Mountain Biking - XTR or Next Lps? What do you prefer? why?

greetings everyone, I have been considering getting the Next Lps for a while now, however I recently spoke with a knowledgeable man, who told me that the carbon tends to not hold up to impacts (even with the aluminum shell). He also said that the hollowtech made the XTRs so light that they were basically the same as the Lps. I was wondering if anyone has experience/knowledge to contribute on the matter. Thanks very much.

Toshi

The Next Lp's are actually a few grams lighter.

I think it's all a matter of cosmetics and what you prefer. There is no question as to the quality of Shimano XTR, and likewise for Race Face.

Personally, I like the option to choose my colors as opposed to a single anodized grey color.

The powder coating is vivid and jumps out at you, especially the yellow or red. The nice thing with RF is they change their color options as the market dictates. i.e. they had a SID blue option when that was the hot fork on the market!

L8R

I like raceface. Canadian :)...oh and I know the cranks can hold up to my abuse and weight where I tend to never trust shimano.

The Next is lighter if you go with the high zoot BB. Not an appreciable difference in weight...they're both light and stiff.

Save money and get the Next :)

If you're really into the weight thing: http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings.asp

I like RF.... I've never once had an issue with them! Shimano does make a pretty good product though. I have also seen the shimano xtr cranks come loose and keep coming loose no matter what you did to them...and that is with the splined bb, go figure. Well the guy with the xtr cranks upgraded to RF and hasn't looked back since. I know that isn't a known issue with the XTR stuff...just thought I'd let you know what I have seen.

I'd say as long as you aren't hucking your self off of 12 ft drops then go with RF. And if you are worried about a few grams of weight I assume you aren't. If you are doing some good size drops then go with the RF northshore or something like that.

:beer:

XTR

Unless you crash alot or smack your cranks up aginst rocks and such the Next cranks will last just as long.

Both are great cranks. Either way you can not go wrong.

Slainte:beer:

The new XTR is a copy of the old school Bullsey crank setup. Although using a different alloy, a duck is a duck is a duck. I would go with the Race Face.

I own Race Face Next LPs.



Lighter, stiffer, cheaper.... I know pricepoint had some sales on them also. I just LOVE the way mine look, and they're stiff as hell. I couldn't be happier with them.



I know the new XTR is very light, but is it really justifiable to spend 450+ dollars on a crank? Not to mention the "Hollow tech" seems like a lame concept to me... my RFs are one solid piece :D

I would not be worried about destroying either one of them. However I am pretty sure that the next LP now has a lifetime warranty which the XTR does not have. That might be worth it in itself.

-Ryan

Originally posted by Jim311


I know the new XTR is very light, but is it really justifiable to spend 450+ dollars on a crank? Not to mention the "Hollow tech" seems like a lame concept to me... my RFs are one solid piece :D

$360 on ebay...and you have to consider the cost of a quality BB when getting the Raceface. I just found that deal and am starting to reconsider getting the Nexts :)

Also the spider arms on the Next are hollow...

You can get a Next LP crankset and bottom bracket for like 200 bucks now.. assuming you go with square tapered.


www.pricepoint.com

http://pricepoint.com/product174.html

209 bucks for just the crank, and I'm sure you can get a BB for pretty cheap.

Originally posted by Jim311
http://pricepoint.com/product174.html

209 bucks for just the crank, and I'm sure you can get a BB for pretty cheap.

Thats a Turbine. They have the Next in ISIS for $329, and reasonably light bottom brackets for around $80...but I wouldn't buy a Raceface bottom bracket to go with a Next.