Anything besides XX? Looking -External BB 2x9 setup - 40-27 crankset

The 120mm/80mm BCD on the XX is proprietary too, it just doesn't look as funky as the FSA. The significant difference in my eyes is just that SRAM stuff is likely to be around longer. There is no new standard for 2x9s yet so everything is going to be proprietary (unless you jump back to the old 94mm BCD 5 arm cranks). Personally I would go with the Middleburn Duo, but i'm not so stuck on external BB's

There is also a rumor about Middleburn going external, but I have noe idea when.

Rotor 3D is external and has 110/74 bdc.
There are plenty of rings/mfgrs to choose from.
I have one coming.
I looked at the XX...but it's not that light and I hate the proprietary bolt pattern and good luck finding different rings.

but the whole point of buying XX or XTR is to have their chainrings.

and if you really want to switch to something else I'm sure Mathias can make some rings for you.

Why not the SLX dual crankset and then just buy the rings of your chosing? :???: It's a dual specific design using a normal 4 bolt pattern and there are loads of rings available for it.

I'd say get the Rotor 3d or agilis
http://www.rotorbikeusa.com/3d_mtb_cranks.html
http://www.rotorbikeusa.com/agilis_MTB_cranks.html

LyNx said:

Why not the SLX dual crankset and then just buy the rings of your chosing? :???: It's a dual specific design using a normal 4 bolt pattern and there are loads of rings available for it.

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its not actually dual specific (not that that matters anyway) and it is built up sturdier and heavier with steel pedal inserts, which isn't exactly a relevant advantage for a cheap XX alternative or light XC setups in general. Additionally some of the common chainring sizes for doubles just aren't made in 64/104mm BCD, such as a 27 or 28t "granny"

Yes there are, Specialties TA and Blackspire makes them

COLINx86 said:

Yes they are, Specialties TA and Blackspire makes them

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Cool. I stand corrected