Bicycle Mechanics - FSA Gossamer vs Ultregra crank

Bent my crank in a crash and need to replace. It is on an older Cannondale 2000 CAD3 frame. Currently has Ultregra 9 speed. LBS suggested the FSA Gossamer as an excellent replacement and $100 less than Ultregra. I have never seen FSA before and need opinions. It is lighter, but is it as stiff and will it last?

thanks,

Denny

I'd skip it. I had nothing but trouble with the Gossamer and my Ultegra build. I did find a Shimano R700 compact crank that I picked up from Bonktown for the same price as the Gossamer. Quality is as good as Ultegra...it looks good - and it works ***flawlessly***.
My LBS's mechanics all confirmed after the switch that the Gossamer isn't good and they'd seen many customer issues.

My FSA is fine, but the left crank can come loose. There are two bolts that clamp it to the axle. On mine, and on another rider's bike, the gap in the crank that the bolts pinch has completely closed up, so it's hard to get the crank to stay tight. Mine occasionally creaks or clicks, and I have to pull it and reattach it. The other rider's crank gets very loose.

Maybe they've changed the design of the crank since three years ago.

I have one just over a year old and the left crank arm keeps getting creaky, it needs to be removed and retightened every 1000 miles.

Bent my crank in a crash and need to replace. It is on an older Cannondale 2000 CAD3 frame. Currently has Ultregra 9 speed. LBS suggested the FSA Gossamer as an excellent replacement and $100 less than Ultregra. I have never seen FSA before and need opinions. It is lighter, but is it as stiff and will it last?

thanks,

Denny
Spend the extra $100 and get the crying over with right away. Defintitely worth it.

The FSA Gossamers are a decent crankset, I have some and have not had problems with them so far. However, I would not say that they are equivalent to Ultegra level - that extra $100 for the Ultegra is going to get you a better crankset even though there is nothing essentially wrong with the Gossamers.

I read somewhere on BF (or a link from BF) that the Ultegra was the stiffest crank out there. For $100, I'd get the Ultegra.

This is a non-series but Ultegra level Shimano crankset for about $105: http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/SHI0140/Shimano-America-FC-R700-Hollowtech-II-Compact-Crankset.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO002&CMP_SKU=SHI0140&mv_pc=r126

The R700 will require new BB cups, these will cost about $40.

Now you can have your cake and eat it, too.

I think the Gossamer is an OK crankset, no problems with my triple so far but it has an absurdly wide Q factor for a road crank.

i would just go for the ultegra

I was happy with the Gossamer compact double on my Felt (except for the BB bearings that died around 6K miles), but everything I've heard about the Shimano R700 says this is the one for value and performance.

This is a non-series but Ultegra level Shimano crankset for about $105: http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/SHI0140/Shimano-America-FC-R700-Hollowtech-II-Compact-Crankset.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO002&CMP_SKU=SHI0140&mv_pc=r126

The R700 will require new BB cups, these will cost about $40.

Now you can have your cake and eat it, too.

+100

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1100&g2_serialNumber=2

And, I've used it with both a nine speed cassette/chain and 10 speed. It works with the 9 just fine.

The gossamer is a piece of ****. Stick with the shimano crankset since you already have the rest of your drivetrain shimano.

The gossamer is a piece of ****. Stick with the shimano crankset since you already have the rest of your drivetrain shimano.

We have a Gossamer triple on one of our tandems and it has worked fine for several years. It came with the tandem. On our other tandem we have Ultegra and I can't tell the difference in performamce.

Thanks everyone. I put the Ultegra on my bike and really like it so far.

Around here we say FSA stands for Faulty Shifting Always. No one understands how crank and chainring design affects shifting like Shimano. Everyone else tries to copy them.....

Around here we say FSA stands for Faulty Shifting Always. No one understands how crank and chainring design affects shifting like Shimano. Everyone else tries to copy them.....

We know why some FSA rings/cranks shift like crap. I haven't seen a single FSA crank where I went, wow this is a much better upgrade/replacement than the standard shimano drop in.

Around here we say FSA stands for Faulty Shifting Always. No one understands how crank and chainring design affects shifting like Shimano. Everyone else tries to copy them.....



Easily fixed. Just convert to a single ring Gossamer. Flawless!