mediccody

How you feeling about Bulletproof cranks?

I'm doing a fixed gear conversion and want something inexpensive, light, and durable. Am I looking at the right thing? Any good alternatives to 165mm Bulletproofs?

When it comes to buying the actual rings and bolts, what brands should I stay away from? What should I look for, besides the correct gearing for my fixed sprocket?

mander

They have one ugly ass logo but you can take that right off with acetone. For the $ I doubt you could do any better!

freeskihp

I hear that they can withstand gunpowder propelled projectiles

operator

aka rockets

freeskihp

yes, in fact, they are certified in the Iraqi Track Sprint Riders A Division, I have only seen a couple of ITS RAD stamped cranks

OldLondonOnion

ahh thank you i am doing the same thing and was looking for a way to get that off!

killsurfcity

razor blades work too.

op, fmf cranks are out there too, can't vouch for them, but they are cheap and one could argue more attractive. there is also origin-8.

Toxanadu

any one know the chainline with bb length?

Boss Moniker

I got the $24 black Bulletproofs for my conversion (although it was less of a conversion than a frame that I ripped off an old bike and got powdercoated), and I tell you.. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They're meaty, so I imagine they're stiff and strong, although I know very little about and have little experience with cranks. Also, they're light enough because they're aluminum.

The real kicker, is I love how they look. Once you get the logo off (I used the back of a razor blade.. basically held it near perpendicular to the surface and scratched with the corner at a low angle, very gently, and washed it with degreaser. Looks perfect!), they're beautiful. The shape is understated, not so angular and sharp as the Eno ones (I think that's who makes what I'm thinking of), and not "thin" like the Sugino's and vintage track stuff.

el twe

I found 'em pretty flexy, but not a terrible crank for the money.

Landgolier

This is kind of a running thing of mine, but when you say they flex, is this a sensation you get from pedaling, or are you trackstanding or whatever and actually kind of jumping up and down on them? I ask because I've never done the latter, but in pedaling my crap conversion, my decent road bike, a weird conversion I did for a friend with steel cranks, and my friend's carbon-cranked super duper roadie, I can't feel any difference that I would call crank flex. I'm probably just not sophisticated enough, but I just wonder where other people's perceptions come from.

mander

"My cranks flex" is actually bfssfg for "Sugino 75's are aesthetically appealing".

DasProfezzional

+Rosie O'Donnell's weight in milligrams.

na975

i think if you were to examine them under a microscope, the metal is porous and prone to snap as your about to execute an emergency stop!

Retem

dude fmfbmx.com
their square taper arms are 18bucks and they look better than the bullet proofs

squeakywheel

I like that they are 110 BCD, come in 165mm length, and are cheap. If those attributes are appealing to you, buy them. Don't ask about rigidity or coolness factors.

sac02

I've had fmf cranks on a SS mtb for about 8 months and bulletproof cranks on my commuter for about 2 months. I chose both because they were cheap; specifically the fmf because the black went better with the mtb conversion, and the bulletproofs because the silver went better with the vintage conversion. No problems or complaints with either.

Mac

Briareos

They are the fugliest goddamn crankarms ever.

yellowjeep

does anybody have any experience with the origin 8s ?

mrwhite

Also bulletproof

waldner

If you get the Bulletproofs, go for a Rocket Ring. I did, and I feel they're a perfect match!

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/c...30-single.html

squeakywheel

That's a 3 piece BMX crank right? I was wondering if anyone had tried that on a road bike. I don't see why not. It's just I hadn't seen it done before.

LóFarkas

BMX cranks need a BMX BB... and I guess they weigh a freaking ton. But yeah, I was thinking about geting one earlier on. They often come with 44t 3/8 rings which is just what I want.

killsurfcity

mr. white, more of that please!

dirtyphotons

i like bulletproofs. after seeing the suggestion here, i removed all the lettering with acetone except for the letters "oof." that must be what took care of all that "flex"...