Best Bang for the Buck Crank....
05-03-09, 04:21 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 146
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Best Bang for the Buck Crank....
My FSA crank & KCNC isis BB that I have had for about 2 years is starting to creak and make all sorts of awful noises. I figured since the isis setup is apparently not particularly durable, it would be a good time to swap out everything. But I just cant decide on what to replace it with.
I am running DA 9spd on a CAAD 7, I am not that fond of the DA 7800 crank looks wise, and the 7900 is too expensive, so that rules those two out. I would consider DA 7700, but it seems my only option would be an octalink bb, which is just as bad as an isis bb. I have considered the FSA SLK Light, Ultegra SL (mostly because the color would match my bike nicely, but it seems kind of heavy), and Fulcrum cranks. I would consider SRAM, but not sure if thats acceptable since the drivetrain is Shimano.
So what has everybody else found to be a good, light, inexpensive, reliable crank?
I am running DA 9spd on a CAAD 7, I am not that fond of the DA 7800 crank looks wise, and the 7900 is too expensive, so that rules those two out. I would consider DA 7700, but it seems my only option would be an octalink bb, which is just as bad as an isis bb. I have considered the FSA SLK Light, Ultegra SL (mostly because the color would match my bike nicely, but it seems kind of heavy), and Fulcrum cranks. I would consider SRAM, but not sure if thats acceptable since the drivetrain is Shimano.
So what has everybody else found to be a good, light, inexpensive, reliable crank?
05-03-09, 04:36 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: s.e. tn.
Posts: 1,245
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
fsa energy is listed at 780gm.s w/bb. and has a reputation for being stiff. ditto for sram rival. both around $200. or less.
05-03-09, 04:39 PM
#3
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
A pic from the Amgen ToC of a Cervelo Test Team rider... I think his vote is for Rival too. 
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
05-03-09, 04:46 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
See if you can find an NOS DA 7800 crankset.
05-03-09, 05:04 PM
#5
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,376
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 998 Post(s)
Liked 1,206 Times
in
692 Posts
I have an isis system right now myself and it is on its third bottom bracket. When this one dies, I plan on going with SRAM, even though the rest of the bike is Shimano.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
05-03-09, 05:31 PM
#6
Inebriated Ninja Hatters
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 294
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ultegra cranks come cheap when they're slightly used.
FYI the only downside to octalink is stiffness within the BB. Otherwise, the system is one of the most durable bearing setups I've come across.
FYI the only downside to octalink is stiffness within the BB. Otherwise, the system is one of the most durable bearing setups I've come across.
05-03-09, 06:07 PM
#9
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
05-03-09, 06:09 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,198
Bikes: 2007 Orbea Onix, 2007 Windsor The Hour, 2008 Kona Jake
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rival. I just switched from Ultegra and can feel the difference.
05-03-09, 06:33 PM
#12
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
vs. Ultegra-definitely go Rival.
I ride Force cranks on my Tri bike and have been very happy with them--haven't done a comparison with Rival, though. From what I hear, though, Rival might be a touch stiffer but a bit heavier.
I ride Force cranks on my Tri bike and have been very happy with them--haven't done a comparison with Rival, though. From what I hear, though, Rival might be a touch stiffer but a bit heavier.
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
05-03-09, 07:17 PM
#14
Guadzilla
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dialing it up to 400W
Posts: 3,697
Bikes: Pinarello F4:13 W/Campy Reecord & Blue RC6 W/SRAM Force
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
The Rival crankset is very nice. The SRAM non ceramic bottom bracket kind of sucks tho.
05-03-09, 07:35 PM
#15
A little North of Hell
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
skf
this is what he(BMonei)was referring to.
this should solve your durability issue, if you can find one.
https://www.skf.com/cmimages/448382.jpg
https://www.skf.com/cmimages/448382.jpg
05-03-09, 08:57 PM
#16
Unique Vintage Steel
Heard lots of good things about the SRAM Rival and Force crank (in the last 12mo or so, I help install one that was jacked up but that was not long after they came out and still had a few bugs in the production line).
I've had good luck thus far with my Camapgnolo Centaur crank on my Fuji which is the same design that the Fulcrum cranks are using.
I've had good luck thus far with my Camapgnolo Centaur crank on my Fuji which is the same design that the Fulcrum cranks are using.
05-03-09, 11:36 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 150
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ultegra SL. I tried Rival (2008) and Force (2009) but went back to the Ultegra SLs. The Ultegra SLs "feel" stiffer to me, despite the findings of a crank stiffness report floating around. I also much prefer the Shimano BB to the affordable (non-ceramic) SRAM BB.
05-04-09, 01:13 AM
#22
Legs of Steel
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: On my bike
Posts: 1,832
Bikes: Pegoretti Marcelo, Cannondale six13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm not a fan of anything FSA except their alloy wing bars...IMHO the rest of their products are crappy. That said....I rode with an alloy Campy Record crank for a year of creaky nonsense before I realized a freakin chainring bolt had fallen out. So any crank can creak. Hell PCad has picks of a DuraAce crank (supposedly the stiffest) snapping
05-04-09, 08:04 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 388
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not to hijack, but wasn't the crank considered the weak link when Rival first came out? Did they improve it that much so soon, or was it all just groundless wandering womb?
05-04-09, 08:10 AM
#24
CERVEL-LIZED!
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,696
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just bought Rival 09 crankset at pbk....the OCT crankset of 09 is much praised for its value for money stiffness comparable to higher spec'ed offerings but the non-ceramic GXB bottom brackets have had negative reviews...
My question now is: Can I use my spare Dura Ace bottom bracket with the Rival Crankset?
My question now is: Can I use my spare Dura Ace bottom bracket with the Rival Crankset?