Fluted cranks
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 36
From: Williston, VT
Bikes: Bridgestone RB-T, Soma Rush, Razesa Racer, ⅔ of a 1983 Holdsworth Professional, Nishiki Riviera Winter Bike
Fluted cranks
I likes me some flutes. I think they look pretty, and Old Campy fluted cranks are pretty much my ideal of a classic design, but they're kinda pricey. I'd like to pick something up for some future project.
I know Sugino, and Gipiemme made some nice looking ones. Shimano 600s are the most afordable decent fluted cranks I've found, and I've had them on more than one bike. So what are your favorite affordable fluted cranks.
Post pics if you've got em!
I know Sugino, and Gipiemme made some nice looking ones. Shimano 600s are the most afordable decent fluted cranks I've found, and I've had them on more than one bike. So what are your favorite affordable fluted cranks.
Post pics if you've got em!
#2
I got my fluted campys for 150. I'm sure you can find them for 200 and below if you take some time and hunt.
picture here: https://flickr.com/photos/onetwentyeight/103635950/
picture here: https://flickr.com/photos/onetwentyeight/103635950/
#7
Oh, and I posted newer pics of my setup not too long ago in this thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...le+steamroller
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...le+steamroller
#10
MADE IN HONG KONG
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Bikes: some but not enough
I have a set of sugino cranks exactly like the set in monkey 's picture. 144BCD, 165mm, w mighty competition ring, they are not very round. the chain tension changes quite a lot thru out a crank rotation.
#11
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Worcester, MA
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Professional, 1997 Milano 3v, 2004 Surly Karate Monkey, 2007 Surly Crosscheck, 1984 Hutch Pro Racer
Out of the three bike nerds living in the apartment, we have quite a few fluted cranksets that were all very inexpensive:
There's a SR Apex, which uses a strange 118BCD and is therefore almost worthless.
There's an unbranded Ofmega/Avocet campy ripoff threaded for triple use in 144BCD. This crank is really awesome except for the fact that it uses a non-standard Ofmega BB taper, so it's almost worthless. I was surprised to find this in a dumpster until I learned about the BB taper.
My Raleigh has a Shimano 600 crank that I got new old stock for pretty cheap, 130BCD. It's of the first 600 group that had the great engravings on all the parts, and looks pretty good. It has a lot thicker construction than most other cranks I've seen of this style, and should be really durable. Time will tell.
The other day I won an "Azzurro" crank on ebay, reportedly made by Gipiemme. 144BCD. It has the two separate flutes on the arms just like Gipiemme cranks, only the forging is not so hot and the finish is worse. Luckily the previous owner painstakingly polished it, giving it a decent look, at least from the front. https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1
Pretty good for $3.25 plus shipping.
If you're just going for the fluted look, you can do it pretty cheaply. Campagnolo cranks are beautiful, but something cheaper will probably work for the majority of riders.
There's a SR Apex, which uses a strange 118BCD and is therefore almost worthless.
There's an unbranded Ofmega/Avocet campy ripoff threaded for triple use in 144BCD. This crank is really awesome except for the fact that it uses a non-standard Ofmega BB taper, so it's almost worthless. I was surprised to find this in a dumpster until I learned about the BB taper.
My Raleigh has a Shimano 600 crank that I got new old stock for pretty cheap, 130BCD. It's of the first 600 group that had the great engravings on all the parts, and looks pretty good. It has a lot thicker construction than most other cranks I've seen of this style, and should be really durable. Time will tell.
The other day I won an "Azzurro" crank on ebay, reportedly made by Gipiemme. 144BCD. It has the two separate flutes on the arms just like Gipiemme cranks, only the forging is not so hot and the finish is worse. Luckily the previous owner painstakingly polished it, giving it a decent look, at least from the front. https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1
Pretty good for $3.25 plus shipping.
If you're just going for the fluted look, you can do it pretty cheaply. Campagnolo cranks are beautiful, but something cheaper will probably work for the majority of riders.





