Am building up a new bike around Cove Huslter frame. Initially planning on using XTR Hollowtech II integrated BB and cranks. Having second thoughts now having read a bunch of reviews saying the chainrings and bearings are basically crap. Any suggestions for alternatives? Thinking now Race Face Atlas or Deus may be way to go?

Truvativ?

That's interesting. Hollow tech 1 XTR chainrings are superb - have they given up the heat treatment and coating or something?

Had them on long term test in WhatMTB mag. Said that after less than four months of average (twice weekly) rides over winter middle chain ring sucks and big ring is hooked and haggard. Also comments on other forums also suggest they don't last well-chocolate chainrings!

Truvative 5D on BB UN73 square taper then.

My XTR HT2 chainset on my OCLV is about a year old now, and the one on my Titus has already had some use, I've never changed bearings and the rings certainly are nowhere needing doing.

Buy XTR and be happy that you have the most bling chainset on the market!

No doubt, they are bling! Still looks apart, they do appear to polarize opinion when it comes to durability, for example:

"Cant believe it, i looked forward to this crankset and 3 months after having it fitted it fell apart. Now all i`m left with is a crankset in too many pieces. I would avoid this lke the plague and stick to the XT as it seems to want to stay in 1 piece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

just get the Deore, or XT and put the Deore Steel rings onto it if you want the XT bling, same weight though after doing this.

Just get XTR! There's nothing wrong with them, people on here just seem to have an aversion to XTR. If you're prepared to spend the money, do, I've never regretted it. They are clearly stiffer and lighter than XT.

I don't know anyone who's been disappointed with an XTR chainset, or had any problems, and working in a bike shop and being quite involved with racing, that's a lot of people!