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Shimano XTR M952 Crank

MSRP $ 340.00
# of Reviews 183
Average Rating 4.03/5
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Description:Hollow cold forged Ultra Duraluminum arms. 9 speed uses S® 8-spline BB-M952or M950. 4-Arm has 24/34/46. Lengths: 165, 170, 175 or 180mm. Finish: XTR Gray/Nickel plating on rings. 685g


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    Submitted by ate a Cross Country Rider from Incline Village, NV
    Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:Light, smooth shifting
    Weaknesses:Strips easily, prone to shoe rub
    Similar Products Used:Race Face Turbine, XT
    Bike Setup:Kona Hei Hei, full XTR
    Bottom Line:Can't recommend these. If they get just a little bit loose, they are destroyed forever. If you're going to go with old equipment, I'd choose square taper over Octalink any day.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Ben a Racer from Portland, OR, USA
    Date Reviewed: September 13, 2007
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:light, stiff, durable.
    Weaknesses:Cost (but not so bad compared to new 970 XTR cranks..), the fact that the big ring acts as the spider makes replacing the rings painfully expensive, and there are no alternative chainring options. Typical shimano non standardization.
    Similar Products Used:XT, Race face.
    Bike Setup:Ti Hardtail, SRAM chain & cassette, shimano XTR pedals.
    Bottom Line:I love these cranks very much. I've had them since 2002, raced them and rode them very hard but have taken good care of them maintenance wise. I've replaced the rings 2 or 3 times, and replaced the BB once. Though the arms are rather beat up from all the hard use, they still perform great. Lately, due to a worn big ring and other issues, I've had problems with the chain staying on the big ring over rough terrain: it keeps falling into the middle ring. I'll just have to save my pennies; I'll probably replace these cranks with the new XT.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Alan Chan a Cross Country Rider from Toronto, Canada
    Date Reviewed: May 27, 2007
    Favorite Trail:Albion Hills
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:eBay
    Weaknesses:Short insertion amount can easily kill the crank, crank arm angle design makes it a pain when you have wide chainstay
    Similar Products Used:Shimano LX, XT; RaceFace Turbine, Bontrager Race
    Bike Setup:Santa Cruz Chameleon, Fox Vanilla RL, Chris King Mavic Wheelset, XTR/XT setup, Thomson Stem + Seatpost, Easton CT2, Hope M4 & Avid Juicy 7
    Bottom Line:I will never buy these again altho they are discontinued already. I have used LX and XT crank and didn't have such a big problem. The XTR BB seems to be better then the LX & XT ES71 but that is it. The crank design is trying to save weight and honestly, its not worth it for its price. XT is the way to go. I don't know what Shimano was thinking when they design this 7 years ago. The insertion teeth inside the crank is half the length of its other model (XT, LX, etc) which makes it easy to be damage. I was on trail a couple days ago and the crank came a little loose. I then spin for a couple more revs and I know something was really wrong. So I tighten the crank and went on. After the ride, I took the crank off and the teeth were complete strip! The drive side crank arm is completely damage and its now useless. This also gave me a pain when I switch these over from my Zaskar to Chameleon. Its stupid crank arm angle makes you change BB width to fit different bike. Yes this is part of a frame thing but I don't have to do that with any other crank. Even Santa Curz say is just for Shimano XTR and LX. XT, Raceface and all other cranks are fine. With a longer BB to avoid the crank arm hitting the chainstay, it makes the chain on an angle which makes shifting not as smooth, more chain stuck, less power, etc.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Chris O a Weekend Warrior from Brookline
    Date Reviewed: December 7, 2006
    Favorite Trail:South Cottonwood Canyon
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:stiff, durable, standard size rings
    Weaknesses:none
    Similar Products Used:XTR 960, Cook Bros
    Bottom Line:I absolutely loved these cranks, and I replaced them this year with 960’s when I bought a new component group. I wish I didn’t have to replace them, because they’re still going strong after eight seasons, but go figure that they’re not compatible with 9-speed components. I usually like Shimano products, but it kills me when they do this. Getting XTR products usually means paying a steep premium for marginal performance improvements, but these cranks were totally worth it. Back when I purchased these cranks, Shimano offered micro drive on everything up to XT. I’ve always preferred standard rings, so this was one instance in which there was a big difference between XT and XTR that was worth the extra money. Yes, Shimano’s replacement rings are expensive, but good luck getting shift ramps and extra machining on anything cheaper. I still have the original rings on this pair, and they still work great even with a broken tooth on the middle ring and multiple log hits on the outer ring.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Ákos Lengyel a Cross Country Rider from Budapest
    Date Reviewed: October 4, 2006
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $200.00
    Strengths:strong, light, fashionable, longlife
    Weaknesses:the big wheel is the spider too, so if it wears, you have to get one original, or a spider(they had that seperately sold)
    Similar Products Used:none
    Bike Setup:full xtr 1998, rocky mountain vertex t.o., girvin fork
    Bottom Line:I couldn't get any spare spider, nor ring-spider, cause they don't make it anymore... It's a pity... Now i got a new xt for my mountainbike, and will make a singlespeed bike for city-riding with the old xtr. I will get the teeth of the big ring off, so it will be the chainring, and have a bigger ring(40t) in the middle, and another chainring in the place of the small ring. I think that will do the job, and i don1t have to get rid of this beauty!
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by matt a Cross Country Rider from Illinois/Wisconsin
    Date Reviewed: October 24, 2005
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $125.00
    Purchased At:ebay
    Strengths:lightweight, good shifting, easy to convert to singlspeed with spider.
    Weaknesses:splines + age = complete crank failure!
    Similar Products Used:Coda (I miss their durability), XT, Strongarm II
    Bike Setup:Litech magnesium frame - singlspeed setup, aluminum rigid fork, xtr/mavic 417 wheels (love to death!!!), Kenda Kozmik Lite 2 tires (my secret weapons), xt linear brakes, easton carbon bar, thompson, avocet ti
    Bottom Line:ummm..well.. I liked them alot for the first... then they began to clunk... the right crankarm started moving 5-10 degrees out of alingment with the other arm. i took it all apart and found that the aluminum splines were compressing, causiing the entire crankarm to rotate in a shift around the bottom bracket splindle.. I rode it that way for awhile, carefully, but it gre to about 15 degrees and I couldnt take it anymore... i replaced the drive side with a newer xt... then a day later I noticed some clunking in the left arm.... garg... BOTTOM LINE IS: these cranks are just too old and the aluminum inside has fatigued too much... get a newer Truvatic Stylo instead.. cheaper and much stronger, a just a few grams more.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Brandon a from Michigan
    Date Reviewed: April 13, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Your Sister
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:No pinch bolts like some other XTRs we know
    Weaknesses:Chainrings are expensive. replace your chain frequently
    Similar Products Used:Race Face Turbines, 03 XTRs
    Bike Setup:Santa Cruz Chameleon. King, XTR, Thompson blah blah. Only the greatest Chameleon ever created..
    Bottom Line:Buy these cranks before they go away! Dont forget the bottom bracket (you can get away with a 105 if your frugal)

    frugal=cheap
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jim Beau a Weekend Warrior from SGV
    Date Reviewed: April 2, 2004
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Purchased At:123BIKES
    Strengths:Strong; stiff; smooth; light; durable
    Weaknesses:Cost
    Similar Products Used:RaceFace; XT; TruVativ; 01 & 03 XTR
    Bike Setup:Ellsworth ID w/Avid discs, XTR shifters/derailures/levers
    Bottom Line:Worked a deal with 123BIKES to include these cranks/rings with the purchase of my ID (that's why I put 0 in the cost field). Frame arrived needing a minor alignment adjustment; once my mechanic made the fix, I have experienced NO crank/ring related problems --- NONE! They have performed flawlessly. They are stiff and smooth. Sure, the chi-chi factor is there, but of little concern for me. These are superior to ANY cranks/rings I've used.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by TC a Cross Country Rider from GJ, CO
    Date Reviewed: March 1, 2004
    Favorite Trail:all of 'em
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $135.00
    Purchased At:friend
    Strengths:Strong, light, durable, & the ladies love 'em!
    Weaknesses:Cause lust from non-owners
    Similar Products Used:race face turbine & next
    Bike Setup:Does it matter?
    Bottom Line:Good stuff. Period. People with complaints about these cranks are a) unable to be pleased B) not mechanically inclined c) anti-Shimano d) all of the above. With the correct BB adjustment and patient, competent spline alignment before sqeezin' 'em on the spindle, these cranks are at the top of the heap. No need for M960, but people do like shiney new things. Look for someone sellin' these so they can buy some shiney new M960's, and get yourself a great deal.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by John DeVivo a Cross Country Rider from Andover, Maine, USA
    Date Reviewed: February 23, 2004
    Favorite Trail:Palisades at Sunday River
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $279.00
    Purchased At:Performance
    Strengths:Super strong, super stiff, and the best chainrings ever made! This is the M950 (8sp) from '98, and it's still the bomb!
    Weaknesses:Please... there aren't any!
    Similar Products Used:1997 XT
    Bike Setup:Mix n' match of XTR/XT/LX/Deore
    Bottom Line:This crankset has been through five seasons of racing and riding. Three top tens at Mount Snow, a top ten at the 24 Hours of Great Glen, and a top ten at the Vermont 50 spell it out - this crankset rules! Although my 8sp rings are worn enough to accommodate the narrower 9sp chains at this point, I've lost several teeth, so I'm switching out to the 9sp chainrings, and will (finally) buy a new XTR BB (also the best BB ever made). What else can you buy that goes FIVE years?! Any serious rider needs this crankset. Forget the new $450 disco version... stick with the M952 (or M950 for 8 speed). Thank you, Shimano!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jon a Racer from Carlisle, PA
    Date Reviewed: February 20, 2004
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Stiff, awesome shifting, rings last forever, looks hot.
    Weaknesses:They creak if not torqued/greased perfectly.
    Similar Products Used:Race Face, LX, Deore
    Bike Setup:2004 Racer X 100 (work in progress)
    Bottom Line:I rode a set of M950 XTRs hard for over 2 years, and just bought a new set of M952s. I could have gone with M960 stuff, but I'm so satisfied with the stiffness and durability of these I saw no reason to change. Did I mention that the shifting is superior to everything else? I love the 46/34/24 gearing, which Shimano decided we don't need anymore. If properly torqued and greased with a dab of Loctite on the threads, these things stay tight and don't creak. Yeah, you pay for them up front, but the overall performance is very satisfying and more than worth the cost.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Mike a Racer from Saint Charles
    Date Reviewed: December 4, 2003
    Favorite Trail:Great Western
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
    Better than new XTR.
    Light, stiff, big manly chainrings.
    Weaknesses:Shimano mafia specific chainring and bb sizes.
    Similar Products Used:Race Face, XT, new XTR.
    Bike Setup:Yeti ARC Scandium hardtail, Marzocchi, Mavic, XT, XTR.
    Bottom Line:This is the best crankset available today. It is twice as nice as the new model at half the price. I have owned both, ride 15 hours a week, and I'm a mechanic.
    These are the best shifting chainrings ever and the strongest arms ever. The downhillers use 'em! Plus the bb is light and you can even use a dura-ace bb to get lighter and more narrow.
    I hope Shimano realizes soon that the new XTR cranks suck and returns to this model.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Glenn a from Venice, CA
    Date Reviewed: September 2, 2003
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:shifting, strength, shifting, shifting, weight, shifting Oh yeh, SHIFTING
    Similar Products Used:XT, StrongArm S-Works, Sugino
    Bottom Line:Here is a tip for better shifting with well-worn rings.

    Have trouble shifting into the granny ring under load???

    I used to be able to mash the chain down into the granny ring under really heavy loads. After about a year I started having trouble and the chain would get sucked up between the middle ring and the chain-stay.
    The fix... try filing the little rivet type ramps on the middle ring so they aren’t as pointy.
    Not too much...
    It worked for me.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Timchi a Racer from Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Stiff, nice rings, love the self extracting bolts.
    Weaknesses:durability.
    Similar Products Used:LX, XT
    Bottom Line:I've used this crank on my racing bike for a couple of years now. I only ride it a few dozen times every year since I use a different bike for daily training. The left crankarm is now worn out at the bb/crank interface. It moves and clunks just ever so slightly so make me feel like the whole thing will fall apart under me. In my disbelief that a crankarm will be worn out I replaced the bottom bracket. I even tried it with new pedals (thinking pedals are somehow clunking). I have bikes that I ride harder with 6 year old square taper cranks that are still running strong. Shimano did their homework and sold us another product that we'll have to replace every two or three years. And we were so happy about the increase in stiffness .... Sadly I don't know if there is a better product out there. ISIS any good?
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by mike doucette a Cross Country Rider from west milford n.j.
    Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $200.00
    Purchased At:bike line
    Strengths:light, strong,after two years the bb is still smoth
    Weaknesses:the left arm was a s.o.b. to get off, like it was fused, and the drive side stripped, but only the arm, not bb, but no warrenty! and i know how to properly maintain a bike, and with all my care it still has put me in a situation where i only need one arm but can only find sets of two for sale.
    Bike Setup:spec. p3 with sram 9 speed, rollers in the front, bomber fork with easton carbon bars etc. all that stuff
    Bottom Line:bottom line is that these cranks are way too expensive, thank god i had a discount or i woundn't have even thought twice about getting them. there nice but there are plenty of things comparable, for less, and if one of those weight weenes's these are pretty good, just don't ride too hard on them, and if you care so much about weight to buy these cranks, don't put 10 lb. dh tires on, you guys just don't make sence
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Steve Domser a Cross Country Rider from Austin, Texas
    Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003
    Favorite Trail:tooo many to choose from. Killer Bee south korea
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $250.00
    Purchased At:bike shop
    Strengths:Very Durable, tight shifting, and very little chain skips.
    Weaknesses:Havent found any yet...
    Similar Products Used:Specialized Strong Arm II, those are a piece of crap, aluminum, attachment bolts, broke under pressure. DO NOT BUY THESE CRANKS>>>>>SPECIALIZED STRONGARM II CRANKS
    Bike Setup:Yeti, Arc 2002, king headset, marz bomber x-fly 80 fork, all xtr drivetrain, maivic 515 with xtr hubs, avid magnesium brakes, easton ec70 flat bar and seat post, Selle Elite seat.
    Bottom Line:Bottom line is they are great.. Recommend purchase, that or Race Face ISIS cranks, have had the chance to use them to,, But if you have any questions please caontact me.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by joe a Racer from dallas, tx
    Date Reviewed: December 12, 2002
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $200.00
    Purchased At:jensonusa.com
    Strengths:Stiff, light
    Weaknesses:had to use locktight to keep crank on the BB.
    Similar Products Used:BRL
    Bike Setup:SUGAR
    Bottom Line:It has been a good product to use. The only weakness is the one listed above. But they fell a lot better than my fromer Bontrager cranks.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Will a from CO
    Date Reviewed: December 7, 2002
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $90.00
    Purchased At:Performance Bike
    Strengths:Light, strong, stiff, mt rings lasted forever.
    Weaknesses:Quality control is spotty on what is supposed to be the best of the best Shimano can make.
    Similar Products Used:Race Face, DX, LX, XT, STX, Specialized S-Works Strongarm (bad news!) Flite Control. . .
    Bike Setup:Used on a custom steel hardtail.
    Bottom Line:I paid $90 for mine (not a typo) when the Performance Bike I worked in was closed down by the company (Perf. is a lousy corporation to work for by the way). They put everything in the store at 70% off during the last week of the closing sale. My first pair were defective (not threaded to self-extract) I had to bash them off with a fork type crank remover. I have seen a few other things like this on XTR over the years that I thought were pretty pathetic considering XTRs billing. Shimano has also admitted that the cranks are very finicky in regards to installation. If it isn't done just right, the cranks are trash. The new ones are a massively overpriced monument to stupidity compared to ISIS.
    Bottom line: Way too expensive at retail but an excellent product as long as the guy who puts the little green "OK" stickers on them is sober.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Jared a Cross Country Rider from IL
    Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Kettle Moraine, Raider's Ridge
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:The Shop I work at
    Strengths:Light, stiff, and the best shifting rings I've found.
    Weaknesses:Price, even at my discount.
    Similar Products Used:XT, Sugino, Icon.
    Bike Setup:Trek 8000 frame, full XTR, Hayes Disc, Thomson post/stem, and a Marzochi to boot.
    Bottom Line:Wicked stiff and they shift flawlessly. Even with my 245# body these cranks don't back down. The only down side is the price, which is high even at cost. They have put up with 2 years of abuse and are still shifting well. Those that are complaining about creaks might try greasing the splines heavily. They will tend to creak a little when not lubricated.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by James a Cross Country Rider from Fullerton
    Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Santiago Motorway
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:Lightweight
    Weaknesses:needs constant supervision
    Similar Products Used:Raceface Turbin LP's, Sugino's
    Bike Setup:Kona Kula, Sram 9.0sl, XTR brakes,CK/Mavic wheels
    Bottom Line:As stated before if you don't maintain the cranks and make sure they properly tightened before, during, and after your ride they will eventualy come loose from the bottom bracket. Then you have an oppurtunity to strip them clean off the BB forcing you to walk back to your vehicle. Shimano's customer service response is that "it is the user's responsibility to make sure the cranks are properly tightened at all times and no we will not replace them." Well I'm going back to Raceface and I will use Shimano parts sparingly if at all as I build up my new fram.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by JOE a Cross Country Rider from ORANGE COUNTY ,CA
    Date Reviewed: November 26, 2002
    Favorite Trail:OLD CAMP
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $499.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:LOOKS,STRENGTH,INSTALLATION
    Weaknesses:NOTHING
    Similar Products Used:OLD XTR
    Bike Setup:EPIC W/ FULL 2003 XTR GROUPO,SID,CROSS MAX
    Bottom Line:SHIMANO HAD TO GO AHEAD OF THE CLASS AGAIN WITH ITS 2003 XTR CRANKS. SHIMANO LIKES TO BRING BACK OLD DESIGNS THAT DIDN'T WORK BACK IN THE DAYS I.E., THE FIRST V BRAKE WAS MORANAVATIVE AND NOW THE CRANK SET WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE OLD BULLSEYE AND SWEET WING CRANK SETS.
    THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT SHIMANO DOES IT RIGHT. THE NEW CRANK SET IS BY FAR THE BEST PRODUCT OF 2003. THE VERY FIRST RIDE I NOTICED A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN STIIFFNESS.
    I DIDN'T THINK SHIFTING WOULD INPROVE FROM THE OLD CRANK SET BUT I WAS WRONG. THE CRANK SET SHIFTS WITH NO HESITATION IF YOU HAVE A QUALIFIED MECHANIC SET YOUR BIKE UP.
    BOTTOM LINE, EVERY PART OF THE 2003 XTR GROUPO IS AWESOME. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANY HARDCORE XC RIDER. FREERIDERS NEED NOT APPLY, THERE IS A GROUPO COMING SOON YOU GUYS.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Michael a Cross Country Rider from Calabasas, CA
    Date Reviewed: November 23, 2002
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $289.00
    Purchased At:Supergo
    Strengths:Light weight, very stiff, shifts well
    Weaknesses:Durability
    Similar Products Used:XT, Specialized
    Bike Setup:Titus Racer X
    Bottom Line:After three years of hard riding I did have to replace all three chain rings. Other than that the Crank has performed very vell. Very stiff with good power transfer.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Gilderoy Lockheart a Racer from Hogwarts
    Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Swiss Alps
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Purchased At:360
    Strengths:This is a review of the new 2003 XTR crankset: BMX technology that works great on a MTB: easy to install (did it myself in 10 minutes), bearings wide apart, actually outside the bike's BB shell -> absolutely no flex, quiet i.e. no cracking noise etc. unlike the old XTR. Bearings are very well protected against the elements. Very light at only 796 grams for the entire set incl. BB. And did I mention looks? The design is art and I kneel before them in awe...
    Weaknesses:So far I haven't had them for long enough to be able to comment. They seem very well designed and made but time will show.
    Similar Products Used:old XTR, AC cranks
    Bike Setup:22.5 lb full suspension
    Bottom Line:Easily the best crankset I ever owned but list price is very high (about 550$). I got mine at a discount and for me they are worth the price I paid. Since they usually are so damn expensive, well, YOU COULD BUY A WHOLE BIKE for their price (a cheap one but still) I give them only 4 value chilis but definitely 5 overall.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by John a Weekend Warrior from Chicago
    Date Reviewed: November 15, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Anything outdoors
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $225.00
    Purchased At:online
    Strengths:Strong, stiff crank arms. Fairly light weight. 46 tooth rings are awesome, the shifting is buttery smooth.
    Weaknesses:Pricey, pricey, pricey.
    Similar Products Used:Specialized Strong Arm, Shimano LX
    Bike Setup:Ellsworth Joker w/ full XTR
    Bottom Line:Some hate Chevy, some hate Ford. My experience has been pure satisfaction with XTR crankset. I have had no hardware failure with any XTR components. My bike has been to Pisgah, the Canadian Rockies, Michigan and back. I don't race downhill but I've raced a couple of downhill races. I mostly do trail riding and urban stair drops.

    XTR has been a tried and true component on my bike for over three years. The shifts, when used w/ full XTR drivetrain, are buttery smooth and precise. Shimano and SRAM chains both shift clean and crisp.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Nick Smith a Weekend Warrior from Auburn, AL
    Date Reviewed: October 23, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Not around here
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $240.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:Stiff, no flex. Shifts great. Larger chain ring is great for downhill stretches.
    Weaknesses:Splines stripped out
    Similar Products Used:RaceFace
    Bottom Line:Hey what's up shimano, the guy below is right on. Shimano warranty service bites! I sent mine in, they sent it back and said that it was installed incorrectly. Hey, then how come it worked for over a year then let go. According to them I stripped the splines out when I installed the crank, but if that was so then it would have been stripped out when I first put them on and would have started slipping then, not over a year later. Shimano really meant to say no warrranty on XTR, if they were truthfull to begin with I would not even have a problem, but since they don't stand behind their warranty I rank them with the likes of Enron and Auther Anderson, Big Fat Dirty Liars. Shimano never again, if I can avoid it.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Michael Roux a from Birmingham
    Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002
    Favorite Trail:Oak Mtn.
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $299.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:Doesn't Flex
    Weaknesses:Shoddy Warranty service. The 3 years warranty really means, send it in for repair and we will screw you and not repair it.
    Similar Products Used:XT hollow tech.
    Bike Setup:Cannondale Killer v 900 ht, ultra fatty headshok, avid front disk. xtr bb, xtr derailluer front and rear. XTR rear v brakes. About to scrap all the shimano crap and buy some real components.
    Bottom Line:XTR cranksets are stiff, no flex, but a couple years of easy commuting and some easy trails and the crank splines stripped out. I do weigh 245 pounds, so I would say this is probably the reason. But shimano warranty department pretty much told me to get bent 2.5 years after purchase, that they would not fix it. Oh well, I WILL NEVER BUY SHIMANO AGAIN. To all potentia