Stoking the engine room, it’s simple to underestimate the significance of the perfect mountain bike cranks – and the higher they’re, the better they’re to overlook
Searching for some new cranks to shave weight, improve effectivity, or simply since you fancy it? We’ve tried and examined most cranksets out there in the marketplace, so if it’s on this checklist, you already know they’re the perfect mountain bike cranks yow will discover.
They’ll virtually definitely us a single entrance chainring, straight mounted to the drive-side arm. This negates the necessity for a slipshod and heavier entrance derailleur, cable and shifter, and with drivetrain advances stabilising the chain and growing gearing vary on the cassette, the advantages of this growth are intensive.
If the worth of cranks is making you consider changing your entire drivetrain (we really feel your ache), then try our information to the greatest mountain bike groupsets.
Shimano SLX M7100
Greatest axle/crank interface
Weight: 520g | Lengths: 165, 170, 175mm | Ranking: 10/10
Professionals: Wonderful hollow-forged crank arms and essentially the most user-friendly axle/crank interface in the marketplace. Simple to pressure bearings
Cons: Metal axle and the chainring is just not as clean and hard-wearing as SRAM
The SLX cranks really feel rock-solid, are confirmed bombproof and easily work. There’s no noticeable flex or lack of energy, and the entire system plugs on with out drama, to the purpose you merely don’t have to consider it. Shimano BBs are a minimum of as sturdy as any others and are available with out a heavy price ticket.
Learn our full check evaluate of the Shimano SLX M7100 crank
SRAM GX Eagle DUB Alloy
Greatest chainring design
Weight: 558g (no ring) | Lengths: 165, 170, 175mm | Ranking: 10/10
Professionals: Enticing design with broad crankarms. Refined chainring design runs easily within the mud and lasts effectively
Cons: Cast and machined design is just not as subtle because the Shimano hole solid tech
SRAM’s cranks have turn out to be noticeably stiffer because the soar in axle measurement from 24mm to thicker alloy DUB spindles, and this additional solidity is presumably one of many causes it now not affords a pricier hollow-forged top-tier alloy crank possibility. So, as an alternative of a tubular design, GX Eagle makes use of a solid alloy shaping that’s wider and flatter than most rivals, with bolstered webbing on the bottom of the crank.
Learn our full check evaluate of the SRAM GX Eagle DUB Alloy crank
Shimano XT M8100
Not meaningfully superior to SLX nevertheless it’s good to have the badge
Weight: 525g | Lengths: 165, 170, 175, 180mm | Ranking: 9/10
Professionals: Constructed robust. Simple to put in/take away.
Cons: Efficiency not vastly superior to SLX
What are you able to say concerning the Shimano XT M8100 crank? They’re a super-tough, confirmed product that’s been improved over generations, and have now caught as much as the truth that almost all trendy bikes and riders want 1x drivetrains. Shimano’s newest chainrings are as much as the job too, though nonetheless not as clean as SRAM’s and likewise require a particular software (TL-FC41) for swapping chainrings, which is an additional potential headache. Worth is sweet right here, however with SLX costing even much less with no distinction in efficiency that we will detect, we’d select Shimano’s cheaper product right here and save our pennies.
Learn our full check evaluate of the Shimano XT M8100 crank
SRAM X01 Eagle DUB Carbon
Lighter and stiffer and completely bombproof
Weight: 481g (inc. ring) | Lengths: 165, 170, 175mm | Ranking: 9/10
Professionals: Carbon building brings a weight saving. Crank boots defend from rock strikes.
Cons: It’s not an enormous weight saving for the additional funding.
For extra stiffness and weight saving, SRAM’s new aluminium axle is a hair below 29mm, a giant leap up from the older (metal) 24mm one and nearer to an outsized 30mm spindle. The brand new axle’s additional mm of area (over 30mm designs) sounds minimal, nevertheless it allowed engineers to higher seal the BB towards contamination and guarantee lifespan is a minimum of pretty much as good because the older GXP with its greater balls. The newest chainsets are suitable with all present body sizes with the right BB too.
Learn our full check evaluate of the SRAM X01 Eagle DUB Carbon
Cane Creek eeWings
Superior affect resistance, stiffness, sturdiness and… simply have a look at them
Weight: 404g | Lengths: 170, 175mm | Ranking: 8/10
Professionals: Worthy of any dream construct. Very mild. Stable below foot.
Cons: Want we are saying value?
Cane Creek eeWings not solely look lovely, they really feel ultra-firm and environment friendly below energy, plus the manufacturing high quality and end is first-class. Add to that the super-durable and ding-resistant titanium building and it makes for an amazing product. Even so, a great deal of riders doubtless wouldn’t inform a lot distinction from a prime alloy crank so the runner-up score here’s a reflection of the sky-high price ticket.
Learn our full check evaluate of the Cane Creek eeWings
E*13 XCX Race
The lightest carbon crank in the marketplace?
Weight: 346g | Lengths: 170, 172.5, 175mm | Ranking: 8/10
Professionals: Tremendous mild. Comparatively good worth.
Cons: Prohibit them to XC/down-country use.
The E*13 XCX Race crank is a distinct segment product that delivers on its key goal. We wouldn’t advocate it for bikes with way more than 120/130mm journey, and heavier riders will discover some softness.
The burden saving-to-stiffness ratio is harking back to carbon cranks from 10 years in the past, however this is likely to be simply what some riders are on the lookout for. Whereas £365 isn’t low cost, for the lightest carbon crank in the marketplace, it isn’t overly costly both.
Learn our full check evaluate of the E*13 XCX Race crank
Hope Evo
Hope’s second-generation mountain bike crank
Weight: 562g | Lengths: 165, 170, 175mm | Ranking: 8/10
Professionals: Stunning machining. Huge array of color choices.
Cons: Costly.
Hope’s newest cranks are round 40g lighter than earlier than, a lot stiff sufficient and the fitment is now a doddle. Being British-made makes the worth greater than double that of high quality alloy rivals from massive OE rivals, however end and performance is great, and you may’t get this rainbow of glitz colors anyplace else within the business – if that’s what you’re after.
Learn our full check evaluate of the Hope Evo crank
Race Face Subsequent R
Loads stiff sufficient, impressively low weight, not overly costly
Weight: 409g | Lengths: 170, 175mm | Ranking: 9/10
Professionals: Stiff and direct. Good value and weight.
Cons: No 165mm size.
Race Face Subsequent R crank is arguably the stiffest carbon crank examined. There’s a slightly extra optimistic and direct surge to energy supply than X01, though SRAM’s chainring is smoother to pedal. The Subsequent Rs additionally come over a contact snappier while you’re actually stomping down sprinting or leaning the bike laborious by deep berms and path kinks. It’s a way of solidity that interprets to a extra responsive and tighter really feel when using.
Learn our full check evaluate of Race Face Subsequent R crank
How we examined these cranks
Putting in check cranks on the identical bike allowed a direct comparability between every mannequin relating to ease of set up, in addition to stiffness and drivetrain smoothness. Cranks had been then eliminated and handed out to varied hard-riding buddies to clock up winter miles in grit and dirt. And, between us, we hit up a broad vary of terrain together with some critical jumps and lengthy descents.
Remaining comparability was backed up by continuous use and wider expertise of lots of the cranks right here from check bikes evaluated by the yr.
What to search for in the perfect mountain bike cranks
Crank supplies vary from conventional aluminium to lighter weight and dearer carbon fibre and, within the case of 1 product right here (with an eye-watering £1,000 price ticket), additionally welded titanium.
It’s doable to spend effectively below a 100 quid on a good set of cranks, proper as much as the aforementioned grand for Cane Creek’s, blinging eeWing numbers. In crude phrases, the extra you spend, the extra weight you save, however past this there must be extra subtle advantages corresponding to additional sturdiness and stiffness with pricier merchandise.
The 2 most important crank gamers are Shimano and SRAM; bolstered by the very fact these manufacturers provide full drivetrain packages that put their merchandise on many bikes as authentic gear. Race Face cranks additionally get loads of OEM motion, and E*13, Hope and Cane Creek function on some full builds too, however these manufacturers actually think about aftermarket upgrades, the place their shiny merchandise add additional bling issue.
Cranks must be a match and overlook product, so any points with loosening, creaking or materials failures are unacceptable in a market this mature. So, let’s dig in to what choices are on the market in your money, and what are the professionals and cons of the varied programs and supplies.
Leverage and crank size
Crank size refers back to the size of the crank arms. In motion, shorter arms spin in tighter circles and longer ones improve leverage for a extra up/down power switch.
A number of research argue shorter arms and a smoother cadence can really improve final energy, and it’s telling BMX racers and monitor cyclists – who dash hardest – now generally use 165mm for max pace.
We’re offered on the smoother energy switch of shorter cranks for elevated climbing traction too.
There’s additionally a component of motorcycle measurement, rider top and terrain to contemplate. Smaller frames and shorter riders usually use shorter cranks, the concept being that they’re to scale with the bike, and vice versa. As talked about above although, riders can change crank size relying on choice.
One other issue that may have an effect on crank size selection is clearance from the bottom, extra on which additional down this web page.
Chainrings
All cranks right here use single chainrings, which is our go-to arrange right here at MBR, and the business default for many present and new cranks and groupsets.
The lone chainring permits ditching the entrance mech and related weight, expense and faff.
Fashionable chainrings use an alternating thick/skinny tooth profile to enhance chain retention by meshing with chain hyperlinks. SRAM arguably has essentially the most subtle and efficient tooth profiles on its X-Sync II rings.
Backside bracket
Most cranks use both a 24mm or 30mm diameter axle. They don’t normally include a backside bracket, so you possibly can combine and match manufacturers.
SRAM’s newest DUB BB makes use of a singular axle diameter just below 29mm and requires an personal model unit or an adaptor to make use of with third events. A bigger axle is usually stiffer, however leaves much less room for greater bearings and seals.
Bottom of a crank arm
Materials
Cranks are normally comprised of one in every of three supplies; aluminium, carbon or titanium, with ascending value so as listed.
One of the best alloy cranks are solid to align the grain construction of the aluminium, slightly than machined, with some manufacturers additionally utilizing subtle solid hole arms to save lots of weight. Axle diameters differ from 24mm to 30mm, with varied professionals and cons to every.
Inexperienced crank boots on a crank arm
Crank boots
Carbon is extra brittle and simpler to wreck or crack than aluminium, so plastic protecting boots to defend crank suggestions towards strikes are a smart funding. They do, nonetheless, add additional grams again in, which reduces any potential weight financial savings.
Additionally, crank boots could make it tough to suit pedals with a stubby axle, as some gained’t tighten totally with out additional spacers.
Floor clearance
The three most important crank lengths are 165, 170 and 175mm. Conventional logic dictated longer cranks mated higher with longer legs, so bigger bike sizes typically used 175mm.
Nowadays, clearance is king, and 170mm is in style to extend the hole between the bottom and crank suggestions on the backside of the pedal revolution to cut back strikes on tough trails.
Bolts can creak if not maintained
Stiffness
Final stiffness ought to enhance energy supply and scale back flex to extend responsiveness driving the bike with toes by turns ands options. An excessive amount of stiffness isn’t actually a problem on full-suspension bikes, however a rock-solid crank on a hardtail may noticeably improve suggestions ands abuse on toes on tough terrain.
