Originally Posted by
mihlbach
If the crank doesn't spin smoothly, then you need a new bottom bracket, not a new crank.
As for not feeling solid...how do you know it has anything to do with your cranks? What you could be describing could be related to a loose cog, poorly tensioned chain, poorly tensioned spokes, a flexy frame, flexy fork, among other things. Crank flex is generally minor compared to other areas in a bicycle that flex.
Furthermore, cheap cranks are cheap because they have a cruder finish and are made of more material, and are thus heavier than expensive cranks. You aren't likely to add stiffness by buying a lighter crankset.
The bottom bracket is the biggest problem. I would like a decent crank to to go with a new BB, and am searching for one at a good price point.
As in solid, I am speaking more to the quality than the flex. They seem very cheap. By cheap I mean they feel brittle compared to higher quality cranks.
The bike is about a month old. I started noticing problems around the crank/BB area about a week after I got it. Everything else feels fine elsewhere on the bike.