meangreen

I am building a fixed gear and I want to put a really nice crankset on it, but I want to make sure I dont pay too much for a crankset if I wont notice the difference. I was thinking about a Sugino 75, but I probably wont be racing in any keirin races any time soon and I dont want to just pay for the NJS certification. I think Sugino RD or XD are probably great quality, but i wanted to see what you think.

Tell me about cranks and chainrings; where does quality and price match up the best.

happytruck

consider road cranksets too imo

Saberhead

I was going to buy some Sugino Messengers, and have read and heard a couple not so good things on them, so I just forgot about it. Then again some people swear by Suginos so...I dont know. A guy at my LBS is losing his head over the Soma Hellyer cranks, and Ive heard good things about Pake and Omnium cranks.

I actually would like to upgrade my IRO cranks so if anyone else wants to chime in with advice Id love to hear it too.

jdmitch

losing his head = good or losing his head = bad?

jpdesjar

i have sugino rd cranks with a messenger ring...they work great
what are people saying about them?
i would say for a decent starter crankset the suginos would be fine...just don't go spending lots of dough on the 75s if you're unsure

the soma cranks look real nice
i have heard nothing but praise about the omniums...i want these

veganwar

I believe Sugino Messenger cranks are just the Sugino RD but in different colors and came stock with a nicer chainring. You can buy that ring separately and it is a nice chainring. I haven't heard or read anythinga bad about the cranks. The people who swear by the Sugino 75s are, in part, buying them for the name. They are nice cranks but not necessary for most/many people riding track bikes today (statement based on the higher number of people riding track bikes/tarck bikes/fixed gears on the street v. on the track).

jtarver

I've put tons of miles on an Origin 8 crankset with no probs.

Geordi Laforge

RDs are crap -- serious chain line problems.
I believe XDs are fine, though.

If you just want a decent set that wont break the bank, get andel/alien/IRO/whatever -- they're all the same and can be purchased for about $90.

jpdesjar

i don't seem to have chainline issues with my rds
can you please explain this?

adriano 

sheldons got suntour cyclones for the shorties.

Saberhead

<--thats what Ive heard/read



Chain line problems, or very noisy. Like I said, I dont know, Ive never used them, they might be awesome, I was going to buy some two weeks ago until my neighbor told me he wished he had gotten something else for the price. I was just being cautious =)

Good way. I shouldve put that in there lol.

Scratcher33

I use 'em; my chainline's off by a mm or 2, but there's no noise issue

jdmitch

Maybe if persons are using BB spindle sized / spec'd for XDs it's throwing the chainline off. That or Sugino is publishing the wrong spindle length needed for the RDs.

lukewall

If you're not going to go with something like an external bb 2pc setup, I wouldn't bother. Just get a nice ring when it's time to replace it.

howl

I think the the sugino XD would be a great way to go. you can get just the cranks at ben's for under 50 bucks (https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=6226) and you could pick up a nice chain ring (zen, 75, ect) for about 100. the cranks are plenty stiff for street use and the ring will be nicer then anything on an IRO.

jim-bob

The XDs have a 110mm BCD - while I'm fond of that size, most track rings are designed around something bigger.

tgscordv6

Won't fit, son.

meangreen

What about the miche pista advanced
https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=3135
It has a 144 bcd, which seems to go against complaints about Miche I have seen in earlier posts. Anyone ridden this?

I have heard the messenger is "noisy," but mostly due the the shape of the teeth than chainline issues. Anyone experience this?

jpdesjar

the only time my rds and messenger ring make a little noise is when the chain needs lube

monsterkidz

I love my Miche Advanced cranks. I run an FSA pro chainring on it and the setup seems stiff enough for me. I've ridden Sugino 75s and modern Campagnolo Record cranks and for the price the Miche stuff is really good. A lot people complain about the Miche BB, but I have had no issues with mine.

Jquest

The noise with the chainline has a ton of variables. Dirty chain, lining it up, size of the BB, all can contribute to the noise. I have two sets of Suginos and all I get out of my bikes is road noise. I have read through the net with searches and your best bet(my opinion) is to get a 107bb and put the chainring on the inside. Even by doing that....sometimes you have to shim the wheel one or two mm , one way or the other. I just happen to work in a company where we have a machine shop and I can machine spacers whatever size I want. Joe Bow at the LBS is going to throw the bike together and send it out. If you have chain noise...he's going to tell ya that it's no big deal.
Bottom line....if you want the perfect alignment...don't rely on someone else. Read and figure out ways to move the wheel and or crank around. You might find it hard, but in the end....you will be very satisfied with the job you've done. AFter that....anything on your bike is cake!

meangreen

are the miche chainings no good? could you tell a difference in stiffness between the 75s and the miche?

monsterkidz

The Miche crankset came with a 46t which was too low for the track so I purchased a 49t FSA ring. I had 75s about 4 years ago and only used them on the street with clips and straps and sneakers. So I don't think I used them the way they should have been. I sold them to a friend and he still rides em and loves em.

Tywin

SRAM/Truvativ Omnium cranks are ace. I've got some on my Paddy Wagon - they're ridiculously stiff. IMHO external BB cranks are the best if you can afford it as they're a lot stiffer than square taper cranks, which I've always found are really flexy.

That's just my 2c though so take it with a grain of salt.

xsnakobx

I've read a lot about the Omniums... looks like that's what's going on my bike if/when I get money.