M2 Ti Cranks

[zoey]

Anyone seen these before or own a pair?




http://www.m2racer.com/products.php?cat=3

[J xl]

Have no experience with these but had two sets of morati titanium cranksets and both broke.
Think titanium is not suited (or at least not the best) material for (light) cranks.

[willf03]

Never seen them, but they sure are ugly!

[Racing Aardvark]

agreed, those welds are heinous.

[zoey]

The Mortai cranks were bad. I think we have not yet seen a good design yet. These M2 don't look any better.

[danielgillett]

those welds are heinous.

How could anyone disagree???

The simplicity of that design is unreal - It is so basic.

If they cost any more than a Campy Daytona crankset they are not worth it.

M2 could have atleast given the spider some decorative look...

[zoey]

I re-read the page again and it does say "prototype" so these may not ever see the retail market.

Quote from the product page:
"M2RACER is currently prototyping ultra-light titanium cranks. Our cranks utilize a unique twin-tube crank arm design. Thin wall, proprietary titanium tubing allows for very low weight while maintaining ideal stiffness and strength"

[Cyco]

I think they are a bit optimistic if they think that plate spider wont flex.

The twin tube design may resist for/aft flex, but the lack of width will reduce torsional stiffnes when the pedal is bolted in.

[martin]

I re-read the page again and it does say "prototype" so these may not ever see the retail market.

Quote from the product page:
"M2RACER is currently prototyping ultra-light titanium cranks. Our cranks utilize a unique twin-tube crank arm design. Thin wall, proprietary titanium tubing allows for very low weight while maintaining ideal stiffness and strength"

I've known this picture for at least 1 1/2 (more likely 2) years. If its still a prototype....
And they still own the award for the ugliest crank ever.

Martin

[cirroc]

There must be a large range of quality with the MoraTi cranks because I've put about 18k miles on mine (172.5mm, BCD 130mm) since 1997 without a problem. The welds on the cranks are sweet, maybe better than normal because the first batch of cranks were priced so high.

I do notice some lateral flex in the spider, however (as suggested here and in older WW posts). Probably unavoidable in Ti without a heavier design.

[uphillisgood]

I have a set of MoraTi cranks as well... though they're on my town bike.

The workmanship (welding) on them is very, very nice... and like cirroc's, I believe the set I have are fairly "early" examples. The only reason I wouldn't trust them on my road bike is because of what I've heard... because they sure look like they'd be plenty bulletproof.

Ti is just about 50% stiffer than aluminum. With the correct design and manufacturing processes, I don't see why a Ti crankset couldn't be as good as anything made. Labor intensive though... no way around that.

Maybe Moots could make some?

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