XT Crankset

[forest]

I'm looking for a new set of cranks and trying to decide between Saints and the 07 XTs. Anyone have any experience with the XTs?

[nouseforaname]

I run them on my big bike, and while they are not as stiff as the saints, and will not hold up for as long (LH crank i expect) they are so much lighter that it made sense for me.

Which is best for you depends on

1: How heavy you are
2: How heavy you are on components
3: Do you want light weight but at the cost of strength?

[Six]

This guy I was riding with the other day has a set of '07s set up with the SAINT bash ring. He said they are awesome and lightened his bike up a lot.

[Bryce]

I have a set of both with the XT's on the All-Mtn bike. No problems there but they probably don't get shitkicked like the Saints do on the big bike. If you're bike is in the 40lb range already, get the Saints. If its 30-35 and holding up OK, then go for the XT's

[forest]

thanks for the info. I've got only one bike (a 38 lb sx trail) so I'm always doing the strength / weight trade off. I ride it everywhere from the chilcotins to the bike parks, and 4-5 days a week on the shore. I was reading on MTBr that people were having issues with the rings, chain suck, etc, but its hard to figure out if they are just gomers who can't setup a bike or not.

Ideally I'd like to lighten my bike a bit, but I don't want to replace cranks again for a while. I'm stick of changing bbs (already on my 3rd isis POS of 2007)

[Oldfart]

Get something in between the two, Hone. Pretty strong if you get the steel axled, steel pedal insert dual ring version and relatively cheap. If you want a triple just buy a big ring for the double.

I always take what mtbr reviewers say with a large grain of salt. Lot's of "gomers" as you say. But you can get an idea of common problems or at least perceived problems that you can look into before you plunk down the cold hard. See, you can't tell from the posters on mtbr what their experience is. They say they ride hard and often. Well to some that menand 15 to 20 hours a week on the shore. To others it's a 2 hour ride once a week somewhere not like the shore just for the summer months. But they both think they ride hard and often. Which one will test equipment better?

[forest]

thanks dudes, trigger pulled on saints. shore + whistler + long rides in mud = get heavier, sturdier parts. I'll have to save the weight somewhere else (like burger king)

[Wayne P]

Light cranks, pedals and wheels - anything rotaional and your bike will feel totally different.

[bighitter]

I've got only one bike (a 38 lb sx trail) so I'm always doing the strength / weight trade off.

i have a set on my sx trail....while in the process of getting my sx down from 40 lbs(05's are heavy) to sub 35, i decided to purchase some xt's. i got them brand new for dirt cheap so they were tuff to pass up, but i have nothing negitive to say about them.i also have saints on my demo and i don't feel the weight gain is worth any added strength.

[Jerry-Rig]

I have XT's on my Demo7 and they have held up awesome. I went from Saints and can't notice any difference with stiffness personally. The only advantage your going to get with Saints is the pedal inserts are going to save you when you hit a rock.

[ESHER SHORE]

shimano chain rings have always sucked (except for Saint single)

i always dump the shimano chain rings and run Race Face or E13 rings

[Oldfart]

shimano chain rings have always sucked (except for Saint single)

i always dump the shimano chain rings and run Race Face or E13 rings

Excuse me? That is the FIRST time I have ever heard that one. I can't say that I have used all brands of rings but I always found that Shimano shift the best. Better than Truvativ, FSA, Race Face, Envy.

[Uncle Duke]

rf rings shift pretty good.

[iscariot]

I run them on my big bike, and while they are not as stiff as the saints, and will not hold up for as long (LH crank i expect) they are so much lighter that it made sense for me.

Which is best for you depends on

1: How heavy you are
2: How heavy you are on components
3: Do you want light weight but at the cost of strength?

+1

[nouseforaname]

Excuse me? That is the FIRST time I have ever heard that one. I can't say that I have used all brands of rings but I always found that Shimano shift the best. Better than Truvativ, FSA, Race Face, Envy.

Yes but they have had a couple of "issues" (for some people) where they have traded that shifting performance gain against durability...
The new 08 XTs (M770 series) use the more durable XTR style ring that was debuted last year to solve the durability issue. I would suggest waiting for these.

P.S - if he is talking about E13 rings he is talking about single only rings, not shifting rings. AFAIK since the demise of the XTR DH crank set there has only been the Saint single ring from Shimano. So yes, used outside their function, you can say that Shimano chain rings suck :nerd:

[Oldfart]

Ah I see where you're coming from.

[SkunkworkS]

I run the Saints with the Dura Ace end cap and M6 pinchbolts. Best crankset I've ever had to date.

If these ever do fail, I'm going for the XTs. Just because I now realize, as a 135 pound person, I don't need the most bomber crankset out there.

[C.C.]

I've been happy with my XT crankset. Arms are stiff and light. Probably the best part is the bottom bracket life. It's my first set of outboard bearing cranks, and a year later it's still so smooth.

[Dave99]

Hey - this is an awesome thread. Sorry for resurrecting it from the dead.

Similarly, I wanna lighten my big rig for DH racing I'm pretty light at 155 lbs. I'll also use it for some freeriding but nothing bigger than 10' - 15' drops to tranny. Mostly I'm a DH rider. I ride in the Canadian Shield and Laurentians out east (think Mont Ste Anne conditions). I'm considering this for a Glory DH.

My first thoughts drifted to the XT cranks. I already have them on my Heckler and I ride them hard. No issues so far. I don't expect any problems using this for DH either.

I wanted to check if there were any other options before jumping to conclusions - am I missing any other credible light but tough cranksets? I'm aware of the RaceFace Atlas but I'm leery of the bottom bracket. Not getting the best reviews. It's also about 100 g heavier than XTs. Don't know anything about Atlas' toughness or tendencies to creak at the pedal to BB interface.

Any comments on Atlas vs. XTs or alternatives?

[bighitter]

isn't the glory a 83mm BB shell....if so your pooched. gravity lights would be your next best choice if so, or wait till later in the year when the 83mm atlas becomes available.

if it's not the 83mm then the xt's would be great. i'm running one set on my sx trail and one on my socom and they have been great.

[Robot]

You'll be happy with any of the Hollowtech cranksets at the LX level or above. I've run the same set of XTs for three seasons and, other than a new bb once a season, they're still solid. I'm going to get some Hones for my mid-sized bike.

I haven't had any real problems with Shimano rings, but they don't have the best range of ring sizes out there, imo. I like the RaceFace rings, but that's personal pref.

Along with being super burly Saints look great too.

[Jerry-Rig]

only complaint about the XT's, I have (2 pair) is no pedal insert. I bashed a stump in the fall and now have to put a new thread insert into the crank if its possible

[zahgurim]

I have a set of XTs as well, wish they had an insert...

Wait for the new SLX series to come out.
2x stronger than XT, with an insert.

SLX (http://http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/shimanos-new-slx-groupset-14555?img=4)

[bighitter]

2x stronger than XT, with an insert.



curious as to how much of a weight gain to get the "2x"

[Dave99]

isn't the glory a 83mm BB shell....if so your pooched. gravity lights would be your next best choice if so, or wait till later in the year when the 83mm atlas becomes available.

Crap - I think you're right. '08 RaceFace Atlas handles 83 mm shells. But it's 955 g. And again, I don't know what to expect in terms of creakiness or bottom bracket life.

I'll look into the FSA Gravity Light - stock equipment with the Iron Horse Sunday World Cup.

Thanks.

[ESHER SHORE]

Excuse me? That is the FIRST time I have ever heard that one. I can't say that I have used all brands of rings but I always found that Shimano shift the best

shifting wise they work fine, but are made of cheese and self-destruct very quickly, especially in the muddy grinding paste we call the UK riding climate

its a common opinion in UK bike mag tests, and something alot of our customers find who ride in the mud

the RF rings come very close in terms of shifting performance and are much more durable in the mud

[trail worker]

I'm happy with my Raceface Atlas. I got them from Duke for a smokin' deal, so I can't really compare, but before I picked them up I was seriously considering a set of the Hones. The Hones seem to be a great compromise between cost, lightweight and strength. So far I have no problems with Raceface BB, but only time will tell.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

The Hones seem to be a great compromise between cost, lightweight and strength. So far I have no problems with Raceface BB, but only time will tell.

You cant really go wrong with Hones considering for $200 you get the cranks, two rings, bashguard and the bb.

[biggles604]

You cant really go wrong with Hones considering for $200 you get the cranks, two rings, bashguard and the bb.

There are lots of options in that price range. For ~$150 you could get Truvativ Stylo's too.

[Dave99]

You cant really go wrong with Hones considering for $200 you get the cranks, two rings, bashguard and the bb.

You had me going for a moment. That would have been a good option but it's only compatible with 68 and 73 mm BBs. Doesn't work for 83 mm BB.

Not many light tought options for 83 mm shells.

[bighitter]

Not many light tought options for 83 mm shells.

the wife ended up going with these
http://www.sicklines.com/2007/08/27/fsa-gravity-light-mega-exo/#more-1702

it was an added bonus that they were available in 165mm option.

[seand]

Crap - I think you're right. '08 RaceFace Atlas handles 83 mm shells. But it's 955 g. And again, I don't know what to expect in terms of creakiness or bottom bracket life.

I'll look into the FSA Gravity Light - stock equipment with the Iron Horse Sunday World Cup.

Thanks.

I've got 165x83 grav lights on my sunday and 170x68/73 on my asx. The cranks have seen hell and are still straight and going strong. My pedals (wellgo mg-1s) on the other hand are on their way out... :)

Some say I am hard on parts...if I haven't busted up my cranks, the chances are pretty good most others won't.

[connor]

I've got 165x83 grav lights on my sunday and 170x68/73 on my asx. The cranks have seen hell and are still straight and going strong. My pedals (wellgo mg-1s) on the other hand are on their way out... :)

Some say I am hard on parts...if I haven't busted up my cranks, the chances are pretty good most others won't.

you're kinda small, can we change this to heck?

[seand]

you're kinda small, can we change this to heck?

:lol:

...oh
http://www.whattheheckfest.com/images/heck2007_header.gif

...sure!

[simon@nshore]

XTs lasted 2 seasons on my DH/FR bike. the alloy pedal threads are the weak link that packed it in.

for 68/73mm shell, i'm running Hones with the pedal insterts - they are as light as my old XTs - 830g incl bb with different rings and bash. less than $150 online - best FR crank out there IMO for the $.

for 83mm shell on DH bike, gravity lights are the only really light option. i've only had them a few months so don't know how they'll hold up. they are definitely stiffer than XTs though.

[stinkbat]

Excuse me? That is the FIRST time I have ever heard that one. I can't say that I have used all brands of rings but I always found that Shimano shift the best. Better than Truvativ, FSA, Race Face, Envy.
ya, the shimano shifts better but doesn't last as long as raceface...

[ESHER SHORE]

the advice we give in our shop is to buy the XT HT2 crankset, ride them until the rings burn out (not long) and go for RF race rings....