New crank RED, SLK or other

simonj

I want to change my crank from 172.5 to 170 on my SuperSix EVO Red 2012. It currently has its original SRAM Red (I think black edition, although its silver/grey). This is an opertunity to get a better and if I am it should be a lighter crank. What people's opinions and experience, I know the Holowgram is the ultimate, but its very expensive at £600 and needs new bearings as I think the spindle is a different size, so looks fraught with complications. The newer SRAM Red Exogram I thought would be a simple change and save weight and currently can be had on sale for less than £300, but its designed with Yaw auto trim, so ideally needs new derailleur and shifters, although i think i could get away with just crank and derailleur, but again adds expense and complications. Would an FSA SLK (£200-250) be a simple swap and save weight? Also is the KForce (simular price to SLK) much better than the SLK? I prefer the look of the SLK to be honest and am not 100% sure, the KForce is that much lighter?!? Any thoughts or experience?

smidsy

General concensus from the more experienced forumites seems to suggest it's not worth it.

Very little to be gained from chainsets apparently.

simonj

Are you saying dont chnage at all? The fact I'm going for a different length crank anyway, means I'm changing no matter if I go for the same or a different crank. If i'm changing anyway and spending the money it gives an opertunity to improve without spending too much more that's all was my thought, although happy if I'm wrong.

Grill

Save the money and get a power meter. Then you'll get new cranks and know how much difference they make.

simonj

Would love to, but aren't they mega bucks!?!

Grill

Got my Power2max Rotor 3d+ crankset for 800 quid.

ShutUpLegs

I'd go with:
1: Same to match gruppo
2. Rotor (very stiff)
3. FSA SLK (very light)
4. Power2max (deep pockets)

smidsy

simonj wrote:

Are you saying dont chnage at all? The fact I'm going for a different length crank anyway, means I'm changing no matter if I go for the same or a different crank. If i'm changing anyway and spending the money it gives an opertunity to improve without spending too much more that's all was my thought, although happy if I'm wrong.

Well there is also a lot of debate regarding crank length. Are you actually going to notice the 2.5mm?

Essentially it all depends on your circumstances but in general the concensus seems to be there is very little benefit in one chainset to another (marginal gains will no doubt be mentioned)

Like anything if you have the available funds and it makes you happy then fair do's but do not expect it to change your world.

cycleclinic

What happened to my post?

Anyway ccranks make little difference to riding.
On my Traitor I had 2011 PT veloce 172.5mm which I changed to a 2012 Carbon Centaur chainset 175mm as it went better with the new red and black colour scheme. I wanted shiney black not matt veloce black. Can I tell the difference when riding - no I can't
On my Trek I have had 1055 square taper cranks 170mm , Ultegra 6600 cranks 172.5mm and now Dura ace 7800 cranks 175mm. Can I tell the difference - no I can't but I prefer the DA cranks because they are DA and look good. They are also light. They were an ebay bargin too.
The 1055 cranks are now on a touring bike and the 2300 cranks that came of are in a box waiting for another home.
I have a set of Super or Nouvo record Strada cranks 177.5mm. They still feel like cranks to pedal and look fab.
So on my road bikes I have 170-177.5mm and I really do not notice the difference as switch between all them often.
Also I cannot tell the difference between stiffness either. The frame I am sure flex's more. they all feell like cranks.
I also have a set of 6400 cranks and a set of 7402 cranks I am sure they will feel like cranks too.

On my MTB's I have a set of Saints, Middleburns Exage 300LX, LX, XT M730... They all feel like cranks, they all shift as well as each other (unless I have one ring on them) and length make no difference to me. They do all look different, weight different ammounts and I all have them for different reasons.

Change you cranks if you want but be under no illusions.