Mountain Biking - In need of a crank set on a budget

RF Deus / RF 2010 Evolve ? my current crank set is a standard Suntour SR with 2 k miles on it and still decent with a bit of BB play.
Building a new bike though from the ground up and wanting advice on a good solid crank set at a good price . i dont care if i have to buy something like a RF Evolve every 2 years for 100$ . i just dont have the type of $$$$ to spend on a Shimano XTR nor do i do that kind of extreme riding day in and day out ..

I only wiegh 175 so do i really need a high end crank set for my riding style ?

Suntour are not good- but why change it to something not much better?

I know it is not what you want to hear but Shimano LX is probably about the best value you can get. There are better about but for value and quality- this is one crankset that is worth the money.

RaceFace cranks are not terrible and you can almost always find them on sale. also take a look at truvativ

SLX.

http://jensonusa.com/store/product/CR293A01-Shimano+Slx+M660+Triple+Crankset.aspx

The LX M582 for $100 is a great value, better design than the RF or Truvativ cranks to boot.

+1

Not a thing wrong with the Evolve crank; the external BB's can be a bit of a headache for some people. Others love them.

Shimano SLX on chain reaction cycles http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28020. Good deal and only a little bit heavier than XTR. just bought some havent fitted them yet but seem like a pretty crankset.

Shimano SLX on chain reaction cycles http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28020. Good deal and only a little bit heavier than XTR. just bought some havent fitted them yet but seem like a pretty crankset.

Still rate the LX crankset but another UK store that has a good price.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-chainsets/shimano-lx-chainset-26-36-48-rings.html

Is there a difference in the SLX v LX besides the crank arm, blk n silver finish ?

Shimano claims burlier construction for the SLX, and the 2 ring version is a bit different than the 3 ring as well. The 3 ring is a bit lighter than the LX, the 2 ring comes with steel pedal inserts and a bash ring. I've got an SLX (3 ring) and a few XT external bb cranks and there is no difference I can tell (by riding them, they do differ in appearance/crank arm shape). The SLX does have nice graphics, and if you can get it for a good price (think I paid $130, you can probably still find them for around this in the US), the small difference might be worth it to you but the LX will work just as well.

The LX cranks that you can find all over for about $100 are better cranks than the equivalent RF stuff. They are tough, cheap, and resonably light. IMO, the stock basic rings on Shimano cranks also shift better than RF rings. When the LX steel rings wear out, replace with the same, or better. Alu rings are nice and light, but I still use steel rings - much, much longer life, IMO.

Better design, better implementation. The bearing preload system on the RF stuff is garbage, and the splines on the interface will eventually wear out.

The LX cranks that you can find all over for about $100 are better cranks than the equivalent RF stuff. They are tough, cheap, and resonably light. IMO, the stock basic rings on Shimano cranks also shift better than RF rings. When the LX steel rings wear out, replace with the same, or better. Alu rings are nice and light, but I still use steel rings - much, much longer life, IMO.

Better design, better implementation. The bearing preload system on the RF stuff is garbage, and the splines on the interface will eventually wear out.


XT Chainrings work on the LX? for future replacement ... and how about BB compatible ?


Thanks to everyone for your advice , i dearly apreaciated all this..

So long as the BCD is the same, yes.

Caveat: there are a few oddballs out there that may need a touch of the Dremel tool, but for the most part, yes, they'll fit.

The BB is no problem. I have all three of those LX cranks in the fleet, none of which are on a Shimano BB with no issue.


XT Chainrings work on the LX? for future replacement ... and how about BB compatible ?


Thanks to everyone for your advice , i dearly apreaciated all this..

So long as the BCD is the same, yes.

Caveat: there are a few oddballs out there that may need a touch of the Dremel tool, but for the most part, yes, they'll fit.

The BB is no problem. I have all three of those LX cranks in the fleet, none of which are on a Shimano BB with no issue.

Chainrings no problem , BB XT , XTR not a problem for sure?

You could even use your old RF bottom bracket with the Shimano cranks. There's little difference among the various bottom brackets from Shimano, either. Like scrublover says about the chainrings and a dremel. I wouldn't bother with XTR anything (except chain) as far as replacement stuff goes...

You could even use your old RF bottom bracket with the Shimano cranks. There's little difference among the various bottom brackets from Shimano, either. Like scrublover says about the chainrings and a dremel. I wouldn't bother with XTR anything (except chain) as far as replacement stuff goes...

Agreed. I have a Race Face (with Enduro replacement bearings), a Hope, and an Enduro ceramic BB in the fleet, all paired with the LX cranks. No problems at all.

Just purchaced a brand new LX crank set for 94$ out the door for the S-Works i am building :thumb:

Hope for future reference that there will be replacible parts in the future..

May just have to buy a 2nd LX for my cuurent ride (hardtail GT ) to replace the Suntour :D

Jenson has the LX for $99. Just put one on my bike and it's awesome.. I don't know why I waited so long for it..

I'm 220 as well..