Best value carbon crankset for 68mm threaded BB?

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Porschenut
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:09 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada

by Porschenut

Hi guys,

I'm a roadie newbie. Any and all advice is appreciated! My search results are too scattered to determine a good answer to my question.

Anyhow, I'm well on my way to weenism but one of the areas that I want to address is my crankset. I'm currently running a tank of a crankset (Shimano 105) but want to enhance my ride with a carbon set-up. My current frame (2011 Specialized Tarmac Elite SL2) with a threaded bottom bracket isn't very light so it'll get upgraded in a few years. That being the case I want to source a lightweight crankset that I can afford to discard with the frame as my next frame will no doubt have a lighter BB configuration (BB30 etc.)

So...what's the best value/weight crankset out there for my 68mm BB? I haven't deciphered all the various weights yet. The weights I find vary depending on chainrings, with or without BBs etc. and I'm left very confused. I'll be looking for a standard (non-compact) set-up.

Can somebody simply tell me which one to buy? I want to target used if possible. I see many options for SRAM RED, SRAM Force, FSA SL-K and they all seem to be anywhere from $200-$300. Which of the cranks in this range offer the best value?

CerveloBert
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:43 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

by CerveloBert

I personally liked the FSA SL-K very much. After using that crank, I moved to a Rotor 3d+ using the BSA threaded external cups and I'm much happier.

by Weenie


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roca rule
Posts: 672
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:23 am
Location: so. cal.

by roca rule

out of the cranksets that you have listed red is the stiffest and probably the lightest and gxp is a breeze to set up.

Ypsylon
Posts: 1397
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 6:25 pm

by Ypsylon

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasures of a bike ride," said John F. Kennedy, a man who had the pleasure of Marilyn Monroe.

aaric
Posts: 430
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:10 pm

by aaric

I'd say the older red gxp is probably the best value currently. I've seen them lightly used around $200 lately, which is pretty hard to beat for the performance.

I admittedly fall into the stiffer at the expense of a little weight camp when it comes to components though.

oreoboreo
Posts: 510
Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:25 pm
Location: Aloha, Oregon/ Poipu, Kauai Hawaii

by oreoboreo

+1 more for older sram red. I did the upgrade last year to my Madone/Force groupe and love it.
Let's finish the ride with a 20% grade.

2011 Scott Addict R1 DA 7900 Matt black
2012 Scott CR1 Pro Ultegra 6700
2015 Specialized SWorks Tarmac Da 9000
2016 Specialized SWorks Tarmac DA 9100

Porschenut
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:09 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada

by Porschenut

Ypsylon wrote:Fairwheel crank shootout.

http://fairwheelbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=7916


Sweet! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks!

roca rule
Posts: 672
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:23 am
Location: so. cal.

by roca rule

Except that none of those cranks is 200-300(outside of the dura ace and red)
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gummee
Posts: 91
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:01 pm

by gummee

I rode square taper cranks for years after the first adopters went Octalink. I finally upgraded when the newest bestest thing came out and I could get Octalinks used and MAN! what a difference.

...for about 2 rides, then they felt like cranks again.

Since then, I really haven't felt any real differences between my D/A 7700, Red and Force GXP cranks, or my Gossamer BB30 cranks. Which leads to 'how much stiffer than 'stiff enough' do you need?'

M

bm0p700f
in the industry
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by bm0p700f

Miche do some lightweigth carbon cranks. supertype I think. Maybe worth a look.

Porschenut
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:09 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada

by Porschenut

There's a craigslist ad in my local area for the exact same (but lightly used) FSA SL-K Light crankset as reviewed in the Fairwheel shoot-out. The asking price is $200. I think I might buy that. There's also a used (2010 or 2011?) SRAM Force compact for $180. If I go compact, I guess I'll upgrade my cassette as well.

Go for either of these two? Or keep looking for a SRAM Red?

by Weenie


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