I bought my bike last year in new condition (although it had been in storage for a few yers). I made it through a season of light trails with this setup without incident. My first time out this season, the middle chainring bent! As many other reviewers said, this is just unacceptable! Time to upgrade.
I have to rate this as poor. I know several people with cheap bikes that have never had crank problems. While this crank may be ok for some, I really can't recommend anyone rely on it.
Submitted by
Juan
a Weekend Warrior
from San Juan, Purto Rico
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2002
Strengths: It makes all of the other parts on my bike go round. It was cheap also. No big difference from LX.
Weaknesses: Original chainring bolts are weak. They were very succeptible to stripping when tightened or removed. Slightly heavier than most.
Bottom Line:
For half of the price of most "cheap cranks" these have continuously gotten the job done. The 4-arm isn't noticeably flexier than either the LX or the 5-arm STX. At $29 you can also afford to add a chanring guard and new hardware.
Bike Setup: Giant frame. Six deluxe fork. LX parts (minus the crank)
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Submitted by
Nic Garrison
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft Collins Co usa
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2002
Strengths: Not many
Weaknesses: Heavy,flexible,not made for a big person
Bottom Line:
I do mostly Comuting and some single track. I have briken two crank arms, the middle chain ring, and am always tightening it. I do not recommend this product. Threads on the left crank arm bolt are dissolving.
Bike Setup: GT, avalanche,Bomber,xt rear,lx front,mavic 221,Continental T&C tires, LX shifters and brakes.
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Submitted by
Daryl Slaughter
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2001
Strengths: strong, indestructable
Weaknesses: slightly heavy (about 100g over XTR)
Bottom Line:
Other than being slightly heavy these cranks are great. They are very strong with little or no flex. I weigh 195 pounds and have been using them since 1998 without one single problem. For those of you that complain about these cranks maybe you should check your setup. The only reason to go to a more expensive crank would be to lose about 100g in weight. By the way 100g is a little less than a fourth of a pound.
Submitted by
Jay Johnson
a Racer
from Newark, DE USA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001
Strengths: The STX rc crank is very strong I brought it brand new for $145.00 when the STX RC series first came out! That was about 4 years ago. The set has never let me down and I'v put this bike through hell. From being hit by a car to flipping out Numerious a time not a bend not a loose bolt nothing at all! The set is light weight and I got what I paid for.
Weaknesses: None so far accept I wish The net was as big as it was now then I could have ordered the set for pennies cheaper!
Bottom Line:
Good Crankset hard to find now If your looking for a new set go deore!!! I give it FIVE HOT TURDS!!!!
Similar Products Used: None I did have an Acera-X set on before but that had to go!!!!!!!!!!! The STX-RC is pretty Nimble and Quick Im thinking about updating my bike to full Deore though!!!!
Bike Setup: Shimano STX-RC crankset, Shimano DEORE LX rear derauller(bare with me) and Front derualler, DEORE LX hubs, Sun Rhino lite rims, Easton EA-50 handle bars and seat Post, Sram 7speed gripshift, Deaore LX V brake set blah blah blah!!! all on a light wight aluminum fram I got for a bargain at 250.00 R0SS MXR1200S
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Submitted by
rick
a Weekend Warrior
from haydenville, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001
Strengths: Lasted a long time and still goin, Only had to replace the middle ring in 2 years, Take a likin
Weaknesses: Flexy, Pretty heavy but for $21.00 y not?
Bottom Line:
These cranks cost $21 bucks and ive had these for 2 years and the've taken 8-9 foot drops and there still sittin on my bike they flex a little but for my hardtail that suspension!!
Bike Setup: Azonic evolution, mars fork, freeride, trials, all that good stuff
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Submitted by
pritch
a Weekend Warrior
from Brsitol, UK
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2001
Strengths: strong and understated.
Weaknesses: heavy, but come on, it makes ____ all difference.
Bottom Line:
Some of my wealthier friends have bikes with XTR groupsets on them. Yes, they ride better, are smoother, but by a massive amount? No, not as far as I can see. STX-RC, now Deore, have one distinct advantage over all that lightweight stuff. Bombproof. Two years of banging around, hitting rocks etc., neither my STX-RC cranks or rear derailleur have been broken.
One of my friends broke an XTR crank in half hitting the pavement kerb, so you tell me what's more important?
You have to understand that a lot of the people who write here are just ego boosters who don't know the first thing about bikes, and either pretend or like to think they own four figure bikes with top-end parts. They just slate this stuff because it's cheap.
And I'll let you in on a little secret, Shimano don't even bother making a noticeable difference in quality until they get to XTR, and why should they? It sells more and makes them more profit than any other groupset 'cos they're ripping wannabee riders off.
Alivio, Deore, STX-RC, it's all good stuff, don't listen to any of the haters, they are just in love with no.1, gettit?
Similar Products Used: XTR cranks, Raceface prodigy (once, awesome), all kinds of stuff
Bike Setup: Marin Nail Trail '99, Hope hubs, Avid disk front...
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Submitted by
chris ??????
a Downhiller
from canada
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
Strengths: strengths?
Weaknesses: i have only had them for six months, they have latge amounts of flex, i snapped the left crank on a 2footer...pretty sick huh??? anyway i would never ever buy another one of these, spend the money get somethin quality i am now riding mismatched sh!tters.
Bottom Line:
think twice before you buy shimano cranks for a freeride bike, unless they are xtr, but stx rc...just don't even think...just say no
Similar Products Used: alivio, altus, all pieces of crap. get truvativ or raceface or spend big dollars and get profile or xtr.
Bike Setup: vps3 with rear hydro disc, judy xlc, club roost go fast bar(great investment), flats, whatnot, medium level stuff, you can buy it from me for 1000 if you want it, great deal
Strengths: take a lot of abuse if the crank bolt is tight enough, they wont wallow out...hell, nothing will.
Weaknesses: made of the cheapest aluminum shimano could get their hands on
Bottom Line:
i decided i wanted to upgrade these suckers before i rode one sunday, so i began taking them off. put the crank puller in, got the drive side off, tried the other side but the metal-like material of which these are made was so weak that the inner threads totally stripped out. spent the next six hours banging, cutting and prying them off. needless to say, i didnt get to ride. that makes them suck ass.
Submitted by
robby
a Cross Country Rider
from berrien
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001
Strengths: solid crankset... put up with TONS of abuse... arms are very strong...
Weaknesses: rings are pretty weak... the fact that its STX... very heavy
Bottom Line:
ok, everyone knows that stx is far from top of the line, but these have worked great for a low-end crankset. i've ridden these for 3 years, and yeah, they're pretty much dead now, they've served me very well, i have honestly been very impressed. when i got my bike i figured i'd have to replace the crankset in the first few months...three years down the road, i've gotten my money's worth out of them.
Strengths: Strenghts? There must be some sort of mistake in this questionair
Weaknesses: Everything, heavy, not stiff and constantly coming loose, very frustrating, would never put another one on my bike after this one.
Bottom Line:
Do not use this hunk of junk not worth wasting the money on, just save up a few more bucks and buy something better. This will be a waste of time, energy and money
Weaknesses: does not allow you to feel the trail like a good al crank does. it is not very stiff and the rings are flimsy steel.
Bottom Line:
this crank is kinda a piecer, it is nice as long as you don;t ride anything else and find out what a good crank feels like. i only have it cuz it was OEM. i would save some money up and buy a better aluminum billit crank. buy it if you are just getting around with some hardcore trail stuff on the weekends. or use it till it breaks.
Similar Products Used: race face prodigy, race face turbine, shimano XT
Bike Setup: VooDoo hoodoo (steel) marz z3.5, other components... blab
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Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Nicosia-Cyprus
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001
Strengths: nice performance,nice looks,schimano,they didnd gave me any serious problems yet
Weaknesses: the midle chain-rings bend relatevely easy casing the a slight problem to gear changes but the problem is easily fixed
Bottom Line:
its good for a weekend rider and may even please a racing rider.Itcombines a good price,nice loks and good schimano performance.By this crank if you want something good without having to pay a lot of money
Strengths: nice look (at least more than Alivio's), stickers are tough, not a big flex in arm
Weaknesses: some cracking sound from time to time, heavy, silver rings
Bottom Line:
ok crankset, no major weakness, the rings are bents but what cranks have right rings if you ride a lot? Going to change for LX or XT hollowtech later, but can live with STX-rc. For craking sounds, check the arm bolt: clean it and grease it, it CAN help
