Profile cranks

By Joe Schmoe

Intelligent Engineering
That's what these cranks are all about. In the same league as XT rear mechs, Bontrager frames and Marzocchi Bombers. Solid, dependable, slightly weighty but for good reasons. Quite a bit of money but not expensive, if you see what I mean.

Perhaps its the fact that bmx has had 25 years to mature and mtb has had nearly half that which brings about top quality products like this. Anyway, enough introduction, -

The Cranks
I'm reviewing the bmx bottom bracket version, standard, bread and butter profile bmx cranks.

•	The arms are tig welded, heat treated, steel and fix to the (solid!!) steel 20mm axle by 48 small splines.
•	The splines are a reassuringly tight fit as you push the crank arms onto them- These will NOT round out.
•	The bearings are sealed cartridge units, and are about twice the size of these found in a normal mtb bb. They spin noticeably more freely, and should be a lot more durable.
•	The axle is floating, meaning your chainline is fine tuneable, by adding washers (supplied) on the axle between the crank arm and bottom bracket- great for singlespeeders.
•	They're available in a lengths ranging from 155mm-190mm in lots of strange increments.
•	They're noticeably stiffer than the lx cranks they replaced. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but its seems they accelerate quicker as a result.
•	They're not as heavy as the mags would have you think, I fitted them in place of LX cranks with an XT bottom bracket, and in total the weight gain was 200g- nothing scary.
•	They really will last a long time, the only thing I can see myself replacing in maybe a year are the bb bearings, which is very easy and cheap.
•	Well established, long running company, if you do ever need spares, they're readily available.

erm.......

The steel to steel interface on the splines could seize if you don't grease it properly

I got the gloss black painted ones, which will scuff oneday, anyway I like scruffy parts, and they're chrome plated underneath.

Ring compatibility, you can get a 110pcd (standard drive) spider to take triple rings, or go for a proper bmx ring, which can work out lighter.

I had to scrape a bit of paint off of on the of the splines to get it to fit properly.

Apparently the bearings in the mtb bb version wear quickly, serves em right for having the wrong size bb :-)

If you're a dirt jumper, DHer, break cranks a lot, I'd definitely go for these. If you're one of those which ride everything (good on you) these could well be for you If you're a cross country rider they still could be for you, they're not that heavy, and they're solid and hard wearing.