I know people have used frames,wheels, saddleso and bars. But haven't seen anyone post about the cheaper cranksets. Anyone tried them yet?
Chinese carbon crankset
Cerberus75
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3,335 Posts
Back from the dead!
I'm looking at a set of these for a new build.
Pros:
SRAM Direct Mount Compatible (can use other rings I have in the garage) EDIT just heard back from the USA reseller of these...no more SRAM mounts, the producer decided to go with a proprietary mount. Boooo
Shimano 24mm spindle (works with other BB's I have in the garage)
Relatively lightweight for DM style MTB crank: 480g +-20g
Reasonably inexpensive.
2-year warranty from USA partners
Cons:
It's typical Chinese "you get what you pay for" type stuff.
What I'm curious about:
Construction style seems to be an open back, non-hollow construction.
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Does anyone have any examples of other more name brand manufacturers using this "open back" solid carbon construction?
I'm looking at a set of these for a new build.
Pros:
SRAM Direct Mount Compatible (can use other rings I have in the garage) EDIT just heard back from the USA reseller of these...no more SRAM mounts, the producer decided to go with a proprietary mount. Boooo
Shimano 24mm spindle (works with other BB's I have in the garage)
Relatively lightweight for DM style MTB crank: 480g +-20g
Reasonably inexpensive.
2-year warranty from USA partners
Cons:
It's typical Chinese "you get what you pay for" type stuff.
What I'm curious about:
Construction style seems to be an open back, non-hollow construction.
Does anyone have any examples of other more name brand manufacturers using this "open back" solid carbon construction?
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50,076 Posts
I'll say this, the pedal-spindle insert seems to be a critical point with these cranks. Even Race Face has trouble doing this right and I've had these crack on their Next SL cranks that saw generally light use. I recently tore a similar part out of my Sram XX1 cranks, except, they have an internal metal skeleton that runs the length of the crank arm that the pedal spindle screws into. This is filled with foam on the inside. This structure IME is incredibly strong compared to the RF one and they took 4+ years of serious abuse DH riding and racing, enduro racing, and generally being bashed to hell, including lots of rock-strikes. The Next SLs are on my XC bike and on my Fatbike. My point is that it takes a little more to make a durable carbon crank IME and not everyone even at the full on "legit component maker" level has this figured out. This is definitely not a carbon Chinese product I'd buy. I will buy a variety of carbon rims, because I don't see big differences in production and function, but there seems to be a fairly big difference here IMO.
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1,790 Posts
Likewise, the carbon "clamp" interface on the non-drive side crank seems pretty sketchy, IMO. I understand carbon "clamps" are used in other application (like stems), but those are usually highly engineered components from respectable companies (and I'm still not chomping at the bit to ever run a carbon stem)...given the perceived lack of engineering in the arm design, I certainly wouldn't be the guinea pig on this component.
(disclaimer: show me an FEA that supports that arm design, or even the clamp design. Taking a design that might work in forged aluminum and repop'ing it in carbon does not give me much confidence...)
(disclaimer: show me an FEA that supports that arm design, or even the clamp design. Taking a design that might work in forged aluminum and repop'ing it in carbon does not give me much confidence...)
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176 Posts
Late to the party as usual, but my SIXC carbon cranks did the same thing but didn't "give completely out" - AND I'VE RIDDEN THEM FOR WHAT?! 5 years or so. I've ridden LOTS of miles with them like this, and on varied terrain dirt single-track, Palo Duro rocky sandiness, snow, sandy permafrost, paved paths, gravel grinds in the Flint Hills of KS...
I don't know if I'm more stupid, more lucky, or more cheap, but seeing this reminds me that I need to get a new crankset. My titanium frame that the SIXC are on is from China, as are all the components. I've had a Chi-carb 29er frame and 2 Chi-carb 29er wheelsets. I bought another frame late 2018, ordered all the parts from the same site, slapped my old chi-carb wheels on and I haven't looked back. I bought a RaceFace crankset for that bike though. I will post here if anything catastrophic happens with the new cranks.
I don't know if I'm more stupid, more lucky, or more cheap, but seeing this reminds me that I need to get a new crankset. My titanium frame that the SIXC are on is from China, as are all the components. I've had a Chi-carb 29er frame and 2 Chi-carb 29er wheelsets. I bought another frame late 2018, ordered all the parts from the same site, slapped my old chi-carb wheels on and I haven't looked back. I bought a RaceFace crankset for that bike though. I will post here if anything catastrophic happens with the new cranks.
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