[Mr. Hankey]

I really want the K Force Light Compact crankset. It is light as hell, and has ceramic bearings. I am more than a little weary of FSA carbon stuff though. My friend works at the LBS, and he put some K wing bars on his bike, and they seemed to flex like crazy. Then then Sunday I stopped by the shop, and he was just getting back from a DNF at a MTB race. Guess what, his carbon FSA SLK post broke in half. Logic tells me to stay away, but I wanted your thoughts, and what not. The guy is a bigger guy maybe 180ish, but on a crankset I don't feel weight matters as much as the force exerted on them. I know he pushed down on his bars, and they flexed about 4-6" and that astounded me. My Syntace Carbon bars don't do that at all.

 

[ire]

I have a teammate that has the SLK-light cranks and he has had good luck with them, even racing cross. BTW...comparing Syntace to other products isn't really fair, Syntace produces some of the stiffest stuff around :biggrin:

 

[-dustin]

it's not the carbon that's bad, it's the rings.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

I have a teammate that has the SLK-light cranks and he has had good luck with them, even racing cross. BTW...comparing Syntace to other products isn't really fair, Syntace produces some of the stiffest stuff around :biggrin:

Is he using the new hollow designed SLKs? I really want them, but don't want to waste my money if it will break on me. Yes the Syntace stuff is great. I commuted to work on the race bike today I like it so much. Carbon feels real stiff when it is 32deg. out.

 

[James]

I've got a set of the SLK Lights, they didn't have the K-Force Lights in 175mm. They're fantastic cranks. I have the ceramic BB too, so nice.
I have a K-Force post on another road bike, no issues there, and I've had other FSA parts in the past. The one issue I had was with a pair of carbon MTB cranks where the left arm kept coming loose. It was a known issue, and it was replaced, then everything was gravy after that.

 

[gonefirefightin]

I have the comlete FSA carbon kit on one of my road bikes and I have really liked it. had no porblems yet.

 

[ire]

Is he using the new hollow designed SLKs? I really want them, but don't want to waste my money if it will break on me. Yes the Syntace stuff is great. I commuted to work on the race bike today I like it so much. Carbon feels real stiff when it is 32deg. out.

Yeah, its the hollow arm w/ceramic bearings cranks...he likes em. FYI...he uses Rotor rings, not the stock rings.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Gotcha some good feedback indeed. They guy at the LBS is a quite big guy, and his MTB is a hardtail. Now that I think back, why did he purposely flex those bars on his roadie? I think I'll be safe with the K Force Light crank. I'll start saving for it now. It's too bad you can't get them w/o chain rings.

 

[ire]

I have come up with a light setup, Rotor Aegilis (something like that) crank and Rotor SAAB BB. It would weigh 612g....assuming the manufacturer website is correct

<edit> wait, wait....doesn't include the damn rings!!! nevermind

 

[James]

Gotcha some good feedback indeed. They guy at the LBS is a quite big guy, and his MTB is a hardtail. Now that I think back, why did he purposely flex those bars on his roadie? I think I'll be safe with the K Force Light crank. I'll start saving for it now. It's too bad you can't get them w/o chain rings.

I don't think it is all FSA rings that suck, just some that were recalled/replaced. I haven't had issues with any of mine lately...

 

[ire]

Hankey-

Just an FYI, one of the engineers at FSA says the Energetic cranks is the best bang for the buck in their line. Sweet performance, almost as light as DA and cheap! I'm going to get that crank because its so damn cheap

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Yeah I dunno. I am such a stupid weight weenie, and the ceramic bearings sound like a must too. I feel the need to spend the extra dollar, call me stupid. I actually might change my seat too. At 269g it can definitely be lighter, it just sucks I will lose the USPS theme from it though.

 

[r464]

I have K-Force compact cranks on my road bike. They are fine, but the damned crankarm bolt on the non-drive side tends to loosen up way too easily.

 

[ire]

Yeah I dunno. I am such a stupid weight weenie, and the ceramic bearings sound like a must too. I feel the need to spend the extra dollar, call me stupid. I actually might change my seat too. At 269g it can definitely be lighter, it just sucks I will lose the USPS theme from it though.

LOL....I know you're a weight weenie, just thought I would post what a friend said. I had to butcher my road bike to fix my cross bike, since I don't have a lot of money right now I'm going the economical route. Post some pics of the sexy cranks when you get em

 

[Mr. Hankey]

LOL....I know you're a weight weenie, just thought I would post what a friend said. I had to butcher my road bike to fix my cross bike, since I don't have a lot of money right now I'm going the economical route. Post some pics of the sexy cranks when you get em

I'm trying to decide if I want to start saving for those cranks, or buy a new saddle today. Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbon would save me 144g. I am trying to decide if departing from the complete USPS theme is something I want to do. The blue USPS seat matches the bike so good.

 

[James]

I'm trying to decide if I want to start saving for those cranks, or buy a new saddle today. Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbon would save me 144g. I am trying to decide if departing from the complete USPS theme is something I want to do. The blue USPS seat matches the bike so good.

Have you ridden an SLR before? Just asking because while it may be light, it may not agree with your posterior...

 

[ire]

Have you ridden an SLR before? Just asking because while it may be light, it may not agree with your posterior...

I've heard that its not comfortable for the long haul (rides over 3 hrs). I was gonna pick up one of the carbon models that has more padding.....I think they are around 200g depending on how much padding

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Have you ridden an SLR before? Just asking because while it may be light, it may not agree with your posterior...

Oh yeah. I had a Selle Italia Flight from years past, and I loved it. I was hoping for the same. I was also thinking Specialized Toupe, and possibly a Selle San Marco Aspide. There is even a USPS Aspide on Egay right now. I would save 100g, and have it match my bike too.....

 

[indieboy]

why would you want carbon cranks on a bike you commute on?

 

[loco-gringo]

Oh yeah. I had a Selle Italia Flight from years past, and I loved it. I was hoping for the same. I was also thinking Specialized Toupe, and possibly a Selle San Marco Aspide. There is even a USPS Aspide on Egay right now. I would save 100g, and have it match my bike too.....

I ride a Flite Trans Am and the SLR was the worst thing I have ever sat on.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

why would you want carbon cranks on a bike you commute on?

The bike isn't gonna see any bad weather or anything. I have a dedicated commuting bike, but I enjoy this bike so much I commute on it when weather is good.

 

[indieboy]

my question still stands....

 

[James]

my question still stands....

Because he can, and enjoys riding nicer stuff.
Same reason I have a deep carbon front wheel on mine. Well, that, and I can't find the original front wheel...

 

[indieboy]

you had that stuff laying around. bit different.
i'd buy the gossamer cranks long before their carbon cranks. way cheaper and will hold up much longer, espically on a commuter.

 

[James]

you had that stuff laying around. bit different.
i'd buy the gossamer cranks long before their carbon cranks. way cheaper and will hold up much longer, espically on a commuter.

But it's not his commuter, it's his road bike, which he rides to work sometimes.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

you had that stuff laying around. bit different.
i'd buy the gossamer cranks long before their carbon cranks. way cheaper and will hold up much longer, espically on a commuter.

I decided I am getting KCNC RD1 Cranks with Token ISIS Ceramic BB. I'll have about $450 in it maybe less if I can find better deals. It will weigh about 10g less, and be just as strong if not stronger. The bike is my "Race" bike. I enjoy ridding it allot so I do.

 

[ire]

I enjoy ridding it allot so I do.

j/k....you'll have to post pics when you get em. I got my new cranks, although they are cross cranks, but they are the FSA Energy. I'll post some pics when I get home

 

[indieboy]

i still think there is no shame in going with the goss. cranks from fsa. they are a LOT cheaper, not that much heavier, and will outlast many carbon cranks you're looking to purchase. you can get a ceramic bb from fsa if you desire. just my opinion but i would buy the press tool from enduro, keep the BB that comes with the goss cranks, buy new enduro stainless bearings and press those into the fsa cup.

 

[James]

i still think there is no shame in going with the goss. cranks from fsa. they are a LOT cheaper, not that much heavier, and will outlast many carbon cranks you're looking to purchase. you can get a ceramic bb from fsa if you desire. just my opinion but i would buy the press tool from enduro, keep the BB that comes with the goss cranks, buy new enduro stainless bearings and press those into the fsa cup.

Well, you are more than able to do that to your bike, but I think he would prefer having the nicer cranks on his.
To each their own...

 

[Mr. Hankey]

i still think there is no shame in going with the goss. cranks from fsa. they are a LOT cheaper, not that much heavier, and will outlast many carbon cranks you're looking to purchase. you can get a ceramic bb from fsa if you desire. just my opinion but i would buy the press tool from enduro, keep the BB that comes with the goss cranks, buy new enduro stainless bearings and press those into the fsa cup.

The Cranks I am going to use are not carbon. They are Aluminum, and they are lighter than the K Force Lights. Ceramic BB, and all I will be at $450 too. I have a KCNC Seatpost, and I was impressed with the quality, and lightness so why not give the cranks a try?

The Token BB, though I have never used any Token. I imagine though with the aftermarket ceramic bearings they will be good. The only thing I will have to worry about is the titanium spindle breaking.

 

[ire]

LOL...break the spindle with those Petacchi like legs?? Looks like a nice crank and I'm sure you'll be happy with it.....if not, let us know so we don't make the same mistake :biggrin:

 

[Mr. Hankey]

I'm not much of a sprinter. Best effort was 33mph on a flat. Maybe the Ceramic bearings can get me another mph or so. Everyone is saying this Token stuff is good so I will give it a shot. I wish Syntace made a crank....Then again, I probably wouldn't want to pay for it. I think the KCNC will be good. Allot of people on BF have used allot of their prodcts, a few even the crankset. They all said good things, except the cassette wears out in 1000 miles, not suprising since it is sub 150g.

 

[r464]

Out of two local shops (both respected):

One hates FSA. They claim that they my be light, but they are junk. They usually make the case and folks tend to buy another brand that offers a similar product.

One hates Race Face. They hate their bearings and will not carry them, but they are happy with FSA. They have specific shop and customer experience to back up their position.

I suppose that depending upon the person you ask, they may be great or they may be the worst. That person may or may not have actual experience with them. My take is that you should do your own research and choose what is best for your own application. I personally have had a lot of brands, including the external BBs from FSA, Race Face, and Truvativ. Out of those, Truvativ has troubled me the most. Two Race Face and one FSA external BB are still going fine. I also have a number of square taper, ISIS, and Octalink BBs working fine for me.

I would not buy into the expensive ceramic bearing market right now. The have not had the time to be proven in relation to their expense. I would instead go with standard bearings, and should they fail I would purchase the Phil Wood replacement bearings. The Phil Wood bearings are not expensive, and they work well.

 

[ire]

I would not buy into the expensive ceramic bearing market right now. The have not had the time to be proven in relation to their expense. I would instead go with standard bearings, and should they fail I would purchase the Phil Wood replacement bearings. The Phil Wood bearings are not expensive, and they work well.

I'm going to have to disagree.....I have friends who have been on ceramic bearings for a while with no problem and they have been proven in the TdF by many teams. The wattage saved by using ceramic bearings is considerable and, IMO, worth the cost for racing (and Hankey is racing this bike).

 

[indieboy]

Well, you are more than able to do that to your bike, but I think he would prefer having the nicer cranks on his.
To each their own...

more money doesn't necessarily mean nicer. we both know that, just some of us are willing to say it openly.

 

[James]

more money doesn't necessarily mean nicer. we both know that, just some of us are willing to say it openly.

No, I agree 100%, but it's his money, he'd prefer the carbon cranks, and they're going on his road bike, not commuter. I ride my road bike in sometimes, usually if I have a ride that day though, and I don't have a bike here...

 

[loco-gringo]

I'm going to have to disagree.....I have friends who have been on ceramic bearings for a while with no problem and they have been proven in the TdF by many teams. The wattage saved by using ceramic bearings is considerable and, IMO, worth the cost for racing (and Hankey is racing this bike).

I was told by someone that tested (that I will not mention, as I didn't authorize that) ceramic bearings on hubs that the wattage output is not greatly increased.

 

[ire]

I was told by someone that tested (that I will not mention, as I didn't authorize that) ceramic bearings on hubs that the wattage output is not greatly increased.

That could be....I should have been more specific.....drivetrain applications, such as BB and der. pulleys

 

[indieboy]

ppl would prefer a lot of things that companies make. maybe you don't feel this way but i do, it's our jobs to not steer ppl wrong and direct them towards smarter choices.

 

[James]

ppl would prefer a lot of things that companies make. maybe you don't feel this way but i do, it's our jobs to not steer ppl wrong and direct them towards smarter choices.

It's not our jobs though.
If we worked at a bike shop, it'd be our job to make sure that the consumer was fully informed, and to let them make their own choice. Yes, there may be some other/better/cheaper/cooler/less cool options out there, but it's not anyone's job to tell someone what they should get for their own bike. Those are the kind of bike shop employees that tend to scare people off from shopping there.
He asked for opinions, I gave mine, pure as that. You gave yours as well, and it seems from reading this thread that you're a little sad panda he didn't take your advice. If I'm reading it wrong, I apologize.

More money doesn't always mean nicer, but in the difference between some forged alloy cranks, and some hollow-armed carbon cranks, I think we can say that yes, they're nicer. Maybe not a lot lighter, but weight isn't the only thing in a part.