[Bikael Molton]

I've heard a lot about the Saints, but I'm pretty sure they're overkill for my usage.
I've never broken cranks. I'm currently using FSA V-drive Xtremes (the heavy aluminum ones). I like their stiffness, but feel like they're probably tougher cranks than I need.

EDIT: I weigh 160-165 with riding gear.

Please give me your thoughts on the XTs.

TIA
-rob in NYC

 

[-BB-]

You can use them for DH if you arent' too tough on your stuff and dont' weigh a ton.

 

[binary visions]

I had a set of XTs (the old style Octalink setup, not the new ones with the integrated spindle) that went from my XC bike, to my AC2, to my Imperial. Great cranks for the weight. I finally killed them on my Imperial but that was a few years after I bought them.

Good cranks, light weight, good value (at the time, I don't know what the new style XTs run for).

 

[toodles]

There was a thread on this recently (I think). I'm running the XTs on my Turner and they've been great so far - stiff and light. The saints are a bit burlier but I don't kill cranks often. I'd certainly get them again if I was buying another set.

 

[dexter]

use the search there was a huge discusion on these awhile ago. i love mine and they weight wnothing if you set them up with the race face xc cups and shave off the chain ring bolts (have to for chainguides)

 

[zedro]

i think how they are more likely to get damaged is in a side impact from a crash or something. Mine and i've heard from others of them getting tweaked inwards, although i still use mine (they just feel funky for the first minute of pedalling). Although i've heard the same thing for the light/strong RF stuff

 

[ChrisRobin]

For your weight I'm thinking you should be fine. Some local dude (probably weights as much as you) actually bent the XT crank spider after really hitting his bash guard hard. He had the standard octolink ones.

 

[stiksandstones]

Eric Carter of Mongoose/HYUNDAI used Shimano XT cranks on DH and 4X bike (winning the worlds on 4X) all season long, with no problems.

 

[James | Go-Ride]

Just about everybody on our team has been running the Octalink XT cranks on their DH race bikes for several years now. Matt Johnston bent a couple trying to pedal through some gnarly rock gardens but other than that nobody has had any problems.

 

[YETI187]

i have a set of the old stye octalink on my trail-bike. the arms are pretty decent but i don't really feel confident on the bb anymore because i twist-snapped it when it was on my hardtail and i did about a 3 foot to flat. i can also feel the flex on them now that i have tried beefier cranks. i have holzfellers on my bighit and i think those are alot stiffer and stranger. the arms on the xt are still straight, or straight enough that i don't notice them being bent. but i weigh 260lbs... so they should be ok for you.

 

[BikeFan84]

I believe that Marla Streb uses the new XT cranks on her v-10, pics inside of velonews. I also think that all of the Luna Chicks use those cranks on their 4x bikes. :evil: