Help w/SS Crankset and BB - noobie question.
 

I am building up a Surly Karate Monkey and need help choosing a BB and crankset. This is the first MTB I have owned in 3 or 4 years. Questions-

Should I buy a SS specific crankset, or regular and take off the extra rings (I think that is possible). NOTE - I may want to run geared at some point, but probably just a 1x8 setup.

Any recs on brands, new vs used, etc? This build is budget conscious.

Thanks - Knoxruss

You can use a regular triple with only the middle ring easy enough.

You should replace the 'shifty' chainring with one with no ramps/pins for less chance of chain dropping (you can get away without it). you will also need short chainring bolts unless you plan on running a bashguard with it.

I would suggest a budget SS crank from the get go. Truvativ stylo is a good budget SS crank. Then you don't have to worry about any of the above

if you run a 1x9 (or 1x8) you need a bash to keep the chain from falling off the outside and a chain guide/watcher or w/e to keep it from falling off the inside, otherwise you have to use a front derail with the limit screws locking it where you want it. So you should prolly get somthin that is able to take a bash ring. If you run it ss it doesn't matter but if you wanna be able to change later w/o spending as much... besides bash rings are great anyway. I think the stylo mentioned above comes with a bash in the ss version, the fsa v drive ss seems nice if you wanna spend a little more. I think most mtb ss cranks come with a bash nowadays

You don't always need a a chain guide running a single front ring. I think hard tails tend to need them even less often then a full suspension bike. I ran my hardtail with a single front ring and a bash for a while and never lost a chain. Just ride the bike and if you have issues with chain dropping then get a guide instead of spending the money even though you might really need the guide.

If you tension the chain correctly and have a good chainline, there's no need to buy an additional chainring. Run what ya brung. The KM has track ends, so it shouldn't be any trouble to get the chain tension correct [i.e. tight enough not to drop off randomly, but loose enough not to impede pedalling].

your better off safe than sorry, i run my cx bike 1x9 and the chain is tensioned properly but i do need the guide, and mtn biking i've dropped the chain completely from the big ring (middle cause bash) the limits are correct besides it wasn't in the little ring, it was just a really bumpy downhill, and thats the key yes while you are peddling you won't drop the chain, but when you have a bumpy downhill that you have to coast down (yes yes pedal more and all that but face it there are times when you coast so shut up all you "i never coast" people if you never coast you need to ride somthin harder) its just a matter of time befor you throw your chain, then u'll be wishing u spent the xtra 12 bucks and thats the thing its only 12 bucks. but w/e if it works for you then by all means