da Vinci Cranks: Looking for feedback.
 

I'm looking for any/all feedback on da Vinci cranks, either for tandem cranks or for singles.

da Vinci has started making 200mm cranks for us tall folks and I'm thinking about getting some of their cranks for one of my singles, and maybe a set for my Dad's tandem. Thanks.

We use da Vinci cranks for the same reason - custom lengths. Ours on the other side we like 160mm stoker cranks. We also like the option of using 110mm rings instead of 130mm rings. This allows a wider variety of custom gearing. I also like the shinny silver look. I just wish they made their sync rings in silver too.

I suggest purchasing a SKS square taper bottom bracket. 80 grams heavier than standard bottom brackets but much larger bearings and much longer lived than a standard bottom bracket. Link is below.

http://www.compasscycle.com/SKFbb.html

If you are a weight weenie just get a SKS for the stoker and a standard one for the captain. The doubled force on the stoker crank wears bearings faster. No matter what crank you use, failed bearings can end your ride and we don't like to walk. Our total weight of bike + riders is about 195,220 grams so I am not worried about 80 more.

Wayne

Big fans of DaVinci cranks. We have had them on three different tandems (currently on two). Light weight yet stiff and the variety of lengths is great for tandems.

We ride a da Vinci tandem, and have their cranks. At the moment, I'm not thrilled with the finish. Several spots, and a big splotch on her R crank. It could be sweat, but regardless it's now impossible to clean up the cranks to be shiny and spotless (or I haven't found the right cleanser).

We replaced the da Vinci rings (single 34T) with some custom 34T rings that had an offset. To keep the new rings from digging into the chainstay, our dealer had to dig for a longer spindle BB to overcome the offset. You might have to do the same if your rings end up cozy.

The only option that we had for custom lengths - 170 front, 165 rear - was DaVinci. They're a great-looking crankset and I really like the spider-less design of the timing side. New ones are like fine jewelry. I have no issues with them except that they're hard to keep looking new; so I don't try.

The cranks are polished aluminum that is not anodized. Some feel an anodized finish on aluminum makes the product more brittle. Sweat will leave spots if not rinsed off. During the summer months I usually take an water left in my bottles after the ride and use it to rinse to cranks as well as bolts on the frame. Sweat rusts steel much quicker than water and in 100+ heat I sweat a lot.

The cranks can be polished with aluminum polish available ar most car parts stores:

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4609

I love the cranks. Could be cheaper but it is nice to buy something actually made in the USA and not China.

Wayne

I was told that the DaVinci cranks are actually made by White Industries

As others noted, they're polished aluminum, which takes care to keep looking nice. If you've allowed sweat or sports drinks to etch the aluminum, you (or someone else) can bring most of the shine back by using emory compound and a bench grinder with a polishing wheel followed by polishing compound. They heat up during polishing so heavy leather gloves are required. You'll want to remove the timing / chain rings for the greatest flexibility in working the arms against the polishing wheel. Hit them with something like Mother's Aluminum wheel polish as a 2nd to last step and them a good wax.

After they've been returned to their nearly original luster -- excusing any pitting that the original acids left on the aluminum caused -- a 10 second wipe down after each ride with a rag, even a few hours after the ride, will prevent any more pitting. About once a month, or whenever you want to buff them up, hit them with some Mother's (it will turn your applicator cloth black) and then buff with a clean corner of your polishing cloth.

Our oldest daVinci cranks are 13 years old and have been knackered by chain drops, Debbie's habit of riding with her heels-in, etc. However, they polish-up in a few moments with Mother's every time and look amazing unless you get up close to inspect. Even then, they still look pretty good for 13-year old cranks with 30k+ miles of use. The ones on our Ventana look a little worse for wear, as I only wipe/wash them down and don't polish them. No acid etching, just not a brilliant finish.

It took me about 2 hours to bring back a pair of daVinci cranks for some friends where the captain was a toxic-avenger when it came to sweat. They were awful when I started and looked really good afterwards with just a few really heavily acid etched spots. Sadly, the didn't heed the care instructions and they eventually corroded beyond serviceability where all of the threads for the bolts, self-extractors, etc. were ruined. They're running carbon cranks these days, which is probably a better choice since they take a little less care. However, the aluminum parts will still corrode if they're not cleaned of sweat, etc.

Could be, but they're hardly out of line with other high-end carbon cranks made in
Asia that are just now becoming a bit lighter than the daVinci cranks, which is pretty amazing considering the daVinci cranks aren't all that different today than they were when we bought our first set in '98.

This is true.

White Industries used to market their own tandem cranks back in the 90's as well. However, they sunset that product line as daVinci improved on their original design for daVinci's house-branded cranks. Early-on White Ind. also made the Ti-grey anodized drive-side chain rings that matched the CNC'd timing rings, and they were beautiful. However, White Ind. backed out of that product line around 2000 and FSA or Specialites TA chainrings have been the fall back for us. I believe daVinci is also spec'ing FSA rings with their cranks.

I bought 2 sets of daVinci tandem cranks, and I liked them a lot. The only warning I have is that the pedal threads needed chased on both sets before I could get pedals on them. Maybe I got 2 sets made with old taps, but be prepared to chase them just in case.

Are we sure about that, that the cranks are made by White? Last time I spoke with da Vinci they were talking about making them in house (did a special run of 200mm cranks) including revisiting the design for more stiffness on these longer cranks.

Todd has the ability as well as the NC machines and other machinery needed to machine just about anything in house. He typically makes all of his own prototypes and tooling molds, some of which you can see in their on-line photo galleries, website and Facebook.

However, White has been a key partner for many years and to my knowledge does the batch runs on the "production" crank arms. Post production custom finishes like anodizing and powdercoating is done locally on an as-requested basis.