Which Chainset would you recommend??

ChrisClark1981
ChrisClark1981 Posts: 5
edited May 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi All,

I am in the market for a new Chainset and have narrowed it down to these two:

FSA SLK Pro Carbon Chainset
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CSF ... et-megaexo

or

Shimano Ultegra SL Chainset
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/road-bike ... t-b-b.html

Does anyone own either of these? Any advise or reviews would be welcome.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Comments

  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Performance wise I doubt you'll notice any difference. Both items are on the higher end
    of the quality ladder from both Shimano and FSA. Don't know about weight, but either way you probably wouldn't notice. For me, if it was my choice, I'd go for the one that I thought looked the best(why not?). Secondly IF price is a consideration then FSA would seem to be the choice. Both very worthy of consideration and both will get the job done.
    Buy the one that you like the best.
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    FSA for me, hands down!
  • FSA looks far better tham the Ultegra, I don't know what it is about Shimano chainsets, but I really don't like the look of them!!
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    FSA looks far better tham the Ultegra, I don't know what it is about Shimano chainsets, but I really don't like the look of them!!


    I agree about looks. I run Shimano and for whatever reason I've always thought that they
    looked a bit more "industrial or heavy duty" than the competition and perhaps that's why
    I've got them on my bikes. Add to that the fact that I like the idea that they are one solid
    piece of metal instead of bonded metal and carbon.
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    If anyone's got a particularly ugly DA 7800 chainset they hate (that's in great nick) please sell it to me so I can finish building my frigging bike.
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    Sorry, get the one that looks the best.
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    I've had the Ultegra and an equivalently-priced FSA carbon on the same bike (not at the same time though :wink:). The FSA is a far nicer looking chainset but noticeably less rigid than the Ultegra.

    I think there may have been an issue with the MegaExo bearing quality - a search should turn up a thread or two.
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  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    No experience of the FSA but it looks very nice. I have the Ultegra SL in ice grey and I like the look and it is a great bit of kit - coming off a truvativ chainset then I feel spoilt now.

    Eye candy is important but so is functionality so I would look into any reviews you can find on these bits of kit to help you decide - I certainly would be disappointed with bearing probls and flexing cranks.
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  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    I'm not a fan of FSA cranks. I spent a lot of money on an FSA SRM a while back. Despite being torqued to the correct settings and with the recommended loctite, it still comes undone occasionally. I've never been able to get the cranks to spin smoothly either, but I've only used the FSA b/b's, there could be better alternatives. Finally, I don't think ti's as stiff as either my chorus UT chainset or my Rotor 3D. Never tried Shimano though.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    I'd buy my sram red one in the classifieds...

    you will not be disappointed! They are superb (I run a sram force and red one currently).
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Shimano make plenty of junk, but their Ultegra and Dura Ace chainsets are quality.

    Mega Exo BBs are pants and only seem to last 5 mins. HT2 BBs last ages longer and spin loads smoother.
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  • Beatmaker
    Beatmaker Posts: 1,092
    My Mega Exo BB is a year old and has lasted 5k miles, still going strong (I may just be lucky though). I have the FSA SLK Pro chainset and its a nice bit of kit, certainly at the offer price.
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    you weren't going to buy the Ultegra at that price were you?
  • sturmey wrote:
    you weren't going to buy the Ultegra at that price were you?

    I thought £140 looked like a good price. I've shopped around a bit on the internet and that seemed good.

    Do you know somewhere I can get it cheaper??
  • APIII wrote:
    I'm not a fan of FSA cranks. I spent a lot of money on an FSA SRM a while back. Despite being torqued to the correct settings and with the recommended loctite, it still comes undone occasionally.
    +1 I've had exactly the same problem with an FSA SRM. I know plenty of people run them without issue but they seem to have more problems than others.

    Shimano HT2 are most reliable, durable and stiff of the mainstream cranks IME. Very straightforward to swap between bikes without issues. They aren't that pretty, granted, but they are most functional. I'd go for Ultegra SL of the two you're considering.

    As an aside...

    Also had SRAM chainsets coming loose (NDS arm) and the chainrings *used* to be made of cheese although I think 2009/2010 models are improved. I sheared several teeth off Force and Red rings.
    Record 10v
    - Gorgeous! Look best I think and I slightly prefer the narrower Q factor than DA. Make sure the UT is properly torqued and you follow the fitting instructions though.
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    sturmey wrote:
    you weren't going to buy the Ultegra at that price were you?

    I thought £140 looked like a good price. I've shopped around a bit on the internet and that seemed good.

    Do you know somewhere I can get it cheaper??

    http://roseversand.com/output/controlle ... tail2=2985

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  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    I thought £140 looked like a good price. I've shopped around a bit on the internet and that seemed good.

    Do you know somewhere I can get it cheaper??

    Try GB Cycles-Ultegra 6600 c/set for £80.
  • sturmey wrote:
    I thought £140 looked like a good price. I've shopped around a bit on the internet and that seemed good.

    Do you know somewhere I can get it cheaper??

    Try GB Cycles-Ultegra 6600 c/set for £80.

    Thanks to everyone for their replies and help on this so far. So is the Ultegra SL the same as the 6600? What are the differences?

    I assumed (possibly wrongly) that this was a different product hence the difference in price?
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    sturmey wrote:
    I thought £140 looked like a good price. I've shopped around a bit on the internet and that seemed good.

    Do you know somewhere I can get it cheaper??

    Try GB Cycles-Ultegra 6600 c/set for £80.

    Thanks to everyone for their replies and help on this so far. So is the Ultegra SL the same as the 6600? What are the differences?

    I assumed (possibly wrongly) that this was a different product hence the difference in price?

    As I recall the SL is billed as slightly lighter and has a different color(grey I think). Otherwise the same.
  • tigerben
    tigerben Posts: 233
    I think the SL is slightly older model - 6600 / 6700 perhaps have a little more trickle down DA technology.

    IMHO I think the SL looks a lot nicer. I have 6700 and do not like the styling at all (although functionally its great).
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    SL is slightly lighter (miniscule) and a very different colour to normal shiny Ultegra. google images will help see the finish.
  • Thanks again guys - all really helpful.
  • Will.C
    Will.C Posts: 245
    Excuse the noob question but somethign I've been wondering, you can in theory, change your chainset to anything, be it campag, shimano, sram etc aslong as it's the same size oui?

    It's just most chainsets when advertised also mention the gearing in the name ie - Campagnolo Centaur Carbon UT 10 Spd Chainset would suggest it can only be used with 10 sp and the Campagnolo 06 Mirage Double 9 Spd Chainset would suggest 9sp but both are just crank arms with a 53/39 chainring? :?
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    FSA looks better but Shimano will be stiffer and maybe stronger.
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