Question about Upgrading the Cranks on a Rockhopper
08-12-08, 09:47 PM
#1
Bike Junkie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
Question about Upgrading the Cranks on a Rockhopper
I have an 05 Rockhopper, basic model, that I've been upgrading a little at a time over the last three years.
I've upgraded the fork (to an F-100), the rims are now Mavic 517, the derailers LX level and the shifters/brakes XT. There's not much left to upgrade except the cranks.
This bike started out as an 8-speed and I elected to leave it as an 8-speed because upgrades were so inexpensive now that everyone wants 9-speed. But now I've got a problem. I'd like to upgrade to Shimano Hollowtech cranks but they're all 9-speed. My questions are:
1) Can I use a 9-speed crank, like a Shimano Hollowtech with an 8-speed? My concern is the spacing between the chainwheels and the throw (or pull) of the 8-speed triple, left shifter.
2) If that isn't an option, What's a good crank that would be a significant upgrade over the Truvativ 5D that the bike came with. I would like to buy something that's lighter than the Truvativ. Buying used on ebay is no problem. BTW, there's nothing wrong with the current cranks, I'm just looking for the next improvement.
I've upgraded the fork (to an F-100), the rims are now Mavic 517, the derailers LX level and the shifters/brakes XT. There's not much left to upgrade except the cranks.
This bike started out as an 8-speed and I elected to leave it as an 8-speed because upgrades were so inexpensive now that everyone wants 9-speed. But now I've got a problem. I'd like to upgrade to Shimano Hollowtech cranks but they're all 9-speed. My questions are:
1) Can I use a 9-speed crank, like a Shimano Hollowtech with an 8-speed? My concern is the spacing between the chainwheels and the throw (or pull) of the 8-speed triple, left shifter.
2) If that isn't an option, What's a good crank that would be a significant upgrade over the Truvativ 5D that the bike came with. I would like to buy something that's lighter than the Truvativ. Buying used on ebay is no problem. BTW, there's nothing wrong with the current cranks, I'm just looking for the next improvement.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Last edited by roccobike; 08-13-08 at 10:15 AM.
08-13-08, 10:16 AM
#2
Bike Junkie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
Bump. Any info? Responses? I really need to know before I plunk down $100 to $200 for a new crankset.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
08-13-08, 10:23 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
I fool around with upgrading and mixing components on my bikes all the time. That's an issue that I've never worried about and that has never caused any kind of problem for me.
08-13-08, 01:32 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: A Latvian in Seattle
Posts: 1,020
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The front shifter/derailleur should not be a problem. Chainwheel spacing might, but you could just install a 9-speed chain in that case.
