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Submitted by
Detective365
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Mounds | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came stock | | Strengths: | Ummm, using the bolts as spare parts? | | Weaknesses: | -flex
-wear quickly
-left crank arm has a tendency to fall off
-Shifting is spotty; those pins on the chainrings cause chainsuck like you wouldn't believe | | Similar Products Used: | TV Stylo
TV FireX
TV Touro | | Bike Setup: | (former) 9er w/ SRAM x7 everything, avid 5 hydros | | Bottom Line: | These cranks are a poor investment. I had problems with them from the get-go; shifting errors, chainsuck, the whole nine yards. To top it off, the crank arm won't stay on! Kinda hard to ride with just my right pedal... which i actually had to do, since the "accident" happened while i was on the trail TO the singletrack! Hadn't even gotten to mash it yet!
Long story short, said goodbye to the cranks after a month, moved on to the FireX's, and have been pretty happy with them. I'm not continually checking the cranks to make sure theyre not falling off, etc. Learning experience; you get what you pay for! Still, these cranks will probably injure you if you're not careful to check the bolt tightness at least once at the beginning, once in the middle, and once at the end of your ride. That shouldn't happen no matter how little you pay for your crank. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mtbiker13
a Weekend Warrior
from brampton
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Not sure. | | Weaknesses: | 10 miles on a new bike and the crank arm was faling off. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Opus Artemis. | | Bottom Line: | I had a similar problem with the crank bolts as alot of other people. I loctited mine on. They seem ok but still not to sure about them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
spring mountain high
a Cross Country Rider
from montco, pa usa
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | cheap | | Bottom Line: | came on 2009 marin palisades trail that i purchased online...the right pedal threads stripped after about 12 rides...cheap, crappy chinese metal...you get what you pay for i guess...i would never buy these as a stand-alone product...i had planned to swap them out with my white industries cranks on my older bike anyways | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
masterx or flashthe3rd
a Cross Country Rider
from ca usa
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | over grown trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on with bike wh | | Strengths: | good cranks nice color (black) | | Weaknesses: | bottom bracket gets lose, cranks make noise, hard to clean in the midle of the cogs. | | Bike Setup: | Gt Alavache 1.0 | | Bottom Line: | overal good crankset they take high speed all out drag racing and downhill up hill around the hill. smooth gonig to get bb tunedup soon maybe it'll help the cranks to be tight not lose as they are now | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mtnbiker72
a Weekend Warrior
from Rainier, OR
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Stella | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Shifts well, reliable when installed correctly, cheap | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, Powerspline is proprietary and fixes a problem that didn't exist | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Octalink LX and XT, Race Face Turbine, Race Face Ride XC, Truvativ Hussfelt | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Windsor Cliff 29 Pro | | Bottom Line: | These came stock on an other wise very well spec'd bike. It was my intention all along to replace these, but it took me 6 months to get around to it because simply...they worked well. I did follow the SRAM service bulletin on proper installation and used a torque wrench. I suspect the complaints about the crankarms falling off stem from improper installation and torque. I never had to re-torque the crank bolts after the installation. For cheap steel chainrings, this crankset actually shifted fairly well...again, good enough for me to ignore for six months. In the end, my biggest beef would be the proprietary BB interface. You are limited to only the Truvativ Powerspline BB which is a pretty low end product. Why not just make these square taper, with some updated rings, these would make a good crankset with a quality (Shimano UN-54) bottom bracket. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fridge-Seal
a Cross Country Rider
from Albury
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Nail Can (or Knockfly reserve Tasmania) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Matthews Cycles Wodo | | Strengths: | Sweet looks; good strength hig quality, ,Ok it's steel but how finicky do you want to be serves all my purposes and stands up to all the abuse I give it! | | Weaknesses: | Tad heavy-minor though | | Bike Setup: | Apollo Ascent with Tekpro hydraulic disc brakes; RST 100m travel Remote lockout suspension High grade aluminium alloy frame; deore LX mechs | | Bottom Line: | Sweet product and no problems | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a
from Dallas, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | On a good day they go round and round without falling off. | | Weaknesses: | Cranks work themselves loose and have fallen off on leisure rides. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Rockhopper Comp Disc | | Bottom Line: | My local bike shop tried a revised torque spec from Truvativ (for the "power spline" setup?). They have been OK for the couple rides since then...but I find it hard trust them now. The snapping and creaking complaints from other posters could be related to the cranks coming loose. No crank should be this much trouble. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
S/STeR___P
a
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | wheelshop in the hood | | Strengths: | The chainrings are still good | | Weaknesses: | but the bearings and all parts around it are broken. so whats the difference for my nice and chainrings.
never buy at thing from truvaTHIEF again. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Specialized hardrock pro. PRO bar parts. Mavic wheels.
rockshoX revelation'07. Swalbe rubber | | Bottom Line: | Next step will be a XTR crank | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lyndon
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price.
Strong arms.
Low Maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Some side to side flex under heavy torque.
Just a little creaky under heavy torque.
| | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2006 GT Avalanche 1.0. Aluminum platform pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is the 2006 model.
Good performance for price. Its holding up to my 240lbs. Middle chainring a little bent on one tooth, but could have been something I did on the trails.
This is my first bike and I'm just getting into heavy XC riding so I can't compare against more expensive equipment.
Hasn't fell apart on me yet and I rode to work every day all winter in Canada since last November and have been trail riding for a couple months now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
robert
a Racer
from colorado springs co
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | anything hard/technical | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | worked well for 1st year and a 1/4. take a good beating. been put though crap. rings last well | | Weaknesses: | lots of creaking. fall off while rideing periodicaly. bearing fell out of place. screw wigles lose. these suck. there is aa square thes attatch to. these rounded the squares edges. :(. | | Similar Products Used: | wal mart bikes
| | Bike Setup: | speacalized hardrock sport. hard tail. | | Bottom Line: | these suck trust me ive been on them for 2 and a 1/2 years. still need replacement. havent fell to dust yet but will soon.
wal-mart cranks work better.v if you need a set fast get these they will last about 5 races
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren
a Weekend Warrior
from hanford, wa
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Trails around the Hanford Site | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | I am posting this as basically a recant of my previous review, wherein I verbally bashed this crankset pretty hard. My previous bad experience with this component may have been the result of poor installation by the Specialized factory, or the LBS where I bought the bike.
After being severely disappointed in the performance of the FiveD crankset on the original bike (Rockhopper Comp), I had my OTHER LBS upgrade the crank/bb on the Rockhopper to a Shimano Deore hollowtech crankset. The Shimano setup has been working great -- BB is solid, cranks don't flex or squeak like the FiveD did.
After the Shimano 'upgrade,' the mechanic gave me the Truativ crankset back, in case I wanted it later. I never thought I'd use it again and tossed it in my parts bin. However, several months later I was bitten by the 'build a bike from scratch parts' bug. I got a frame and some other miscellaneous parts from Nashbar, and together with the stuff I had on hand, built a Frankenbike. I used the Truvativ FiveD paired with an el-cheapo square-taper Nashbar BB.
The Frankenbike has been working great. To my surprise, I don't have any of the crank flex/creak/pop problems I was having with before when the FiveD was on my Rockhopper. I don't know why the crankset is working better on the second bike -- too many variables have changed -- but the one thing that I know is that it's the same crankset, and it's working well so far. | | Weaknesses: | None found yet since I transplanted the crankset to a custom-built bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Several Shimano, Truvativ, and FSA cranksets. | | Bike Setup: | Frankenbike: basic Nashbar CroMo MTB frame, Surly 1x1 rigid fork, Shimano Deore RDR, SRAM RapidFire Shimano-compatible shifters, Tektro V-brakes, Salsa and Sun rims, Kenda Krisp tires. | | Bottom Line: | Actually seems to be a pretty decent crank so far. Haven't been out jumping over cars or pounding black diamond downhill trails at ski resorts, but it's working well for urban assaults and even some pretty hard uphill off-road pedaling. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terri.
a Racer
from Leduc, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | River Valley Cycle and Snowboard | | Strengths: | Well, they are a sturdy crank, and they get me around the xc race course well | | Weaknesses: | expensive for this particular set | | Similar Products Used: | the ones that came stock on my bike, race face evolve Dh | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded Ironhorse Axion | | Bottom Line: | Decent enough to survive the xc course if you happen to break alot of parts like me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren
a Weekend Warrior
from Richland, WA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Hanford | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Came with the bike (is that a strength?) | | Weaknesses: | Seems not to handle power very well. Accompanying BB is P.O.S. | | Similar Products Used: | At least two Shimano cranks and BB's -- no problems yet. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, Rigid Surly 1x1 Fork, Deore/LX, Sun Mach IV, Specialized FatBoys | | Bottom Line: | Creaks and whines when pressure is applied. Bottom bracket that came with it has been tightened up at the 1st free LBS tuneup that came with the bike, and it's already back to crackling after less than 50 miles. The BB that came with this crankset is already grinding bearings at < 100 SUB-URBAN ROAD miles only.
Granted, I'm fairly big, but it should be able to handle plain good old road-cruising pedal power. This bike is set up as my alternate commuter. I've never even taken this bike off-road to do any serious hill-climbing, trail riding, or anything like that. If it cannot handle suburban commuting and fun road rides, it's basically a P.O.S. crank/bb in my book.
This is the second bottom bracket/crank set that I've had to replace on a sub-$1000 "name brand" bike. I think the other poster was correct when they said a bike less than $1000 is crap! From now on, I'm only buying frames and then building a bike myself, with exactly the components I want, based on a good deal of research. You end up paying for the upgrades anyway, so get a super good off-the-shelf bike or build your own!
Funny thing is, I've had better luck with my 2004 GT Avalanche 2.0 that I bought new on eBay for < $250!!
DO NOT BUY THE TRUVATIV FIVED CRANKSET! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar Rapids, IA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Sugar Bottom | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | They look okay when they are not falling off | | Weaknesses: | - The crank arms flex when applying pressure
- The crank arms creak when applying pressure
- The crank arms fall of or come loose during every ride | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized cranks - worked well for 3 years with no problems | | Bike Setup: | Aluminium frame hard tail, marzocchi suspension fork, deore drive train, and soon to be deore cranks. | | Bottom Line: | The quality of the crankset is extremely poor. My first bike was a specialized hardrock made in 2001. I rode it all over the mountains in Idaho. It had a specialized crankset that is still working great.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KI
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Looks tough | | Weaknesses: | Heavy and unreliable | | Bike Setup: | Ibex Ignition 2 | | Bottom Line: | The left crankarm worked itself loose, then the bottom bracket worked itself out. It is heavy and shifts poorly as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Cassidy
a Cross Country Rider
from Middlebrough
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | North Yorks Moors | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Seem OK, smooth changes, mostly trouble free. | | Weaknesses: | Crank broke - fractured at the pedal connection. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano crank. | | Bike Setup: | Alu frame hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | While on a ride the pedal suddenly collapsed down. When I looked, the crank had fractured around the threaded pedal hole. There was no warning. When I investigated, it snapped off in my hand. I don't do big jumps or anything. I am 13 stone approx and I do drive the bike hard. This is the first time this has happened to me. Luckily I was near a train station. Hope it doesent happen somewhere more difficult. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K.I.
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Poor shifting, flex, and quality control | | Bike Setup: | Ibex Ignition 2 | | Bottom Line: | The left crankarm fell off after less than a dozen leisurely rides, as it seems to have done in many of these reviews. It shifted really poorly before that, and I thought it might be the Alivio front derailleur, but I'm going to point to this piece of crap crankarm as the culprit now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | The Hub | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Bending, Flexing, Twisting. But all that isn't really a problem compared to pedal stripping out. | | Similar Products Used: | RaceFace LP | | Bike Setup: | Norco Bigfoot soon to be no SRAM components | | Bottom Line: | Ok i think the only thing SRAM has going for them is Brakes and Chains, due to buying those companies. These cranks are terrible. I've ridden Shimano Altus and never had a problem.
thought i would switch to ISIS , big mistake. atleast isis with a TRUVATIV crank. Pedals strip out of this thing like paper. I use pedal washers. I check to make sure the pedals arn't loose before each ride. Still , bunny hop a curb and pedal comes flying out. This is DANGEROUS!
i would hope TRUVATIV would just do the shoddy metal insert they do on they're other forks, it seems all of them need it to the pop cam aluminum they are using.
Don't buy these, your better off with Anything else.
And they don't warrenty the pedal stripping out. I've done 3. No warrenty for shoddy metal.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paco Raja Toledo
a Cross Country Rider
from Mazarron
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I´m spanish don´t speak english very good, please send to me the price of Truvativ FiveD Triple | | Bottom Line: | I´m spanish don´t speak english very good, please send to me the price of Truvativ FiveD Triple, and send to my mail, tnahkssss | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared
a Racer
from Park City, Utah USA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Very affordable, nice looks, durability, low maintenance | | Weaknesses: | Poor reputation from previous generations being weaker | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ FireX, Race Face Deus XC | | Bottom Line: | I find some of these reviews hard to believe. I think some people are reviewing older FiveD cranksets here. Truvativ has done an excellent job re-engineering this crankset to make it stronger and more durable while still keeping the price way down. I'm not exactly a skinny guy at 6'2" 210 pounds and this crankset is just as strong and durable as my RaceFace Deus and only marginally heavier while costing a fraction of the price. I have put this crankset through its paces and it has required no maintenance whatsoever. Wish I could say the same for other more expensive sets I've used where the ISIS BB has s%it the bed in a matter of weeks. While pounding up a hill or sprinting off the starting line I experience zero flex. Cinderella story here with these cranks.......just make sure you get 2005 and newer model year.
Big old 5 flaming chilis for value and a well deserved 5 chilis overall! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | highland forest | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | stock on bike | | Strengths: | cheap; keeps the price of the bike down
never had a problem with strength
not bad looking | | Weaknesses: | heavy! | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper frame, manitou black fork, XT drivetrain, hayes MX1 discs w/ speed dial 7 levers, Pana Fire XC pro tires, WTB rocket stealth saddle | | Bottom Line: | I agree with the reviewers who gave this thing a decent rating. I ride hard, and often. I've probably logged 800 hours on them (two summers +), and I never had a problem with the strength. They held up. I weigh 190, but my riding buddy weighs 230, rides just as hard if not harder, and has also never had a problem with them. I'm now ready for something a little lighter and smoother, but this crank did the job before I had one (and the money to upgrade). The bottom bracket is what you'd expect on a cheaper crank. It works, but it's about as silky as velcro. I'm giving this rating based on what you'd expect out of a crank that retails for $60. It's not reasonable to put it on a scale with $200+ cranksets. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Hansen
a Weekend Warrior
from Draper UT
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | my backyard | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | canyon bikes | | Strengths: | It looks cool i guess. Its decent for 50 bucks. cant expect much with that price. | | Weaknesses: | IT sucks. ive gone through three crank arms two were in three days. The crank arm bends where it hooks to the bracket. Dont buy it you are wasting your money. | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper(getting p.3 in a week) stock | | Bottom Line: | This crankset blows. If you want something that works get anything else besides this one. But if you wanna spend 15 bucks each week for a new arm be my guest. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a
from Texas
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Does what a cheapo crank is supposed to | | Weaknesses: | It is heavy as crap and looks kinda cheap | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio, Truvativ Firex, Race Face Evolve XC X-type | | Bottom Line: | I am giving these cranks a much needed boost to their rating. They aren't that bad. I work in a shop and have never seen any of these break or come loose. I had one guy bend his big ring and I straightened it back out in 2 seconds with an adjustable wrench. It was perfect without any bit of wobble.
I happen to have two sets of these cranks. One has been on 3, yes 3 different bikes. They are heavy as hell though, but what do you expect from an entry-level crank with all steel rings. At least they are replaceable, unlike the really cheeseball stuff. When my rings wear out, will I put new rings on it? Heck no because I can get a whole new crank for the same price or possibly less. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Ramstein, Germany
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came with Kona Hoss | | Strengths: | Other riders bad mouth this crank; I have about 1300 plus kilometers on FiveD's. No problem expect wear and tear. I weight 240 at 6'5" | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Kona Hoss | | Bottom Line: | I changed this crank and bottom bracket out for Shimano XT (Hollowtech), since finding replacement chainrings is somewhat hard. I did find a replacements from www.jensonUSA.com will purchase and replace the chainrings. Keep the crank as a spare! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Howarth
a Weekend Warrior
from Wirral, UK
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Marin Trail, Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with my Cannondale Jekyll | | Strengths: | Hard-wearing, takes it all, not too heavy with no flex | | Weaknesses: | None apparent | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore & LX | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll:Manitou Black fork,Magura Julie brakes,Easton cockpit,SDG Bel-Air saddle. | | Bottom Line: | They do everything I need them to, including drop-offs and jumps (not big, but 3ft is regular). Scuffed a bit, but whose aren't. For the money new, they're not bad, but to compare them with the likes of Race Face is unfair...I'll need to break these to replace them, but I don't think that'll happen soon... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sky
a Cross Country Rider
from Aiea, HI
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | They worked for the test ride. | | Weaknesses: | Creak, Heavy, Doesnt shift well at all. Teeth dont hold up. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Deore LX, FMF | | Bike Setup: | '04 Specialized Hardrock Pro Disk - SS Conversion | | Bottom Line: | I wouldnt pay for these but they came on my bike. I converted my bike to SS so I got rid of the triple and put on a FMF single crankset. SOOO much better now! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex D
a
from Easton, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Jacobsburg St Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | It looks pretty nice. It wasn't overly expensive. | | Weaknesses: | This is the worst crank I've ever used. I really can't believe how bad it is: I'm not a huge guy (6', 170), and when put even half my strenth into these cranks they flex so badly my chain grinds against the de-ro. They're also very short, and flaired out in a manner which makes each and every step you take with them less efficient.
I'll never buy another Truvative product. It's just trash--it's not ok for the gentle rider, it's not ok for the weekend warrior: it's just not good enough to ride with. Spend a few extra bucks and don't kick yourself later like I am. | | Similar Products Used: | Ninja (awesome rigidity, very heavy)
Shimano LX & XT & XTR | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000 Alu, XT except for this weak, garbage crank, and brakes, which I'm also too poor to replace (Suntour! Wow, they so... don't stop very well at all..) | | Bottom Line: | DO NOT BUY THIS.
Spend a little more: it's WELL worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
trevor
a Cross Country Rider
from Tillsonburg, Ontario, CANADA-EH!!!
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Fanshawe Lake loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | strong,stiff | | Weaknesses: | loose bolts | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | '04 GT avalanch 0.5 with a few upgrades | | Bottom Line: | these arms are great,the rings are good, its quiet. I weigh 220 and am 6'0" tall,ride cross country,and like to push on my cranks. these arms have lasted really well. The BB howeverwas a piece of crap!! I thought the truvativ BB in my bike would be sealed alot better than it was.One year of riding and it was pooched(sealex BB).Pacific cycle won't fix it so my LBS made me pay the difference of an up-grade. So I got a GIGA PIPE Team issue. It seems to be OK but I still put an XT in my new build. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester, NY USA
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Moose River, Adirondacks | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Nashbar | | Strengths: | I bought this crank because it was not expensive and I needed to replace the old crank on my 1991 GT Tequesta, which isn't my main ride, but still is a nice bike. It works great in the 24 speed confriguration. It's strong; I mounted a Salsa bashguard on it and bash it into stuff because the bottom bracket is so low on the old GT's. My buddy who weighs about 220 lbs caught some mad air (alright, it was probably about 2 1/2 feet) and the crank survived just fine. Did I mention this crankset cost 40.00 on sale? The Salsa bashguard cost $29.99... maybe just keep buying cheap cranks instead? ;-) | | Weaknesses: | None yet. It still works fine. Yeah, I had to torque it back to around 420 inch/pounds after 6 months, but you have to do that with all cranks, especially the square tapered ones or you'll ruin them. Torque wrenches are a good tool to invest in. I have to do the same with my old Shimano LX as well. By the way, you have to torque your headsets to around 100 inch/pounds once a year or so as well ;-) If you want cranks that you can forget to maintain, get some ISIS or Octolink...but it will cost you, and you'll have to get the ISIS or correct Octolink bottom bracket, and sometimes the LX Octolink and the XT Octolink and the XTR Octolink aren't the same, then they switched to Saint, and the headache begins when the drivetrain in a square taper 113mm isn't the same as the 113 mm you just installed... then my friends crank kept coming loose, and his was an ISIS, but he's an idiot and he installed it, so... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, XT Octolink, old square taper Suntour about 15 years ago... | | Bike Setup: | 1991 GT Tequesta with a 1999 Rockshock XC Hydracoil, 24 speed Shimano Deore derailers, SRAM 48 chain, XT rear cassette and XT shifters (yeah!) v-brakes (booooo!) | | Bottom Line: | I'd like to see you do better for the money! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andy
a Racer
from uk
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | wieght, strength, costs, brand! | | Weaknesses: | paint fades due to the rubbing from trousers when riding | | Similar Products Used: | shimano xtr, new for other bike, also the holzfeller and blaze cranks also from truvativ | | Bike Setup: | fox talas forx, sun sl1's with hope bulb hubs, fiveD cranks, azonic frame, FSA orbit headset, XTR 9 speed, kona stem, tioga handle bars, hope mono m4 4 piston (205mm front and 165mm back) | | Bottom Line: | some of the best cranks around for the price you pay for them! took a bash side hopping a 6ft wall to bend them and they are impossible to round, ive never rounded them so... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trev
a Cross Country Rider
from Red Rock Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came stock | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | These cranks are crap. They come loose, round out the mounting surface against the bottom bracket, and they are shot. We run a fleet of 25 bikes and we had to replace at least half of the cranks. Thank goodness for warranty! | | Bottom Line: | Never buy these cranks!!! They will be a waste of money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fonzy
a Cross Country Rider
from Zurich
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | every trail that's steep | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | came with bike, good crank for WHAT IT IS INTENDED TO | | Weaknesses: | after reading some of the reviews I thought that these cranks are going to crap out on me within the first ride, but instead they have held up very well. | | Bike Setup: | stock Kona FireMountain special edition model (same components as Kona blast, but no disc mounts on the frame) | | Bottom Line: | These cranks came stock with my Kona. I'm using the bike for Cross Country, usually about 3 x ~ 15 miles/week on my favourite trails, mostly steep stuff, and I'm 6" 240 lbs and pedal pretty hard.
These cranks are OK. I won't replace them unless they break.
All those folks who flame these cranks - take a look at truvativ.com. These cranks are not intended for racing, freeride, downhill, 20ft. drops or similar stuff.
I could as well flame a Downhill or Freeride bike because I'm using it for Cross Country and complain that it's too heavy, slow and not a good climber. You get the point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vitaly K.
a Weekend Warrior
from Haifa Israel
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | israel | | Strengths: | ? | | Weaknesses: | the left arm screw was gone, the right arm was broken, too week crank, i was riding in the desert it just coudnt stand it. if you are heavy person this product is not for you | | Similar Products Used: | was changed to race face evolve xc i cant even compare | | Bottom Line: | it not very relible product so who buys it should be very careful | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Wheaton, IL
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | kickapoo | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | direct from cannondale | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Weak, flexy, creaks | | Similar Products Used: | fsa atb carbon team pro, truvativ husslefelt triple and rg | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale f600, deore/xt/lx drivetrain, NOW husslefelt cranks, ritchey post and bars, drive technologies pedals, headshock super fatty ultra dl | | Bottom Line: | These cranks are garbage, seriously odn't even consider buying them unlesss your just gonna use them on the road. I work at a bike shop i've seen these things suck it up a lot and they sucked it up on my bike a lot, started creaking pretty bad after a week or two, luckily c-dale warrantied them. at this pricepoint get shimano something. otherwise shell out the cash for the styols or husselfelts | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc-Antoine Mageau
a Weekend Warrior
from Port-Cartier
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | everywhere in Port-Cartier | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Domino Sports | | Strengths: | Truvativ label on it... | | Weaknesses: | the left arm screw keep coming loose even with Loctite on it (and the left arm eventually fall off); doing strange noise when pedaling. | | Similar Products Used: | SR Suntour cranks | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Norco Charger, Marzocchi EXR fork, Deore derailleurs, Hayes mechnical disc brakes... | | Bottom Line: | Don't be fooled by the Truvativ name on the crank: i've seen some no name cranks better than this one. They are even dangerous tou ride because the left arm fall off on the first rides. Don't even buy a bike with this crankset, or if you do, change it as soon as you buy it for something better, something like Shimanos or FSA. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a
from Dublin, CA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Jesnon USA | | Strengths: | inexpensive, looks good, quality was OK, shifts OK. | | Weaknesses: | Very heavy, steel chainrings, not ISIS, came loose alot. | | Similar Products Used: | Mostly Shimano, Race Face, Truvativ Firex, some real cheap cranks. | | Bike Setup: | Supergo Access XCL 18 inch black, Avid 185 mm meachanicals, mostly shimano. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy this crank unless you want a real cheap, heavy crank. I bought a Truvativ Firex SL to replace it and it shifts better and is about 250 grams lighter. If I wanted a heavy crank I would buy a Hussefelt or Holzfeller that are built better. Five chilis because it's inexpensive and two chilis for weight and performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dylan mc
a Downhiller
from ontario
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | urban | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | isis drive... | | Weaknesses: | it clicks, knocks, bent in a few rides, and the teeth are starting to grind down | | Similar Products Used: | hussefelt(exellent) | | Bike Setup: | 04 bigfoot with dj's hussefelt cranks and hookworms | | Bottom Line: | these are peices of $hit! the are the worst cranks i have ever ridden, i do not suggest this to any rider that can clear more than a curb! i would gie -5 chilli's if i could | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a
from NY
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike at bike shop | | Strengths: | Lasted as long as it did! | | Weaknesses: | Its a cheap crankset they put on low end bikes to make money when it breaks! The middle ring bent. Not worth fixing. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano lx | | Bottom Line: | If you get a bike for under a $1000 bucks they give you junk components. Stay away from bikes shops if you can. They rip you off, go online. I'd give no chilis if I could. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Wakefield
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | The hill behind the offices =) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Its a good chainset if you have no money, Its fairly good value for money if you don't plan to ride a lot or if you don't expect it to last, This crank usually comes with low-end mtb's like the Hardrock Pro (and my bike) | | Weaknesses: | The outer chain ring wears down in less than an hour of XC riding, crank arm bends under to much pressure, do what I did and spend out to get a nicer one, Invest people!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, and some other piece of metal | | Bike Setup: | Saracen - Dirt Trax, with Shimano LX Crankset, SR Suntour Suspension, Tioga Handlebar, Shimano Deore deraileurs : I brought the Chainset with this bike | | Bottom Line: | Get this if your broke, starting to get into XC riding, I wouldn't advise anyone personally to get this, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt. Good ole dirt. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Ummmmmm.......... | | Weaknesses: | Let me not even start. | | Bottom Line: | Well I didn't even get a chance to ride the things hard at all. Like the rest of the reviews here. These things really suck bad............. Ummmm BAD!!!!! Rode them for maybe 100 miles and the top ring is bent and has two teeth broken off. Rode them easy as hell and the damn thing bent and broke. Do I really have to give them even 1 chili? They aren't even worthy of it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Crofton, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Tzouhalem | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came stock | | Strengths: | consistant shifting, pretty strong rings and looks good | | Weaknesses: | crank arm comes loose | | Bike Setup: | kona blast with marzocchi mx comp '04s | | Bottom Line: | you get what you pay for with this crankset. after about 2 years of riding the left crankarm kept coming loose and had to be tightned after every ride and eventually during rides, so i replaced the one crankarm and it has been fine ever since. overall its a decent crankset for the money but it probably wont last you too long. its suitable for a cross country rider on a tight budget. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | A Line | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | forthe whole bike | | Strengths: | uhh, maybe the looks.....na. They can double as a hammer after you strip the hell outa them | | Weaknesses: | Too many to list. I bought a brand new Giant ACid for 1200$ and the sales guy told me that they would hold up. WRONG. the guy was like 100lbs and prolly never rode on a bike in his life. I took the bloody thing for a 2km ride into town, after 1 km the crankarm came loose and i had to tighten it. I rode it in, then came right back, guess what.. it came loose again. Luckely i took the bike back into the shop and traded it in for a sweet ass bmx that has given me no problems.My brother has an old landgear with some noname Suntour cranks on it that gave him no problems for like 4 years. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore cranks.. piece of sh*t too. | | Bike Setup: | PSYLOs, Avid mechs, titec stem and handlebars i forget the rims and wtb 2.6 tires. | | Bottom Line: | if you want crap, buy em. they may work if you are 100lbs(like the salesman) and ride like a granney on the sidewalks. PS. For your personal safety, steer clear of these cranks, if your friend offers to let you ride his bike with these five d's on it.. dont accept, you may end up paying for the repairs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Dowding
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | penshurst | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | dream cycles | | Strengths: | bash and chain ring are alright | | Weaknesses: | cheap crap, i went through and started rounding the cranks with the first thing i did on em | | Similar Products Used: | fsa power pros, shimano etc. | | Bike Setup: | dmr trailstar, dirt jumper 3's mavic 521's fsa headset pair of M4's | | Bottom Line: | their crap, save the extra money and buy either a cheap 3 piece crankset, or buy the truvativ isis ones if ur strapped for cash | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hodaka Factory
a
from Parts Unknown
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bike Setup: | GSR Hooligan, Psylo Race | | Bottom Line: | These cranks are OK. I keep reading bad things about them and decided to replace them as soon as they crap out like everyone in the below reviews say that they will.
But you know, what? These have been good cranks. What can I say. I keep waiting for them to fail in some way that has been mentioned in prior reviews, but nothing has happened yet.
These originally came stock on my XC dual susp bike. Rode that for 3 months no problems. Then I put these cranks on my dirt jumper/urban hardtail and they been ok too. Heck.
They are slightly flexy. But it's no biggy given my lighter 150 lbs weight.
Oh, I will keep riding them til they break, which doesn't seem like anytime. I keep jonzing to pick up some Raceface Prodigy DH cranks to replace these, but they keep working fine so I can't fix what ain't broken.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike jones
a
from UK
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | way too much flex, when i pedal hard the chain scrapes on the front derailleur cage. | | Bike Setup: | Haro extreme X1, Manitou black elites,shimano deore discs. | | Bottom Line: | These cranks do the job, but they flex too much, making an annoying grinding noise when i pedal hard. I wouldnt buy these cranks and i reckon ill upgrade to Deore lx pretty soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allan
a Weekend Warrior
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any thing single track | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Looks cool | | Weaknesses: | Bent middle ring on short paved hill. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX - thrashed it and it never failed me. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Haro Extreme X-1 - DJ3 forks - X-fusion shock - QMD mechanical disc brakes - Titec seat, bars and stem. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a heavy rider so I guess it should be expected that a cheap component will fail eventually. Replaced with Shimano middle ring. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacob O'Neall
a Downhiller
from Eubank,KY, USA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any that's rough & technical | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point.com | | Strengths: | reliable, fairly stiff & strong, looks good, shifts fine | | Weaknesses: | square taper interface, steel chainrings | | Similar Products Used: | many, Truvativ Firex, Shimano cheapies, Bontrager, Suntour, Cyclone | | Bike Setup: | see previous review | | Bottom Line: | After 6 months, I still like the cranks, although after time they have started to creak, and sometimes loosen. I have been satisfied with these for the time I've owned them. If you are a intermediet rider, or a beginner, these will serve you well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland, oh, USA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | streets | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came on my Schwinn Mesa GSX | | Strengths: | definitely a good entry level crank. i'm about 275lbs and they DON'T make noise. they flex, but you would, too. I'm looking to go ISIS in the spring for safety's sake. | | Weaknesses: | the flex. I have an equally massive friend who switched from decent bontrager cranks to a new LX set and he's bugging me to follow along. | | Bike Setup: | Mesa GSX, SRAM 9.0 calipers/Avid SD7 levers/Easton risers/oury grips/raceface stem/MARZOCCHI MX COMP w/ETA fork | | Bottom Line: | I understand that i'm about double what schwinn ever intended to pedal one of these things, and i applaud the cranks for holding up. I got the bike new from REI, and it wasn't set up properly. $25 to the nice man who actually knows what he's doing at Parma Cycle, and i haven't had a problem since. No noise, no nothing. The flex is, i'm sure, much more a problem with the square BB and not the arms, and i even have the older model. if you ride around like some 14 year old kid that's into jumping off of skyscrapers and crap, well, these aren't for you. if you're more like me, treating your equipment right, and too busy uprgading forks to buy another set, then ride on. they come in ISIS now, so most of the problems here should be gone, anyway. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skipshot
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland, CA
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint.com | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | 1. Crank arms come loose on every ride
2. They creak
3. Poor shifting
4. Lots of flex | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT taper | | Bike Setup: | Lugged steel Bianchi, Marzocchi, Avid disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy them. Every negative review about them is accurate in my experience. They shift like crap, creak, and come loose. I can't think of anything else bad that can happen to cranks that hasn't happened with these. All this with a new chain and rear derailleur, too. And thanks to poor shifting, chain suck has damaged my chainstay. I never had these problems with the Shimano XT in seven years. A good product allows you to forget it is there and concentrate on riding, but this one distracts my focus from the trail.
I got them only on a recomendation from a more experienced friend, and he based it on the brand name. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, ON, CANADA!!
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | stock 2003 norco bigfoot | | Strengths: | Looks... thats about it
and maybe the price, but u get wut u pay for | | Weaknesses: | EVERYTHING
-weak crank arms
-slow shifting
-square taper
-weak crank arms | | Similar Products Used: | some cheap CCM crank, TruVativ hussefelt w/bashguard, some shimano noname | | Bike Setup: | 2003 norco bigfoot (mostly stock) | | Bottom Line: | these cranks are SH!T, buy some race face or something but not these..
i bought my bike last week and went for a trail ride wit my buddy and half way down the trail the left arm bolt was loosening and the finally fell off 5 mins later
stripped the cheap crank arm
DONT BUY THESE CRANKS!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Downhiller
from Philly
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Bolts losen, CREAK somthing crazy. | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Mesa GSX | | Bottom Line: | From the start The bolts came loose every ride even after taking it to the shop numerous times it continued to happen. Then there is that CREAK. I had the left crank are replaced with a new Shimano BB because it somehow stripped the taper. After it was replaced less than 2 mo later the same thing happened. I would not recomend these cranks to anyone EVER. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron McGraw
a Cross Country Rider
from Oil City PA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Sandy Creek Trail, Venango County, PA | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar I think...whatever I said below | | Strengths: | Great paperweight | | Weaknesses: | Well, evidently it has some structural flaws....see below | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, Exage, Sugino, SR, Specialized... | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose aluminum FS with Kore, Titec, Deore XT, Deore, Formula and Weinmann goodies | | Bottom Line: | This is an update...first of all, I don't ride this particular bike much...I'm more into hardtailing it. But it so happens that I sheared off the non-drive side crank arm, bashed my scrotal sack on the top tube and reduced my left one to a gob of mush. Later, it swelled to the size of a Chambersburg peach. Keep what happened to my anatomy in mind when you consider this crank. I've adjusted my rating to show my disdain for Truvativ. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Martin
a Downhiller
from Canada
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | On the bike | | Strengths: | Strong, good looking, not much maintenance. Good crank. | | Weaknesses: | If you dont take care of it it will develop a craking. | | Bottom Line: | Good crank, takes a lot of abuse. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jess Diggity Dawg
a Downhiller
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Hot & Spicey | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Kenmore Cycles | | Strengths: | Cheap, lightish | | Weaknesses: | weak, i bent them after less then a month of riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Forearm 2 | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Giant ACid, 02 Psylo Sl's, Dice E.F.D. wheels, armour Hydro disc's, Azonic bar and stem | | Bottom Line: | alright cranks, but eh i'd never buy them, they came one my bike so i thought that i might just used them and now i'm shopping around for a set of new stronger cranks.
depending on the riding jumping no, xc maybe | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacob O'Neall
a Downhiller
from Eubank,Kentucky, USA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any thats rough and technical | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | cheap, stiff, great looks, it's Truvativ | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | 2 sets of Truvativ Firex(one is Isis, one is square taper) cyclone cranks, SR, shimano | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Mongoose Pro Valient, 2002 Rockshox Psylo, WTB Motoraptor 2.4, WTB speed xc hubs/Sun mammoth rims, Formula Activa Mechanical disks | | Bottom Line: | This is a preliminary review, I'll also post one after I've had some time on the cranks, but so far, not one problem. They are heavy, but to lose some of that weight, just replace the rings with aluminum ones.(mainly the big ring as replacing it would save the most weight) I'm not going to worry about it for now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shane
a Downhiller
from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath | | Strengths: | decent strength for an entry level crank
light | | Weaknesses: | not strong enough rings | | Similar Products Used: | truvativ hussefelt | | Bike Setup: | stock 2002 devinci hucker | | Bottom Line: | it is a decent crank, i havent had a single problem with it and im a fairly aggressive rider. and just a comment to all those people who gave this crank a crappy review. you all seam to be freeriders and urban riders. my question for you is, "Why would you have a cross country crank on your fr bike??" i have one because im on a tight budget and it came stock on my bike, but i hear guys saying they got it and then had to replace it weeks later. WHY NOT JUST SPEND THE MONEY THE FIRST TIME INSTEAD OF BUYING 2 CRANKS IN A MONTH!!! dont let the reviews fool you, this is a great crank for the budget biker. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | work, 3 rings | | Weaknesses: | not very strong, after 2 months I had to replace the left afm | | Similar Products Used: | low end crap | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Norco Bigfoot | | Bottom Line: | good for XC not for freeride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scooby_snack
a Downhiller
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban riding | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They are black color! | | Weaknesses: | Creak-& just seem not as stiff on the BB | | Similar Products Used: | Marin cold forged cranks--Race Face lp---Azonic 454 w/Steel BB....Kooka 180mm | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Haro Extreme X.1..2001 Manitiou X-VERT dc---Avid disks | | Bottom Line: | I am taking them off because they creaked + wouldn't stay real tight...crappy crank! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron McGraw
a Weekend Warrior
from Oil City, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Venango County, Sugar Creek trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Good ol' nashbar | | Strengths: | Tough-assed finish. Laterally stiff. | | Weaknesses: | Creak, creak. creak. Heavy to boot. Had a hell of a time fitting it to my cheapo-Mongoose FS 150. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Sun of a Strong Arm, all sorts of Shimano cranks through the ages, SR and Sugino cranks....gee, remember those? | | Bike Setup: | Shimano CO50 wide-range rear with REVO shift. Shimano derore front derailleur Wang-Ho or similar generic brakes. Sovos hubs, Falcon freewheel. KKT Z chain. Get this, a Simano 105 BB (nothing else would fit). Wellgo clipless peddles. | | Bottom Line: | Hey, it works. It looks okay. my "guest bike" is so damn heavy who would notice? An entry level weekender or youth on a bugdet would appreciate this crank. Pales in comparisson to my Specialized crank. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Bedford, MI
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | urban street bashing | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | cheap, stiff, fat looking | | Weaknesses: | steel chainrings, poor installation instructions | | Similar Products Used: | old square taper shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | Alu hardtail, Mavic 321 LX hubs, Weyless stem seat post, Nashbar V brakes, XT front, rear rapid fire, UN52 BB, Primo pedal (awsome), Nashbar Gel Seat | | Bottom Line: | These cranks are a great deal if you put them on right. Duh! Of course ISIS splined cranks are the best if you have the scratch, BUT ANY square taper crank will creak and moan if you don't use a torque wrench and ride them light for the first couple of hours. Then take them off, Clean the BB and inside of the taper, put them back on to spec (30 ilbs) and you will be good to go. NO 5 foot drop offs for you 200lb potato sacks like me. Keep it light on the feet and you will be happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Cylinder
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Bone | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Wheels | | Strengths: | Strong, good-looking, keeps the chain on no matter what even on jumps. | | Weaknesses: | None encountered so far. | | Bike Setup: | Haro Escape 8.2 (Red/Black 19.5”): Manitou SIX Comp (100mm); Avid disc brakes (f&r); Shimano LX rear derailleur; Shimano Alivio shifters and front derailleur (8-speed); ProMax brake levers; TruVativ 5D Cranks; SRAM 5.0 cassette (8-speed 11-32H); Shimano IG51 Chain (8-speed); Alex DM18 Doublewall rims (32H); Intense 2.25" CC tires; Haro disc hubs, handlebar, stem, and seatpost; WTB Inner Peace ST headset and Speed V Comp saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I like it so far. I haven't used it for too long, but I have ridden hard off road with it, climbs well and keeps the chain on in rough terrain and jumps. I like it.
5 chillis for value but only 4 for overall because I wish it were splined like its big bros. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | -Look good
-cheap
-If you arnt a suicidal downhill racer, they do hold up pretty well | | Weaknesses: | -Weak
-Creak
-crap | | Similar Products Used: | Couple of shimano cranks. | | Bike Setup: | Standard Iron Horse Marauder | | Bottom Line: | couple of weeks riding and the pedal started to get rounded from the taper coming from the crank. Took the allen bolt out and put a screw and nut and tightend it like all buggery. few days later its creaking like buggery again, and the pedals starting to woble again. Warrenty dosnt work because "I caused the problem when I didnt have it checked the day before the problem started".
These things are utter crap, and even though you should be shot just for THINKING about buying them, if you get them with your bike and you wont be going nuts with them, they do hold up kinda good. As long as you just ride around normally, and dont do any jumps.
Oh, and I busted a tooth of the ring when I hit a wet dead peice of wood. Geez, this things like titanium. (we were all looking around for rocks when we saw it -resting- in a log which was as strong as a sheet of paper) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin Hampton
a Cross Country Rider
from Yucaipa
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | hmmmmm are there any???? nope cant think of any | | Weaknesses: | hmmm all of them massive arms stiffer than last year then I really dont want to see last year | | Similar Products Used: | race face prodigy xt | | Bike Setup: | fxt rage psylo sl rs deluxe rearavid disk r/f prodigy cranks | | Bottom Line: | These suck. There are no strengs they creak and moan and complian the whole time. When i finally changed them out the bb was almost rounded off. loose no stiffness only good thing is they came on bike so i had time to save up and get a good st of cranks. If these came on your bike then plan on changing them soon cause they will take out. Also make sure you get a new bb cause they will destrot the old one very fast | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Downhiller
from Fredericton, N.B., Canada
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | UNB | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Radical edge | | Strengths: | No flex, plenty strong for XC racing and freeride abuse holds up to constant 5 foot drops to flat | | Weaknesses: | NO problems encountered | | Similar Products Used: | crappy shimano | | Bike Setup: | 02 DeVinci cactus Z1 wedge blackspire bashgaurd | | Bottom Line: | Works great no problems definately get some | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kung Fu
a Weekend Warrior
from Moscow, ID, USA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Functional in the short run. | | Weaknesses: | All three chain rings bent already. Constantly creaks. Overall life time of this crank is very short, especially after bending a chain ring by just riding down the street. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Hard tail | | Bottom Line: | Beware. If your capable of putting considerable force onto a crank (190 lbs+), then this is not the one for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hendrik
a Downhiller
from Stelenbosch, South Africa
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything off-road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Mason's | | Strengths: | They look cool and have round edges so they dont cut open your ankles | | Weaknesses: | They keep loosening up for no reason and creaks all the time. The bike shops just make the bolt nice and tight and say everything is fine. Strips your BB after a while. | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ firex(same problem, but not as bad), raceface prodigy | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Schwinn Mesa with Junior T shocks | | Bottom Line: | This is problaby a good crankset for normal cross country riders, but they will start creaking after your first bunny-hop. I must say, I abuse mine a bit but rather go for something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin
a
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kanata Lakes for now. ( i havent been to many trails) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Sport Check | | Strengths: | Looks like its better quality, but after a couple of rides, realized they SUCK | | Weaknesses: | Very WEAK. After one good ride, they quickly loosen up for no reason. i mean, the generic BB on my bike is stronger than the name brand crank arm. when i took the crank arm off and looked inside, all i saw was that it was totally stripped! i really dont know why i am not replacing them with a better ISIS setup... (either because i have almost NO money, or because i just want to take advantage of the warranty....) | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ Firex ISIS, Truvativ Hussfelt, generic 5 year old no-name on a CCM | | Bike Setup: | Iron Horse Marauder w/ Deore, Sun rims, Manitou Magnum (personally i think magnums suck, so will replace 'em with Marzocchi later) | | Bottom Line: | DONT BUY THESE CRANKS!
They reeeeaaallly suck-ass! If they come stock on your bike, replace them with better ones (ie. RaceFace) before you even leave the store.
i give it 1 flamin turd only because you cant put ZERO | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Bogolin
a Cross Country Rider
from Overland Park, Kansas, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Clinton Lake - Lawrence, Kansas | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with Schwinn Mesa GSX | | Strengths: | Only redeeming quality is that it looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | WEAK! WEAK! WEAK! A friend and I both bought these bikes in the spring (about 6 months ago). He replaced his about a month ago because it loosened on every ride and the BB was almost completely rounded out. I am having to replace mine now for similar reasons. I have also had to replace the outer chainring twice because it gets bent every time it comes into contact with a log. The last straw was yesterday when the middle (32 teeth) chainring pretty much bent in half while I was shifting to the 22 while climbing. Absolutely unbelieveable! | | Similar Products Used: | Entry Level Shimano on old Gary Fisher. Never had an issue and rode it a lot harder than it was meant to be ridden. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly Deore (though they skimped on the crankset) with Time ATACs - which are truly awesome. | | Bottom Line: | I'm buying a Shimano LX crank and hitting the trails ASAP... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Marietta, GA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Everything. Incredible value, Sweet looks, works great, always keeps the chain on. Stiff as any other crank out there! Incredible deal. GEt this Crank! | | Weaknesses: | its only weakness is that it loses teeth easy, but it doesnt matter cause it still works perfect. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Cranksets | | Bike Setup: | XT r. derailer, STX-RC f. derailer, Manitou Xvert Fork, DMN r. shock, shimano chain. Avid Arch rival brakes | | Bottom Line: | THe bottom line is this crank is the best value ive seen in a very long time. Get it or your missing out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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