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Thinking of upgrading crank set

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Old 02-18-14, 11:55 PM
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Thinking of upgrading crank set

Would going from an SR SCX 200 Crank Set to Suntour Superbe Pro Crankset be a real upgrade? I was thinking of upgrading my crank set if I can get a good deal on a Superbe Pro. My bike came stock with a SR SCX 200 crank set that looks a lot like the Superbe Pro. I see people comment about great crank sets but I am not sure what constitutes great? What would I gain? Is it just looks and a name, or is there performance enhancements?
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Old 02-19-14, 12:04 AM
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You would get more from simply swapping out your chainrings for newer, stiffer, ramped and pinned chainrings than gaining much between vintage square taper cranks unless yours is particularly flexy. I wouldn't bother. You probably won't notice a difference except for gearing. Technically there is some difference in weight and stiffness you won't notice unless you already notice it, which you don't. Some really strong riders might notice it and get some chain rub when standing. Higher end cranks used to be a little straighter, but at this point, it depends on the condition of the vintage crank.
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Old 02-19-14, 12:08 AM
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Without addressing the specific cranksets you asked about... Higher-end cranksets tend to be lighter and may flex less. If you don't need to replace yours for a mechanical reason such as being bent or worn, or you want a different length or configuration, then it's probably not your best bang-for-the-buck upgrade.

Also, the crankset interfaces with a lot of other moving parts. They all need to be compatible types and sized to work with one another: bottom bracket, chain, derailleurs (front AND rear), and so forth. If you want to swap a crankset, you've got to keep these other parts in mind or else you may find yourself replacing some of them as well to accommodate the crankset swap.
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Old 02-19-14, 12:59 AM
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it's like the difference between driving a '63 dodge dart or a '63 Mercedes. your choice. but if you close your eyes i doubt you could tell any difference.
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Old 02-19-14, 06:40 AM
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Thanks, My crank set is in pretty good condition so there is no real need. I just thought it would be cool to have if I could get a set cheap enough. I have Superbe Pro derailleurs and Superbe Pedals so I thought I would complete the set.

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Last edited by Steve Whitlatch; 02-19-14 at 06:52 AM.
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