jdip

Buying one of these: SuperSix EVO 3 Ultegra - SUPERSIX EVO - Elite Race - ROAD - BIKES - 2014

It's equipped with a standard crank and was told I could get it swapped out for a compact instead (which I want). The LBS thought they had one lying around but turns out its 165mm instead of 170mm that the bike came with (it's a 50cm). So they gave me the following options:

1-install a Sram force carbon 170mm 34/50 no extra charge
2-install a SLK light bb386 with an adaptor no extra charge
3-install SLK light BB30 165mm crank 34/50 no extra charge
4-leave the bike as is (53/39 SLK Light 170mm)

First of all, how is the SL-K Light? I wasn't really a fan of FSA cranksets, and that seems to be a popular opinion but I looked this one up and it looks pretty good and isn't as cheap as I thought it was. It's seemingly really light and stiff. How does it measure up to the SRAM Force crank? It seems to sell for $500+ which is more expensive than even the SRAM Red cranks. And how would front shifting be on Force, seeing as the rest of the drivetrain is Ultegra?

I don't think I want to use an adapter and I really need the compact chainrings to get up steeper hills so I think options 2 and 4 are out. FWIW my old bike is a 54cm Synapse Alloy with what I believe is 172.5mm cranks (FSA Gossamer). I don't know about the 165mm crank arms and but am leaning towards staying with 170mm that comes with the bike by default. What would you guys do? I mainly wanted to know what people's experiences with the SL-K Light vs Force cranksets are.

Elvo

Force Carbon because the rings are slightly better

rpenmanparker 

The upper end FSA cranks are good. BB386 EVO is a great system with the combination of the 30 mm diameter, 86.5 mm long aluminum spindle.

jdip

The Force crankset looks to be 1/2 the price of the SL-K Light. I prefer the way it looks but it seems like worse value (I don't really know how they stack up against each other in the real world. I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference)? I guess I want to get the best value for my money.

I have read about the SL-K Light coming undone but that's probably due to user-error when installing it.

Is that the option you would choose? I don't know much about BB386 EVO but it seemed a little counter productive to me to get a brand new BB30 frame only to use an adapter.

loimpact

I have this exact bike. (Mine's a 60cm so 175 length cranks)

EDIT: And mine's 50/34 compact.

I have no complaints about the FSA SL-K Light. I don't have much to compare it to but it's been "goldilocks" for me which I consider good. I just don't think about it cuz it's been reliable.

I, too, saw great reviews on it while FSA has taken bruises on cranksets like Gossamer & such. (I know some have had zero problems with those too, however).

But I don't know what I'd take as an alternative if it blew up tomorrow. Ultegra comes to mind, but then, of course you need an adapter & while Praxis is ready, I really wouldn't want to use an adapter either.

(shrug)

rpenmanparker 

No adapter. Just a BB30 set of bearings and spacers to take the width out to fit the long spindle. Pretty simple. Besides it's free for you, right. So the higher price is no issue.

Stucky

I have an FSA SL-K Light w/ BB30 and Ultegra. No complaints....BUT, the previous owner of the bike had replaced the OEM chainrings with Praxis- for what reason, I do not know....but it's a stiff, quiet and silky-smooth-shifting set-up.

jdip

Nice, did you get it in blue or black? I really like the blue. It seems really unique in Cannondale's set of colourways.

It would be nice to have a matching Ultegra crank, but right now Force looks like the easiest route... I know it will work but it's kind of weird having a full Ultegra drivetrain and then a Force crank. But that's just the 'OCD' in me.

Good to know... thanks for that bit of info. Do you think that SL-K is nicer than the Force crankset?

That sounds cool... Do you have pics? Unfortunately that wouldn't work for me though because the crank spider that comes with the bike is 130 BCD. For compact chainrings, it needs to be 110 BCD.

Stucky

Mine's a "mid-compact" 52/36, I think- with 110BCD.

loimpact

FWIW, I was recently reading on this and some feel that the FSA chain rings are too light weight & wear out fast. I've tried to keep my entire drive train rather clean so I'm not seeing any excessive wear but I do like the machined look of the FSA rings. I might try the Praxis if/when I wear the FSA's out. (the Praxis are typically black so a change in appearance would be different)

loimpact

I went with the black. (Mine was a price mistake so I'd have taken the thing in pink if I had to) I do like the black, though. I saw another size in blue and it did look good, but I'm not big on the whole scheme of bike w/ the white trim......HOWEVER......I'm a sucker for "Gulf" colorway. (a la 2012 CAAD 10)

rpenmanparker 

Hard to say. My guess is they are "intended" to compete with each other, i.e. occupy the same spot in their respective product lines. I ride Red and Rival on three bikes, but have used FSA (SL-K and K-Force) on all three. I did have one Red crank, but sold it to get the weight savings of the K-Force Light BB386EVO. At the moment I have two K-Force lights and one SL-K. They are fine for me.

Stucky

Ah, thanks! I thought it might be something like that. These Praxis rings aren't pretty...but they seem really beefy. I really love the way the FD shifts on this bike. And so far, no noise from the BB30. (I've only put 800 miles on the bike so far...but it was formerly owned by a bike mechanic...)

dvdslw

I have the SL-K light bb30 on my caad10 and it's still going strong after a year and a half of my 225lbs giving it my all. My setup is full Ultegra di2 which is known to test weak chain rings. I have considered swapping the rings from my current 53/39 down to a 52/36 using praxis, rotor, DA7800, or another set of the FSA's because they've performed flawlessly? I'm still 10 speed with a 130bcd.

jaxgtr

I've had both in a BB30 50/34 configuration and I don't think you will have issues either way. I have the SLK Light now on my Synapse and I had a SRAM Force on my SuperSix.

macca33

I had FSA SL-K Light with my CAAD10 and the crank was fine enough - until the bond between crankset and threaded pedal insert became loose - then, the crankarm is a throwaway. It is not an uncommon occurrence.

FSA Gossamer (aluminium) is a more sturdy, but heavier option.

cheers