Mountain Biking - Option Paralysis - Mid-priced cranks...

Option paralysis is the state of doing nothing when you need to do something because one is faced with too many choices.

I need (OK want) a new set of cranks for my race MTB. Currently has old XTR. It will cost only slightly less for good chainrings as it will for new cranks. So the plan is new cranks for the race bike and the old XTRs with cheapo rings go on the commuter.

Anyway, it looks like this...

LX - about $150
XT - about $250
Truvativ - about $200
Bontrager - about $200
Race Face Deus - about $200

The LX is a bit heavier and I am having some trouble putting LX on a full XT/XTR bike. Although I have no doubts as to the quality. The TruVativ and Bontrager look to be the exact same unit. The Race Face is nice, but I have heard some QC issues on this unit. I am not really interested in carbon fiber.

It would be cool to get away from Shimano and they are personally annoying to me, but that's not huge. And I would like to be under 900 grams with BB, but that's negotiable.

Anybody have any thoughts, ideas, experience here. Am I missing any other brands. Also and good e-stores would be appreciated.

Thanks guys,

-Z

Don't mean to add to your choices but, what about FSA? Afterburner megaexo looks like it would be up your alley. Don't know about price though.

I have the 05 XT's and they seem to be holding up nicely. More 'XC burly' than lightweight though, in my opinion. Right up my alley and light enough for me

Nope, I appreciate the other options.

The FSA cranks looks really nice, but I couldn't find the mega-exo version, only the ISIS, which is fine with me. I think that is the leader so far and the price is right.

The problem with the whole Performance/Supergo/Nashbar thing is that my awareness of new products has really shrunk.

Any other input / experience is appreciated.

-Z

I'm currently running the Dues with outboard bearings, working great so far. Truvativ, also a great choice.

Here are the V-Drive (http://www.bikesmart.com/index.cfm?menu=browse&cid=CRK&ssid=PAOHADOHNAPHEGCC&ap=179.99&StartRow=1) MegaExo cranks. I think I have seen them at 149 someplace.

unsususpened -

Thank you so much for the tip. I appreciate the link.

Cyber-Monday. Here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody have weigh on those things? I feel like such a loser asking that question.

-Z

Do you want the real weight or the "claimed" weight? :)

Claimed weight is 870 grams. Real weight is 976 grams. Anytime you are curious about a weight go to weight weenies. (http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings.php) They have thousands of weights listed.

Now as for your crankset choices. In my opinion (and we all know what they say about opinions) I think that in the $200 - $300 price range Shimano XT with integrated bottom bracket is the best crankset for the money. It isn't extremely heavy but it is durable and reliable. Now if you want to get into spending some serious money there are better options out there. But without going crazy I think the XT is the best choice. Oh, and this is coming from someone that avoids Shimano whenever possible.

Got it. The afterburner crank is probably more in-line with XT level. Whereas the regular V-drive is more LX level.

LowCel - I agree with your XT assesment and appreciate the avoid Shimano when possible. Sometime there stuff is just too good.

I still can't find the afterburner online though.

-Z

I have the new 580 series LX crank + bb combo, works fine, only downside (and apply this to all Shimano cranks LX up) is that the rings are very soft. Mine are just about finished after ONE season, noticable wear and a missing tooth on the middle ring, I'm hoping to get another season out of them, but wouldn't be surprised if the middle won't hold a new chain when torqued. XT isn't worth the extra money, the arms are marginally stiffer, but unless your last name is Ullrich I doubt you'll notice, just about all the weight difference is in the aluminum, vs steel, granny and chainring bolts (the rest is in the lighter steel, vs alm, spindle).

With that in mind I plan on replacing them down the road with RF Deus. Why? Weight is very low for the price, rings are quality, and most importantly, they look wicked! Sure they had some QC issues when they first came out, sure the bearings are inferior to Shimano (you can regrease them, and they are interchangable with Shimano), sure some hacks stripped the aluminum mounting bolt (most shops now mount them with a steel bolt, then replace with alm one).

FSA cranks look nice on paper, but every new model I've seen weighed are way over the claimed weight.

Have the 05 XT Hollowtech II's and love them. Picked them up for a great price. If you know how to shop you should be able to find them for less than the $200 you were showing. If you can live with it JensonUSA's got the 04 FC-M752 XT crank w/oBB for $89. That's a little over a hundred with BB.

The FSA V-drives make very nice freeride cranks also, by the way...