Sharing many design features as our Deus crank, the Atlas is a beefed up version of our Turbine LP, designed for All Mountain riding. If you want a crank that's light enough for XC climbs but strong enough for light freeride use, the Atlas crank is the perfect choice.
A true all mountain crank -light enough for climbs and strong enough for descents.
Built in our BC manufacturing facility
Manufactured from 7050 aluminum
Near net forged and fully CNC machined
Stiffer and stronger than our Turbine LP - the original all mountain crank.
Built in Spacers allows the use of shorter bolts, providing an additional weight savings.
medium walled, heat treated CrMo spindle
Also available in ISIS Drive
Built for: All Mountain
Size: 170,175, 180mm
Warranty: Lifetime
Colours:
Anodized: Bad Ass Black and Shiny Silver
Powder Coated: Shred Red and Team White (175mm only)
Submitted by
sevenpedaler
a Weekend Warrior
from Anoka, MN USA Date Reviewed: September 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hillside
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
AEBike
Strengths:
Stiff and strong. I like the wider Q-factor since I am a big guy and need it. Easy install and haven't had to touch them since. (except for the rings) No problems at all with the bearings. They use better grease in the '09 models.
Weaknesses:
The big ring is a weak tit. I'm pretty careful over rocks and logs, and these still seem to bend easy. I'm either going to try a new outer ring (different brand) or go to a bash guard cuz the big ring is useless anyway-deflects and rubs on front derail.
A bit heavy...maybe a good thing in my case???
Similar Products Used:
XT, FSA
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer X Ti Custom. XO Tago, CK hubs, CK head, CK BB (soon) Avid SpeedDial Ultimates, BB7, Fizik Gobi, Fox RLC 100
Bottom Line:
I like these cranks. The price was right and they are very stiff. They seem to have a bit wider Q than others. Some have complained about that, but I like it since I'm 6'7", 245# I like the spindle design with the attachment on the drive side. They are super stiff and tough and the finish is durable. The big ring sucks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kiwikid
a Cross Country Rider
from Queensland, Australia Date Reviewed: December 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Pipeline
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Bikebling
Strengths:
Stiff and Strong
Excellent shifting
Chainline adjustment
Easy to install if you can follow instructions
Weaknesses:
High torque to install on first attempt but resolved after tightening and loosening a few times so now not an issue
Similar Products Used:
Most Shimano
FSA Afterburner
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Bottom Line:
Really stiff so you can feel all of your effort transmitting to the trail. Both up and downshift is quick and reliable. Bottom bracket rotation is a little stiffer than shimano but not really and issue.
Initially required really high torque to install but I tightened it up and loosened it a few times and while remaining firm to install once it is tight you can just forget about it
Have always wanted a Raceface Crankset and the Atlas AM has lived up to my expectations
Have had no problems with BB bearings so far
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
acroy
a Cross Country Rider
from TX Date Reviewed: August 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
dodging cars
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
cool looks
stiff
not Shimano
stout rings
good shifting
Weaknesses:
bearings
bearings
bearings
Similar Products Used:
various Shimano, Sugino, Kooka
Bike Setup:
Fetish Discipline set up for "urban" duty
Bottom Line:
Disappointed overall…
I use these cranks on my commuter “Best of Burden” bike: 4000+ miles per year of commuting & towing a trailer with kiddies & groceries.
I have previously broken cranks & munched BB’s. After the last crank broke, Kokka Bonnie Forged, I decided to go “all out” with a f/r rated crank for safety / reliability. Don’t want no crank failures while towing my 2 kids through traffic! It came down to Saints or Atlas.
The crank cost around $225, installation was fairly complex but smooth if you can read & follow directions, cranks are very stiff, shifting is good, rings are very solid. But the bearings became a bit loose after 2k miles. This is ON ROAD in TEXAS, not much mud or water or 12ft hucks or anything… bearings finally munched themselves after 6k miles.
Repair is a matter of installing $20 Shimano bearings.
So this is a good crank with bad bearings. Beware, be prepared, or just buy Saints & forget about them. These look cool though :p
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wonko
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dnalrag
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Design, shifting quality
Weaknesses:
Bearings, chain rings, Q-factor
Similar Products Used:
Truvativ Stylo, Shimano XTR
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Nomad, SRAM drivetrain
Bottom Line:
On the second ride I found that one of the teeth on the middle chainring was bend. Not a big deal since I could just bend it back with a pair of pliers (at home, not on the ride). After a bit less than three months the bottom bracket bearings run very roughly. The crankset is a 2007 model and my understanding is that the initial issue with the hygroscopy of the grease used in the bearings is supposed to be solved. Not so in my case. Finally the drive-side crank passes so close to the chainstay that it rubs on the chainstay protector.
These cranks replaced a considerably cheaper set of Truvativ Stylos which performed flawlessly for one and a half years. Of a crank that retails for $200-$300 I expect better reliablity than that and after not even three months I am considering of changing them again. I have used other Race Face products before and was very happy with them. However, I do not expect to find cranks of that brand on any of my bikes in the near future again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cannon 16
a Weekend Warrior
from northumberland uk Date Reviewed: April 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
stiff, strong, good 'rings
Weaknesses:
trial and error setup, very poor bearings
Similar Products Used:
deus, diabolous, xt, xtr
Bottom Line:
This review equally applies to other x-type cranks, as I've owned them all and they all have the same strengths and weaknesses. They are all really nice cranks - well machined with very good chain rings (much better than shimano, but not Middleburn) which survive harsh uk conditions well. they are light (well, not Diabolous) and strong and have stood up without complaint despite pretty hard use (6'drops to flat with deus/atlas and regular 15' to tranny with diabolous). Atlas could be used for downhill so don't think you need them unless you really rip it up (regular 6'-10' drops)- save the weight and get Deus, they are super strong, but I sold my bike with them on. Deus are mad strong for the weight - go for these if you generally don't exceed the 5' mark for drops. They all resist rock dings, crashes and scrapes well. They are stiff. All good? Hmm, no.Fitting is a chore, especially if using a chain guide. Even without, finding the correct chain line for your bike can be a bit trial and error. I'm always left with the feeling that spacers and pre-load washers are not the most elegant engineering solution. However, once set up right they work well and only one set of atlas cranks has come loose/creaked continuously. Bearings however are complete junk. 6months max in uk. Replace with shimano (if on budget) or better, Hope. Both make proper bearings. I've never (in 5 sets of x-types) had any problems with stripping or excessive looseness.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Teamfubar
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA Date Reviewed: September 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Greenfish Sports
Strengths:
Great strength to weight ratio, stiff, good looking.
Weaknesses:
Chainrings are a bit wimpy.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XTR (M-952), Bontrager
Bike Setup:
Moots Cinco, Sram X.0, Chris King.
Bottom Line:
After reading these reviews, I had to chime in. I have been running these cranks for almost 2 years with no bearing issues at all. The deal is, with Race Face, or any other external bearing BB, the BB shell HAS to be faced before installation or the bearings will seize. I think if most people will take the time to set them up right, you will have no issues at all. Mine spin smoothly, don't creak, don't loosen up, and keep rockin' ride after ride. The only issue that I have had is a tooth broke off of the middle ring during a sloppy shift. Never had that with any XTR rings, so we'll see how this works out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lande Edmiston
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: August 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fernie!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Stiff crank with great shifting ability and strength for any mountain use.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager, Shimano
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC 70
Bottom Line:
Great Crank all around. Works for any part of mountain biking, downhilling or XC.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Horsetooth Mountain Colorado Date Reviewed: July 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$229.00
Purchased At:
PRICEPOINT WHERE PRICE IS THE POINT
Strengths:
Stiff, easy to install, shifts well, stiff, stiff, very stiff
Weaknesses:
Hard to call this one weak...
Similar Products Used:
All of them - swapped out for a Truvativ Stylo Team
Bike Setup:
Nomad XO AM - one spacer on each side of the crank.
Bottom Line:
The stock Stylo started creaking and occasionally backed out on its own. It constantly needed fresh grease and tightening so I upgraded to the ATLAS . What a HUGE difference - like standing on a cement slab vs a piece of balsa wood. Even though this crank is a couple of ounces heavier, I'm actually riding and climbing faster due to better power transfer. Increases confidence and downhill speed as I can surf the bike without the flex of the Stylo. A great crank - couldn't be happier.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith Schoon
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bavington (Hillman State Park)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$219.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Stong and Durable
Weaknesses:
Directions are slightly unclear. They specify to crank down the crankbolt until it stops and "bottoms out". Is this even possible. I crank and crank and it never stops, but after I get it too tight it drags so I have to back it off a couple turns and all is good. Nice and tight.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore Crank included woth old Trek
Bike Setup:
2007 SC Heckler w DHX 5.0
Bottom Line:
So far so good. as put up with everything I have thrown at it sa far. A couple 2-3' drops and a few small jumps here and there and everthing is still copasetic. Other than the directions it rocks and not as expensive as the Shimano XTR. THOSE ARE WAAAAAAY OVERPRICED! 500???? Is it made out of gold, or does it give me a reach around after a long hard ride? NO? Then why do I want to spend 500 on it when I can get a kick ass Atlas for 219. Hell yeah.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Smellygoon
a
from Anchorage, AK, USA Date Reviewed: April 16, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Smooth and reliable under the right conditions
Weaknesses:
External bearings prone to failure under wet conditions
Bottom Line:
Previous post was a bit harsh and unwarranted. This crank was used continuously in a very unforgiving environment (snow, rain, glacial silt, mud, muck, etc.) without regular TLC. Nothing with bearings would have survived for long. RaceFace makes top-notch components, and the Atlas is no exception. Unbeatable for normal trails and summer use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Les Takacs
a Weekend Warrior
from Anchorage, AK, USA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Johnson Pass
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Looks cool. Stiff arms. Canadian-made.
Weaknesses:
External bearings, chainrings.
Bike Setup:
2003 RM Slayer
Bottom Line:
I'm going with Shimano XT next time. This crankset did not live up to the hype. Drive side bearings went out after about four months of regular use. Replaced them with Phil Wood cartridge bearings. Several teeth from the middle chainring broke off somewhere between trail rides. Got another five months of use before the non-drive side was shot. No help from RaceFace tech support. Fortunately, I did not pay full price, or else I'd be really pissed. This crankset has been a big disappointment. I don't abuse my bike that much and I expect some normal wear, but for the price, I expected a lot more. I need reliable components for transportation and trail use. The Atlas did not deliver.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clark
a
from Squamish Date Reviewed: March 31, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
light, stiff, strong, no slop
Weaknesses:
bearings are terrible extra drag (worse than most external bb types)
Similar Products Used:
saint, xt, truvativ stylo
Bike Setup:
heckler
Bottom Line:
great stiffness-to-weight ratio. have gone through 5 sets of bearings in 2 years. even the fancy "enduro" ones haven't lasted more than a couple months. very poorly sealed i suppose. lots of drag. as much as i'd like to support a solid canadian company, i'd suggest looking elsewhere for cranks. my truvativ stylo's have been solid, and they're cheap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Cardiff Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
ProBikeSport
Strengths:
Awesome cranks - stiff, light, strong, great shifting, trick looks
Weaknesses:
None at all
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, FSA, Truvativ
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Slayer 50
Bottom Line:
Upgraded the cranks on the Rocky Slayer 50 to Atlas cranks upon purchase - have been well impressed from day one. Pretty hardcore cranks considering the light weight and perfect for drops and jumps by a clumsy oaf like myself. Very rarely land smoothly but didn't want to run heavy DH cranks. Have held up well - stiff, bearings have lasted real well, shifting has been flawless despite a muddy welsh winter, and still look in good condition. Will definitely buy again - I've got my eye on something with a bit more travel next time around
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Gump
a Cross Country Rider
from Westminster, CA , USA Date Reviewed: November 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Big Bear
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
Very sturdy, has held up for me just fine. Super Stiff arms, don't feel like I lose any pedal power at all. Looks great too. Well built product.
Weaknesses:
Maybe a little heavy, but unless you're a real weight weenie it's no big deal. I use them for both XC and downhill so I am more than willing to trade the little extra weight for strength and durability.
Light enough to get up the moutain quick, strong enough to handle going down the rough stuff. A little expensive but what do you expect for a good product. I'd buy again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: November 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Fort Bill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Come loose every couple of miles
Similar Products Used:
Diabolus, Dues, XTR, Saint
Bike Setup:
SC Nomad XTR (cranks again), XTR, Hadley, Thomson etc.
Bottom Line:
These are cr@p, mine will not stay tight, and I am having a nightmare with the warranty as I bought in the states and live in the UK. Buy Shimano, they warranty there products exceptionally well. Nice that I have the most expensive paper weight I have ever bought here now. (It could be the UK importers though as what they say does not agree with what RF are telling me).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erik
a Racer
from Ladera Ranch, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
The Path Bike Shop
Strengths:
Long lasting bearings. Stiff. Available in 180mm.
Weaknesses:
Not available in compact 94bcd. Not available in 182mm or 185mm.
Similar Products Used:
XT, Middleburn, LX, RF Turbine
Bike Setup:
29er geared hardtail, 29er full-squish 4" and 5"
Bottom Line:
great all-around cranks. bummer they are only 104bcd though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miika Luolajan-Mikkola
a Racer
from Helsinki, Finland Date Reviewed: September 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$390.00
Purchased At:
Chainreaction Cycles
Strengths:
Light and strong
Weaknesses:
Crankarm gets loosened resulting with horrible creak
I thought it was a dry bushing that made the irritating noise when pressing on the left side crankarm. Regreasing them didn't help, and suddenly I noticed by hand a little free movement within the left crankarm and axle. The bolts were tightened well and the same play occurs when pulled out of bb. The arm is loosened like a child's milk tooth, and I don't have any other idea to get that fixed than Warranty. Well, a guy I know ordered these for me from a webstore (at that time we had no distributor in Finland), and now he seems to be unwilling to forward this faultreport to them. He said the Atlas only has "one-year-warranty"... Now I'm waiting and don't know if anything has happened.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Article 48
a Downhiller
from Somewhere, USA Date Reviewed: September 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
that one over there
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$175.00
Purchased At:
don't recall, doesn't matter
Strengths:
smoothness, quietness, direct power transfer, light weight
Weaknesses:
some people can't seem to figure out how to install them, other people wash their bikes with high pressure water jets, both of these cause problems in the long run, and they blame the problem on the crankset.
Similar Products Used:
RF Turbine LP, RF Diabolus, Shimano Hone
Bike Setup:
Turner 6-Pack
Bottom Line:
Excellent crankset for all applications under my 155 lbs. Stiff enough for rough trails and DH. Light enough to ride all day. Smooth. Great power transfer, noticeably stiffer/less flexy than ISIS BB setup. I would run these on a DH race bike without any questions or concerns. Those who have had issues with these cranksets are doing something wrong, IMO. Trickier setup than the Shimano external BB models, but still work as well if not better if you take the time to set them up correctly. 5/5 on both categories.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jorgex
a Weekend Warrior
from Almada, Portugal Date Reviewed: September 18, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
barracuda.be
Strengths:
-good stiffness/weight ratio -great XC, enduro, all-mountain.... -two possible colors
Weaknesses:
-bearings doesn't last for long(8, 9 months tops before squeaking) -middle chainring(32t)doesn't last at all -small chainring(22t)is made of steel!!!
Giant escaper'92 (hardtail), Manitou Axel 100mm(oem),Hope M4 disc brake, x-lite, Roox, Time pedals, Avid Flak Jacket, Rohloff chain... RF Atlas Cranks + 3 Tiso chainrings(22t,32t,44t)+ original left bearing/new shimano XT right bearing
Bottom Line:
Everything was ok after my lbs mechanic solved the "fitting" problem that many of us(RF users) complain. Ok for next 8,9 months, after that my bike sounded like clock, 3 "clacks" and 1 "click" per revolution. Plus, alot of mis-shiftings on front derailleur. I thought it was time to visit the lbs. Now my RF Atlas has Tiso chainrings(22t,32t,44t), original left bearing/new shimano XT right bearing. Personally i didn't enjoy very much RF middle and small chainrings. The right bearing was tottaly trashed, why not try another brand like shimano XT(cheaper than RF).
The original Atlas was better than LX octalink in stiffness but more heavy. The new setup for Atlas was lighter and improved my speed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chuck
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, Idaho Date Reviewed: September 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$210.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Looks good, light, silent, good shifting, smooth.
Weaknesses:
I'm concerned about what some reviewers have said about squeaking bearings and what water can do to them.
Bike Setup:
Steel hardtail
Bottom Line:
It's been 3 months and these cranks have been everything I hoped for so far. It's been very dry here so I haven't gotten them wet or ridden through any creeks. I noticed that most of the people who have bad things to say about these cranks installed their own. I had a professional do mine and no problems so far. They'll get wet eventually. We'll see how that goes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Falkenstein
a Weekend Warrior
from Durango, CO USA Date Reviewed: August 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Little Molas to Cascade
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Mountain Cyclery
Strengths:
works great when it works great!........see weaknesses
Weaknesses:
After a good dousing, seriously wet ride, the spline on the cranks loosens and makes a horrible creak. My friends can hear me coming from a mile a way. I have to take it to my mechanic and get him to beat the spline apart and then anti-seize it. That worked for 3 months, then it happened again. This time he place a loc-tite type product on it. It's only been 2 weeks, so we'll see.
Race Face says this part does not come apart.....at least that's what they FIRST told my mechanic. You know, the old, "gee whiz, no one else has had that problem." My mechanic now has several riders with the same cranks and the same problem. This is either a poorly engineered connection or not made to specifications properly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from The Dirty Glove, MI USA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Treasure Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Purdy, stiff as all get-out, nice chainrings, great weight-to-toughness ratio, and (power)user serviceable bearings.
Weaknesses:
Installation requires reading, looking at pictures and following directions. . . my square taper BB's didn't make me do that!!
Crappy bearing grease and aluminium crankbolts
Similar Products Used:
First foray into X-type cranks
Bike Setup:
Karate Monkey- sometimes single, sometimes geary
Bottom Line:
All in all a great crank for an under-served market: clydes who like blingy "light weight" parts. (I'm 200 lbs and let my part selection let everyone know how awesome I am)
Granted, you need to follow the directions carefully- especially the part about getting your BB faced within RF's tolerances. Keeping the cups perfectly parallel and properly spaced is the key to long bearing life and smooth spinning. Also, you want to wrap your head around how these cranks are held together before installing. If you do, you'll realize this: easy on the cups and 10mm bolt, hard on the 8mm. And don't forget your spacers.
On the trail these things are a dream. Zero flex, super-efficient power transfer, and smooth shifting. Keep an eye on the crank bolts though. Mine started to loosen and deform a bit. Switched to steel w/ a litte Loctite and haven't looked back.
At the end of the day, I love my Atlas cranks. Sure they require some skill to install (maybe you should leave it to the pro's), but the payoff is worth it. Most of the complaints about external bearing cranks stem from improper installation, so if you're going to drop this kind of cash for a crankset, what's another $25 to your mechanic.
As such, I go 5 chilis overall because if they don't work, it's probably your fault. And I ding it one chili for value because the $350 retail price is redonkulous, but who pays retail anyway?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, CT Date Reviewed: November 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
the one covered in leaves
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
Strong, light, easy to adjust the spacing.
Weaknesses:
none at all!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Hussefelts (crappafelts), Shimano junk
Bike Setup:
FS with sturdy gear.
Bottom Line:
I HATE TRUVATIVE more than anyone can know!!!!
I mashed my way through a brand new set of hussefelts in about three months, had them replaced and mashed through them again in one month. I bought these cranks and haven't had a single problem. I had my LBS install them, and I was a little worried about changing the spacing myself, but it couldn't have been easier. They are relatively light, and I can still pound on them without worry. I would buy them again, but the trouble is, they have a lifetime warranty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Lac-Beauport, Québec, Canada Date Reviewed: September 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mange-ma-bite
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Stiff, Strong, Look (black one), Weight
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Spech Strongarm, flexy creaky wavy ugly piece of crap
Bike Setup:
2003 Spech Enduro, changed big ring for RF bashguard.
Bottom Line:
Very happy with my purchase. Works flawlessly. Very trick looking with the RF bashguard. If you're a serious trailrider, or week-end warrior and need to upgrade your crankset, this one is really to consider over Shimano XT. It's couple grams heavier, but it's not a Shimano, and it got a lifetime warranty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Truckee, CA Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
123bikes
Strengths:
strong and stiff, they look good.
Weaknesses:
pain to set up, bearings don't last, creak like crazy!
Similar Products Used:
turbines, north shores, xt, xtr, lots o' others.
Bike Setup:
5spot w/ nixon elite.
Bottom Line:
When I got these cranks I was stoked. It seemed like they could handle some abuse and they weren't too heavy. Well I've had them for a year now and they are about to be tossed in the trash. I have had to replace the bearings three times, and have had to re-space the bb/spindle assembly countless times. Sometimes it gets real tight and binds, other times it gets so loose you can feel play in the cranks. It seems like every other ride I need to do something to keep them happy. All of this I was willing to put up with (I don't know why? Maybe because I have been using Race Face components for years without a problem, maybe I really didn't want any more Shimano than necessary on my bike... I don't know) Then the creaking began. We had a wet spring and after a few rides in the rain, they began to creak BAD! The worst creak I have ever heard from a bike! I've tried everything short of another set of new bearings (they still feel fine, and i don' really feel like investing any more $$$ into these cranks) Everything has been taken apart, cleaned, greased and re-torqued, and they still creak!! It is so bad that I have not ridden this bike in two weeks, opting instead to pedal my DH bike on xc trails or suck it up and ride my single speed. I've come to the conclusion that the Shimano system with the pinch bolt is better than the Race Face system where the crank must bottom out on the spindle. The spacing thing is way to fiddly. So I've got some XTs on the way for now, but I hope that Race Face can get things straightened out for '06.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Breaux
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX, USA Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Greenbelt, Austin; Memorial, Houston
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
greenfishsports.com
Strengths:
Stiff, wasn't expensive, isn't Shimano, lifetime warranty, awesome quality at an affordable price, built to last.
Weaknesses:
I haven't had them long - haven't seen any yet.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX, Truvativ Husselfelt
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F-300, Sram X.0 twist shifters and front derailleur, X.9 back, mostly stock Cannondale w/above mentioned upgrade, Shimano clipless and The Race Face Atlas smokin' cranks.
Bottom Line:
I can't believe that I paid such a low price for such a boost in performance. I started out with the Truvativ Isoflow crankset that came with the bike and would have gotten their Stylo if it wouldn't have been for the bad reviews about their chain rings. I wouldn't consider Shimano as pretty much every bike that I've been able to afford or that I've ridden under $2k with Shimano cranks had their sub-level cranks. I don't know which ones because it's so hard to keep up. I got a pair of Dura Ace for my bmx set-up when I was a kid (racing on the weekends) and they did 2 things really nicely - squeak and flex.
I got tired of what was either my Truvativ Isoflow cranks slipping or the back cassette slipping when I was involved in critical climbs. I replaced the crap Shimano cassette with a SRAM at the same time that I replaced the cranks and I'm rolling like a tank over anything now. It's amazing. I can accelerate quickly and the precision of the spinning is noticeable.
I took the Atlas over the Deus because I figured on my level, I'm not gonna notice a few grams difference. I'm a weekend warrior but I'm going to probably enter some races in a few. You won't regret buying the Race Face Atlas.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler,az,usa Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
greenfishsports.com
Strengths:
Stiff, lightweight for a freeride crank, Spins really nicely. Very tough. X-type bearings are smooth and easy to install. Instructions are very clear. Took less than 10 minutes, a spanner and an allen wrench to move between bikes.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
XT,LX,Strongarm cranks.
Bike Setup:
Titus Switchblabe, minute 1:00 fork, Sram x.9, crossmax enduro wheels.
Bottom Line:
Great heavy duty crank. Very stiff and easy to work on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Olof
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden Date Reviewed: June 22, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
Stiffness
Weaknesses:
Plastic bearing cover
Similar Products Used:
XTR, Turbine LP & many more
Bottom Line:
The increased stiffness of the crank improved my riding more than expected. Powertransfer is higher and more consistent than square/splined versions making it easier to keep traction ans also makes landing more confident. The bike feels more stable when the cranks are so much stiffer. If you need new bearings buy Shimano - it´s more reliable. One of the best upgrades I have ever made on a bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: June 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Very strong, reasonably light, great machining
Weaknesses:
Interface between bottom bracket spindle and drive-side crankarm
Similar Products Used:
Turbine LP, 750-series XT, Truvativ
Bike Setup:
Foes FXR with SRAM stuff
Bottom Line:
Overall, this crankset is really nice- strong, stiff, durable, etc. I had a problem with the self-extracting bolt on mine, though. Basically, it started extracting itself mid-ride, and I couldn't get it to stay tight. Race Face warrantied the crank (within a month, I got brand new arms and hardware), but keep in mind that to honor the warranty, they need a receipt. So if you do get these cranks, SAVE THE RECEIPT. I guess the bottom line for me is that I don't trust the interface Race Face uses on their X-type cranks (ditto for Truvativ's GXP or FSA's MegaEXO, although I haven't tried them) as much as the pinch-bolt system you see on the new Shimano stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stinkee cheese
a Cross Country Rider
from sacramento,ca Date Reviewed: January 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
green fish adventure sports
Strengths:
Stiff, responsive, strong and comparatively light.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Stock Bontrager crankset.
Bike Setup:
complete sram x gen on a fisher.
Bottom Line:
These cranks have handled quite a beating from jumping and drop-offs for a few months now. I broke my old crankset and recieved a new one thru fisher's warranty, but that went to crap as well. I ordered this crankset,had it professionally installed and have not had a problem since despite daily punishment from my agressive-urban/trail/commute riding. Teamed up w/some azonic a-frames all sets of stairs are in danger of being cleared.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary White
a Cross Country Rider
from LONDON, UK Date Reviewed: December 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Old Springs Trail, Marin, Ca
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Surgery, London
Strengths:
Very light and strong. Race Face quality and pedigree
Weaknesses:
Slightly fiddly and fussy set-up / BB issues (see below)
Similar Products Used:
Whole range of Race Face cranks - Next LP, Prodigy, Turbine LP, North Shore: taper and ISIS versions.
Bike Setup:
Cove Stiffee FR 17” frame (2002 model); Mavic F618FR rims with Hope Bulb hubs; Panaracer tyres (various, change with seasons); Hope C2 brake system; Race Face Atlas crankset c/w 44-32-22 rings; Shimano 12-32 XT cassette; Sachs PC69/99 chain; Shimano M636 DX pedals; Fox Float RLC forks (set@ 100mm travel); Race Face Prodigy seat post, Easton EA50 Monkey riser bars, Easton EA50 stem (90mm, 10 degree rise), Koobi SI saddle; XT shifters (non-rapid rise) and front mech, XTR rear mech (non-rapid rise), XTR cable set; Chris King headset.
Bottom Line:
I had used several Race Face cranksets and I thought that they were the best thing since sliced bread, especially the ISIS versions. The only problem was premature wear on their Signature series ISIS bottom brackets (the cheaper Progidy BBs were service free / fire-and-forget and often lasted 3000 miles or more). Therefore, when my North Shore crankset's Signature FR ISIS BB wore out after 500 miles, I got a warranty replacement deal and bought a whole new Atlas crankset. This was my first outing with the thru-axle design but I was mightily impressed. Installation was quick (you need the special BB tool that also fits Shimano systems) BUT you need to plan ahead and make sure you get all the spacing washers sorted out for your BB shell width (the Cove needed both spacers) and the chainline spacer washers too. The first 500 miles of riding have been commendable - very siff and instant drive chain repsonse. After 100 miles, a worrying knocking developed when the cranks were under drive. I removed and reinstalled the cranks and noticed that both the drive-side and non-drive side BB cups had come loose - hence the knocking. I needed to re-tighten them and all was fine. This is point worth noting when you install the cranks. I can't recommend this product highly enough - absolutely superb. If you buy a set, you'll need a BB tool (the Park Tools one is excellent) and I'd also recommend you get a soft wooden mallet from a hardware shop (to tap through the axle) and a 10mm hex bit to fit a ratchet - this is a lot easier than trying to use a separate allen key - as quite a lot of force is needed to tighten down the crank on the drive side until it bottoms out. Well done Race Face.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Douglas
a
from Edinburgh Date Reviewed: August 16, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mabie Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
CRC
Strengths:
Stiff, strong, light, faultless shifting
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Cove Hustler
Bottom Line:
Jeez, wrote a whole essay on how great these cranks are, forgot to tick the how long I've used em button and it blanked the lot!!!
Needless to say these are awesome cranks, well strong, easily handle 5 to 6 foot drop offs, will post more info when had a chance to do more miles on them. Had some real nightmares with external bearing systems recently but these RF ones are impeccable, buttery snooth BB performance and perfect shifting every time - rings still look as good as new even after 700 miles
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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