What am I missing? XT cranks are less than 300 grams per crank arm.

 

And even if the whole thing was 515g, XTR is still lighter. I might try it if it was one of the reputable companies like Nextie or Light Bicycle and if the weight was competitive, but no-name carbon? Nope.

 

I remember reading about them when I was looking for a China made carbon road bike frame and found a few posts of cracking spiders (like this one)

http://forums.mtbr.com/weight-weenies/chinese-carbon-crankset-1012181.html

 

515g per arm is pretty obscene. Plenty of reasonable aluminum cranksets get close for the whole crankset plus 1x chainring.

I'm gonna guess Engrish is the problem.

For me, no thanks. Plenty of problems with high dollar carbon cranksets having problems with alu inserts loosening over time. I actually prefer aluminum cranks.

 

515g per arm is pretty obscene.

My good friend is a CFD specialist who rapid protoypes with carbon, and he says anything carbon that is stupid heavy was not made to take advantage of carbon's special properties. Those cranks are hack jobs in that context.

And yea and you and other mentioned there are plenty of alu/carbon name brands at reasonable prices to choose from.

 

https://goo.gl/eSwdJh

Claimed weight for these is around 460g. The shape isn't terribly sophisticated; could be worth rolling the dice for an XC rig at $100. I wouldn't say the same about any of the models with integrated screw tabs.

XX1 11-speed: 510g
XTR M9000 Race: 475-505g
Hollowgram SI: 440g
Next SL: 430g

XX1 and Hollowgram run about $200ish used, similar to XTR new. Next SL, I wouldn't buy without a warranty.

 

(...) XX1 and Hollowgram run about $200ish used, similar to XTR new. Next SL, I wouldn't buy without a warranty.

^This. Carbon cranks are not even taken into account for me. But a friend found some mint XO carbon cranks, taken from a new bike, even the chainring was mint, and the price was 150€ for the cranks, 32t NW SRAM chainring and BB. But after some google carbon cranks crack porn and taking into consideration the way and where we ride he opted to not buy them.

 

Also, a 3x or whatever weave like that is for looks only. Unidirectional layers is stronger and a far better way to make carbon components (how they make Next and xx1 cranks). They could have UD underneath the "cosmetic" layer, but just having that layer makes me suspicious of this...

 

Revisiting some of these numbers, Race Face really is off on their own planet. Next-whatever is lighter than I thought. Only the megabuck boutique stuff does any better.

https://goo.gl/FsZwK7

Here's a quick sheet of prices and weights. RF, SRAM, and Shimano are easier to find at a discount or as take-offs. At this moment for XC and trail use, the best values appear to be:

Next SL (because nothing else is in the ballpark)
X01 Eagle
X01
XTR M9000
GX Eagle

And the generic EBay thing, maybe. Used XX1 is interesting because it's common, durable, and cheap for the spec. Cannondale, also interesting but less common.

 

The finishing on those is absolutely pathetic, I wouldn't trust my testicles with those even if they paid me. And I'm a proponent of chinese direct to consumer stuff. Have a hong fu road frame and use light-bicycle mountain rims.

 

I have a set of these cheap cranks. I've been riding and racing them for about a year now. I weigh 155, 50yo, and race base class (CAT3) in the SE. I have put well over 1000 miles on them this year. Here's my take...

1 - I bought chain ring washers for the spider. I purchased these separately. I would not have even tested the cranks without them based on another thread where I saw the spider arms break at the bolt holes.

2 - The pedal inserts are not aligned correctly. I could tell immediately when I clipped in. After a couple of minutes this was not noticeable.. However, it proves the poor quality of the manufacturing process.

3 - The non-drive crank bolt will not stay tight. I even purchased a new wave washer for the non-drive side thinking that was the issue, but it didn't help. I've tried Loctite red and it still gets loose.

Overall, I can definitely tell the difference in weight over my stock cranks but I no longer trust them. Last race cost me 2 min having to stop to tighten the non-drive arm. I'm going to trash them and try to purchase a decent name brand version or go back to stock cranks.

BTW, this is the first cheap Chinese carbon item I have had an issue with. I have 2 sets of $17 carbon handle bars (flat and riser) I've been racing and riding for over 2 years now (over 7000 miles). I also have a carbon seat post that I've been riding for over a year. No issues with those whatsoever.

 

I am not surprised by your experience. I have seen these cranksets and have not went forward with them because I suspected low quality.

That said I own Asian carbon frames, rims, handlebars, seatposts, and saddles. I will not stop riding my Next SLs though.

The weight on these cranksets isn't exceptional, it's simply a looks thing IMO. That, and you've got the construction issues. I won't ride them.

I do believe there is an open mold carbon crankset in development though much like the Next SLs. It will be interesting to see how this pans out and who carries it.