well
Weaknesses: I noticed that the outer layer of paint started to chip of, but I ride them pretty hard so what could i expect?
Bottom Line:
Actually, to tell you the truth I was really considering replacing the crank, but after i rode it for a while I fell in love with it. Compared to the previous cranks I have ridden, this one(even though a bit heavier then my Raceface) outperformed them all. I love it! I have now owned my bike for almost a year and even though I punish it it never skimps on it's overall quality.
Submitted by
Kenny
a Cross Country Rider
from Coronado, CA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2000
Strengths: Seems light, never weighed them though. Stiff, looks pretty cool, it was factory and it's good...wow!
Weaknesses: The paint scratches is you crash on it, but what paint doesn't?
Bottom Line:
I have never tested RF or Syncros cranks, these came stock on my bike and so far I have no desire what so ever to replace them. If it's not broke don't screw with it right?? Anyway, I've been pretty hard on them as far as shifting and a little bit of crashing here and there and have had no problem with bending the chainrings. Everyone that has ridden it says it shifts great, even with the junk LX front deralliuer (however you spell it). If you can buy them anymore seperately go for it!
Similar Products Used: XT(okay), ACERA(junk!), ALIVIO(crap!)
Bike Setup: Y2K Trek 8000 SLR, Klein Stratum 90 bars, TIME ATAC's, Conti Exp Pros
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from T.O. Canada
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2000
Strengths: -Light -Looks Good -Shifts Good
Weaknesses: -Scuffs Easily -rings bend easily
Bottom Line:
Overall one of the better shifting cranks out there I find. I replaced it with a Race Face after a year because I wore it out. Light, good performance, but not cheap. You can get an XTR for cheaper than one of these.
Bike Setup: '99 Trek 8000, Full Race Face, Full XT
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steve W
a Cross Country Rider
from Somerset
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000
Strengths: Crankset is light and arms are stiff.
Weaknesses: I blew out the lower chain ring half-way into a weekend ride. I hammered it back into shape but was really disappointed. I have'nt had that happen on any other crankset I've owned from suntour to shimano. Maybe a rock just hit it at some wierd angle?
Bottom Line:
I gave the set 3 chilis because I been riding in the woods for over a decade and have'nt had this particular problem happen. Could be crankset quality or it could have been an accident.
Bike Setup: Litespeed Unicoi, XTR der's, Crow bar, Bont. wheelset and seat, other light stuff.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Parman
a Racer
from Fond du Lac, Wi
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2000
Strengths: shifting, looks, did I mention shifting, weight, durability, cranks are still straight and true
Weaknesses: hmmm? if I had anything to complain about, it would be that after all the crap i have put them through (and I have put them through alot of crap) they are starting to get scuffed up, but that goes without saying, because that would happen to anything if you were to go offroading with it!
Bottom Line:
got them to replace my lx cause they are crap, the middle chainring warped, lost a tooth, and the thing liked to suck chain, what can i say, shifting is great with my xt front derailleur and my icon crankset, I would recommend them to anyone
Weaknesses: Which shade of medium grey would you like?
Bottom Line:
Great cranks. I am not positive, but my cranks do not appear to be painted as desribed below. The system shifts great. I made my purchase due to the other reviews posted here and have not been disappointed in the least.
Weaknesses: Cant really buy them anywhere The chainrings dont look like they'll last forever.
Bottom Line:
I bought these from a guy who upgraded (?) to XTR, These have great chainrings for shifting, I took them off when I got my race face cranks, and Now I'm sorry. The race face ones look better, and may be light, but they don't shift as well as the icons. Although I have the ramped rings on the RF and pinned on the icon.
Bike Setup: Stumpjumper frame, ESP, XT, Judy w/ air englunds
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan P.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1999
Strengths: Stiff Shifts well with Icon Rings Looks cool
Weaknesses: Paint chips easily Not as sexy as RaceFace or XT/XTR
Bottom Line:
Had these since April and they've gone through 600km+ of riding without any problems. Had to re-tighten bolts and cranks at about 500km but thats it. Seems like a good deal. I can't figure out what the difference between the Torq and Crankshaft cranks is though. The Torq actually comes on the highend Treks while the Crankshaft comes on the mid priced bikes. Thinking about upgrading to XT or Raceface, but the RF rings have gotten a lot of bad reviews for crappy shifting, so I'm sticking with Icon...for now 4 Chillies cos there's not really anything wrong with them
The most awsome crank on the market. The best shifting ever super durable cold forged design;nickle platted middle chainring lokks great and is cheap $125 and wieghts only a few grams heaviyer than the Xtr,RaceFace,Codda and a price difrence up to $300.whew!
Submitted by
sean
a Cross-Country Rider
from fonthill
Date Reviewed: April 12, 1999
Bottom Line:
okay, this crank is very cool. it looks good shifts great. the only thing wrong with this crank is that the paint comes off fairly easily.but who cares!
Submitted by
Jamie
a cross-country rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: February 23, 1999
Bottom Line:
These are Icon's (Trek) top model of crankset. I set up my new bike with them and they were great, but I had some Racefaces I wanted on my ride instead. Had those on fo about 4 hours, had to rip 'em off and put the Icons back on. Why? Shifting. The Icon crank shifts like no other crank I have EVER ridden (way better than even XTR), not like my RF (with RF rings) which is way clunkier. Hell the Icon's weight is damn close too, just a few grams more and on my pig of a bike who cares? This is a damn fine crank!
