Best cheap cranks

Sandwich said:

Anybody have any suggestions on the best cheapest cranks for a road bike? Looking at picking up a tri-bike sans cranks and a few other parts...want something super stiff that won't break the bank. Weight is low on the totem pole compared to a max of 2 hundo and stiffness/construction.

What's good? FSA energy, raceface whatevers, Shimano something somethings?

Click to expand...

Shimano DA7800. You can find them decently priced on eBay, etc. Super stiff, lots of BB choices (ceramic, etc), and damn good looking.
FSA is ok, but I really prefer Shimano...

Shimano Hollowtech II anything...I'm tempted to say SRAM, but don't have any experience with them.

SRAM Rival Cranks are actually one of the stiffest cranksets on the market. Ironically stiffer than force and red.

You cannot get stiffer. You can run the single ring TT look or you can splurge for the spider and some rings

I usually go with Shimano cranks, but I got tired of waiting for/getting outbid on decently priced ones on ebay. So, right now I'm using a Race Face Cadence on my road/cx bike. I'd recommend it as a good value. Been fine so far in terms of wear, shifting and stiffness. It did creak a bit, which stopped a little while after I put in an Shimano BB I had lying around. Not sure if the problem was really the BB itself, but RF external BBs don't seem to have as good a rep as Shimano. Even so, the set can be bought new usually for quite a bit less than comparable Shimano units and it includes a BB.

For example:
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/RCF0014/Race-Face-Cadence-Crank.html

Damn, that's cheap.

22$ + a bb that goes around 35$. That's CHEAP! Shimano cranks are the best. Stiff and nice looking, although maybe not as stiff as the newer Hollowtech II design (not powerful enough to notice the difference)

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CR706B00-Shimano+105+Fc-5502+Crankset.aspx

It's worth it even if it's only for the chainrings.

FSA Carbon SLK Light w/BB. Light stiff and hard to beat this price.
Well under $200 with shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FSA-SLK-Light-carbon-Crankset-170-mm-53-x-39-w-BB_W0QQitemZ360205650392QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item53ddee09d8

ZoRo said:

22$ + a bb that goes around 35$. That's CHEAP! Shimano cranks are the best. Stiff and nice looking, although maybe not as stiff as the newer Hollowtech II design (not powerful enough to notice the difference)

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CR706B00-Shimano+105+Fc-5502+Crankset.aspx

It's worth it even if it's only for the chainrings.

Click to expand...

Holy god! I'm tempted for my CX bike!