I have had these cranks on two different bikes, I have had no issues with crank creak (probably due to the ISIS drive mounting) and I have had no issues with shifting. I have had better luck with these rings than a lot of Shimano versions that I have dealt with. I am fully satisfied with these. Best for moderate use trail riding, if you are racing, and watching weight, spend more money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tony howell
a
from wiltshire Date Reviewed: March 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
marlborogh downs
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Royles
Strengths:
rings look pretty
Weaknesses:
Non drive side creaks after about 250 miles of being torqued up. preload bolt is alloy and rounded off on 2 feet lbs! crap design, we were better off with square taper than this.
Similar Products Used:
XTR/XT
Bike Setup:
Stock 2006 Dale Prophet 800
Bottom Line:
if you only ride 30 mile at the weekends this will last you ok, but if you want to do 50 miles per day, it wont last you very long
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lars Goethals
a
from Valencia España Date Reviewed: January 8, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$110.00
Weaknesses:
Middle Chainring started to double, later lost some of its teeth. Later the same happened with the 22-ring.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
FSA V-DRIVE MEGAEXO 2007, LX, Formula Oro 24, Fox F-100RL
Bottom Line:
I will be changing to a Shimano XT or Race Face setup...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Djivo
a Cross Country Rider
from Zagreb Date Reviewed: November 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$168.00
Strengths:
Very strong, small teeth setup allows you very slick uphill drive.
Weaknesses:
None so far. Only the paint on the pedals could be a bit more resistent to scrathes.
Bottom Line:
I actually purchase the whole set of V-drive, which was a huge advancement from my previous Truvatim Suntour 48/38/28 setup. This crankset is way much stronger and it does not bend even though I am a very strong driver (115kg). This is a very good product, made with lot of attention to the strength.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
T.C. Hilliard
a Cross Country Rider
from Braselton,Georgia,U.S.A. Date Reviewed: April 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Chicopee
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Addictive cycles
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Bearings ,spacers,
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race,
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel
Bottom Line:
The crank is just junk.You get what youb pay for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
roy mcdonough
a Cross Country Rider
from chicago Date Reviewed: September 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
kettle
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
THESE CRANKS ARE WEAK! They came stock on my latest bike purchase and if i had known fsa's reputation when i bought the bike, i would have asked for different cranks. i'm shocked that ANYONE would rate these plastic-quality cranks. they're awful. easily, the most flexy cranks i've ever ridden.
Similar Products Used:
xtr, xt, truvativ stylo
Bottom Line:
STAY AWAY. Guys at my lbs agreed that fsa cranks are some of the flimsiest cranks out there. ANYTHING would be better, but check out the truvativ cranks instead - they're solid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew G.
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: June 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, stiff, smooth. Looks good.
Weaknesses:
None, other than the finish on the crank arms scuff, but that's to be expected.
For the price, these cranks are fantastic. Incredibly smooth and stiff and work well with the gigapipe bb (though many would disagree re: isis bb's, it's just my experience). They look great, though the paint scuffs a bit. Unbeatable deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from fl Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Tsali
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
spins around
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX, Truvativ Stylo
Bike Setup:
Fetish D&S, LX, Marzocchi, hope, FSA
Bottom Line:
Does what it should..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
verong
a Cross Country Rider
from Philippines Date Reviewed: January 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$67.00
Purchased At:
Extreme Bikeshop, Q.C.
Strengths:
Cheap, inexpensive, cool flat black finish, shifts very smooth, light.
I always jump and bunny hop on and of the trail, yet no loose bolts. I used it for more that a year and BBs are still well intact. I'm sub 140lbs. It went thru d worst conditions including mud & CEMENT (I made a stupid mistake when I rode across a construction site)... still no squeaks man!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ANDREW
a Weekend Warrior
from BATON ROUGE, LA. USA Date Reviewed: August 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
COMITE RIVER AND HOOPER
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
LOOKS
Weaknesses:
FLEX
Similar Products Used:
BONTRAGER
Bike Setup:
2005 IRON HORSE HOLLOWPOINT EXPERT
Bottom Line:
I AM 6'3" 245LBS AND A LAZY SHIFTER. MAYBE I AM TOO HARD ON THESE CRANKS, OR MAYBE I AM FEELING REAR END FLEX GOING FROM A HARD TAIL TO A FULL SUS. I HEAR A LITTLE GROANING WHEN I AM TWISTING IN TOO HIGH A GEAR. OTHERWISE, THEY ARE REALLY COOL LOOKING AND SMOOTH SHIFTING. EXTERNAL BEARINGS ARE NEW TO ME. LET'S SEE HOW LONG THEY LAST.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from St. John's Date Reviewed: July 5, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Pro deal through supplier
Strengths:
Pretty cheap, light weight, doesn't seem to flex much at all, Shifts fairly smooth, looks pretty good, Easy install and removal.
Weaknesses:
Has loosened itself and self extracting bolts loosen and are easily lost.
For the money, these work great and look smart. After about 3 weeks of riding they had to be tightened but have been good since. The extracting bolts on the octalink version lossened themselves off but i spoke with FSA today and it was no problem to mail me some new ones, Advice to all is to use a threadlocker on these caps.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Denville, NJ, USA Date Reviewed: May 31, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Puke Hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$162.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
External Bearings, large diameter spindle, stiff cranks, nice rings. Torx chainring bolts. Non-drive crank and preload screw easily installed with hex key - no special tools needed.
Weaknesses:
Aluminum inner ring - should be steel.
Similar Products Used:
Truvative Firex
Bike Setup:
2000 Schwinn Moab 3 with the only original parts left being the shifters and rear der.
Bottom Line:
This is for the MegaExo version. I have about 300 miles on 'em. Easy to install. Feel very smooth. Outer rings are beautifully ramped and pinned. Shifting feels automatic. No issues with chain suck etc. I'm curious to see how long the bearings will last as they seem very exposed to dirt etc. IMO a really great value if you're looking to get away from Shimano.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gabe
a Weekend Warrior
from AZ Date Reviewed: April 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
Web
Strengths:
Strong, lightweight, stiff, nice Integrated MegaExo BB design, oversized bearings and very affordable!
This review is on the V Drive MEGA-EXO, not the standard V Drive. This crankset has oversized external bearings which make this a stiff crank. They've performed better than expected and I've had no problems with them coming loose. I ride hard, crank many miles so give this crankset a second look before you spend more on another set. They're very light for XC riding and strong enough for freeriding if you're an in-between guy like me. http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=52&pid=218
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared Mildeson
a Weekend Warrior
from Post Falls, ID Date Reviewed: December 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Beacon Hill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
gForse bikes in Hayden ID
Strengths:
Great craknset for the money, but the guy at the bike shop was a total moron.
Weaknesses:
They aren't as bomb proof as I'd like.
Similar Products Used:
Race Face Prodigy
Bike Setup:
GT I-drive
Bottom Line:
The cranks were great until I took my bike to be worked on by the dumb@$$ at gForse bikes who stripped out the threads in my frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
live4mtb
a Cross Country Rider
from At The Trailhead, MI Date Reviewed: November 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Grubers Grinder
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Pretty Light, Looks Good, Strong, Spins well, Shifts great, durable over high log piles
these cranks are good for begining downhillers. their BB is good but their cranks suck. A beginer wouldn't care but anyone who does 14ft+ drops would be driven crazy by their flexing!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cruzader
a Weekend Warrior
from Jersey City, NJ Date Reviewed: September 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mostly urban
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
Cambria Bike
Strengths:
Cool looks, fairly lightweight, great price.
Weaknesses:
None that I could see.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore, Suntour.
Bike Setup:
'04 Gary Fisher Advance, Deore LX & XT components, SRAM 9spd rear cassette. Cane Creek Aeroheat SG wheelset, FSA K-Force Light carbon seatpost, Rock Shox Pilot SL.
Bottom Line:
I'm using the square tapered (JIS) version of this crank. After about a month, they're holding up very well, no problems whatsoever. Clean, smooth and quiet. It's worked well for me both in my urban setting as well as on the trail, with moderate to heavy abuse. It was a great choice for upgrading the crank on my lower end Gary Fisher Advance, and the price was just right. Slick looking head turner, pretty lightweight, too. FSA is a great company, I use other products made by them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
2re
a Downhiller
from Norway Date Reviewed: December 21, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
looks good
Weaknesses:
doesn't work!
Similar Products Used:
just about everything
Bike Setup:
04 Chameleon set up for DJ and street
Bottom Line:
FSA has great customer support and headsets and BBs and probably the steel cranks as well, but these cranks are crap. They don't fit well, so the bolts keep loosening all the time. Then they both got bent, and now finally the pedal threads are stripped on one side. A XC-crank made of better quality alu will hold up much better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
AKrida
a Downhiller
from a place Date Reviewed: October 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Solid, Stay Tight, Good Pricing
Weaknesses:
weak paint finish, *why dont they just make them stock chrome color*
Similar Products Used:
Truvati Huss, Raceface prod/dh etc
Bike Setup:
2003 Banshee Scream, Boxxer Team etc blah blah
Bottom Line:
great crankset, strong, and good pricing and comes with 10 year warranty. I had to buy these after my Truvati's started coming lose every ride *they fell off a couple times to* the Truvatti's where fine for over a year than started loosening off like mad *think they got slightly oval'ed*. The FSA V-Drive is a great buy good solid cranks you dont have to worry about loosening or busting, *had to fix my chainguide and the crank was so tight i had to pretty much jump on the allen keys to break it lose*. buy them thanks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyrel
a Racer
from Coeur d'alene,ID Date Reviewed: August 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
cave trail, canfield
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
gForse bikes best damn bike shop in town
Strengths:
very strong, I have set with bash gaurd. Lighter than hussefelt. My Hussefelt cranks made by truvativ were cheaper, but every time I would take a ride my drive side bolt would come loose and sometimes even fall off. The FSA V-Drive has done nothing of the sort thank god.
Weaknesses:
none so far.
Similar Products Used:
Truvativ hussefelt, holzfeller, x-drive
Bike Setup:
evolution II frame, xt, FSA, azonic, fox, Real, Sun, Time!
Bottom Line:
Awesome cranks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
craig
a Weekend Warrior
from liverpool, england Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
chainreaction
Strengths:
were cheap, are a suitable weight, aren't square tapered, fairly stiff, look decent. super tight fit on spindle.
Weaknesses:
finish is rubbish, wears off quick, super tight on the spindle so i have to use serious muscle to get them off, and sometimes I think the self extractors will pull out of them. do flex more than my profiles on my BMX. only 4 arm
Similar Products Used:
OLD Suginos
Bike Setup:
hardtail
Bottom Line:
So far they have been brill. they are great value for what i paid for them (arms only). The isis fitting is so much better than that awful square taper i used back in 96. If your in the UK and want some good cheap ISIS cranks then get em from chainreaction.co.uk for a mere £25. 4 arm mount is a swine as none of my old rings fit, but a moot point as i only run one now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
B Cronshaw
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara, CA USA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Ellwood
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Cortina Cycles
Strengths:
These cranks are the strongest you can get. Thes things are great for dirt jumping and dual slalom. These things will never break ever. They kick ass!!!
These are the best cranks ever!!! They will never break. These are great for dir jumping, urban assualting, and slalom. These things kick ass!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wil
a Racer
from sanger Date Reviewed: February 28, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
fsa cromoly rocks but its heavy
Weaknesses:
i spent all winter building my dh rig, i went out on my local trail did one pedal up and down the trail, and when i got home i noticed that the pedal wobbled...ya it was stripped, yes i hand threaded it, so i know i put it in right. when i used the crank arm removal caps they just pushed out the threads, i think this one was a lemon.
Bottom Line:
i dont know ...this may have been a isolated incident. i m thinking that i should of chased the threads first(though i should not have to?)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cory
a
from St. Louis, MO Date Reviewed: January 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Touring Cyclist
Strengths:
Looks, overall quality, simplicity.
Weaknesses:
Came in a four arm design, and not a five.
Similar Products Used:
Race Face ISIS Turbine, Race Face North Shore ISIS XS, Race Face Prodigy XC & DH ISIS.
No complaints here. Yeah, FSA isn't as big or as popular as some other companies, but they sure work great. No Loosening, no creaking, no issues on big drops. Great looks, tough bashguard. Value is phenomenal, since they're cheaper than the competition, and the ISIS system is always superior to square-taper or the Shimano setup. What more do you need?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hiro
a Downhiller
from Sheffield, United Kingdom Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Next to Sheffield Ski slope
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Ozone Cycles (RIP)
Strengths:
Strong, good looks, little flex, reliable
Weaknesses:
Erm, they snapped?
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX, Shimano Alivio
Bike Setup:
PX Jack Flash, PX Knifen (Long), PX BMF/Goliath, PX Clingon, FUNN bar, Talon 44 tooth ring, Cane Creek C2, LX V brakes, crap old seat, UN72 BB (I think)
Bottom Line:
I like the cranks - in the year that I've been using them they've ridden nicely, they haven't flexed much, and they've put up with a reasonable amount of abuse.
When I got them, they came with a bash ring and I sometimes replace that with an outer ring. They clicked a lot after worn in, however much they were adjusted (either by me or local shop having a look).
Major problem now it that my left crank appears to have almost snapped off, and I'm not entirely too sure why - It just went, and I've not done anything in the past week to cause it, so I'm rather confused as to why they broke.
I've contacted FSA about it, I'm waiting for a reply.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Colin
a Cross Country Rider
from VT Date Reviewed: June 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Behind the army fort(atually in it but..)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Strengths:
Sifts ok,looks cool, dosent flex much
Weaknesses:
creaks like a dieing cat
Similar Products Used:
lx,Bontrager
Bike Setup:
marin farme,xt drive train, lx on mavic 225's,Judy SL
Bottom Line:
over all pretty good but is i had the chice agiain i wouldn't by it, it didn't realy stand out or realy impresse me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SoulPedro
a Weekend Warrior
from South of France Date Reviewed: April 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Price, look, weight
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
owned: Shimano, Raceface, TA, Stronglight
Bike Setup:
Shimano BBUN72, Sram PC 99, Shimano XT front and rear derailleurs
Bottom Line:
Wanted to replace my turbine crankset without spending much money and without replacing my bb (square). This one is well crafted and I had NO problem with shifting... The best value for money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Hill
a Weekend Warrior
from Lynn Ma. Date Reviewed: April 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Lynn Woods!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$170.00
Purchased At:
FSA DIRECT
Strengths:
Looks
Weaknesses:
Performance
Similar Products Used:
Shimano,Truevative,Race Face and did I say Shimano?
Bike Setup:
20.5lb Weyless Easton Ultralite,Sid SL,517/XTR,CT2 post and bar,EA50 stem,Conti Twister Pros/Ritchie UL tubes
Bottom Line:
If you are building the masterpiece of a hardtail like I was and want a pretty crankset on the bike for the picture,,snap it the go get a crankset with some real chain rings, instead of the stupid bubblegum lookin emblem that FSA swapped out with the classy lookin V-Drive emblem that was in the mag ad that caught my attention (REAL SLICK FSA,,THANKS!)they should have put a picture of Snap-Crackle&POP on the crank arm! As it has taken me time to figure out,,,NO-ONE makes a chain ring like Shimano, my girlfriends Shimano LX chainrings are not as pretty but they are smoother than FSA V-CRUNCH by a mile, I regret spending the money, even TrueVative would have been money better spent,, NOT A CHANCE I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE on a perfomance basis,,,but they look good and are well crafted and would be a hell of a crankset if Shimano dovetailed the teeth on the rings for FSA,,but they don't so they are not!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Date Reviewed: January 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Markham
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Great crankset for a four bolt
Weaknesses:
large ring doesn't want to ramp
Similar Products Used:
Coda, Shimano LX
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Super V
Bottom Line:
I still have no real problems with this crank set, since the advent of spined BB's, it's not a bad choice for a square drive. The overall product is well manufactured and support from FSA is good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
david winters
a Cross Country Rider
from sheffield,england Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
green drive
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
ozone cycles
Strengths:
looks good,shifts well
Weaknesses:
weight 50g more than claimed
Similar Products Used:
lx,xt
Bike Setup:
barraquda,AMP,xtr etc
Bottom Line:
better than lx hollowtech but xt hollowtech beats it because of lower weight
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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