Keep in mind that, you can make your bicycle journey more comfortable and your bike more appealing with little effort. All you need is the best bike crankset, which turns pedal leg pressure into power to propel the back wheel ahead.
This combination is frequently outfitted with chainrings, cranks, an axle, a spider, and even a bottom bracket. Whether riding is a weekend hobby or a daily interest, the appropriate crankset may improve the visual attractiveness of your bike while also improving comfort. In this article, we will walk you through the best bike crankset which fit your requirement.
Our Top Picks of The Best Bike Crankset
Best 5 Bike Crankset: In-Depth Review
Here is the list of the best bike crankset that you can rely on for your bicycle.
1. SLX M7100 Shimano Crankset
Specifications:
| Chainline | 52mm |
| Mounting system | Direct Mount |
| Brand | Shimano |
| Compatability | CS-M7100 cassettes with 1×12-speed with 10-45 and 10-51 |
| Weight | 631g |
| Length | Available in 165mm, 170, and 175mm |
| Type | Mountain bike |
SLX M7100 Shimano crank is the lowest-tier crank that uses Shimano’s top-notch manufacturing technologies and is available either in gunmetal blue or in black color. Its crank axle is in hollow steel shape with a diameter of 24mm. However, Shimano claims many benefits, particularly better torsional strength, low rotational friction as the axle spins inside the bearings, and the option to use an outer bottom bracket design.
Moreover, the latter allows for larger and in particular more lasting bearings and seals, as well as a wider bearing stance for increased stability and pedal efficiency. Overall, this crankset is the finest in the market due to its strong and high-quality components.
2. GX Eagle DUB Alloy SRAM Crank
Specifications:
| Chainline | 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 56.5mm, 66.5mm, and 76.5mm |
| Speed | 11 Or 12 |
| Brand | Shimano |
| Chainring material | Aluminum |
| Chainring size | 30T, 32T, 34T |
| Length | Available in 165mm, 170, and 175mm |
| Bolt Circle Diameter | Direct Mount |
The GX Eagle DUB Alloy crank is SRAM’s top-selling, high quality, and most expensive aluminum crank. However, it was totally rebuilt in the previous year and currently employs the brand’s new DUB axle diameter and bottom bracket standard.
Moreover, the new bike crank has an axle of 29mm that is kept in place by a self-extracting bolt of 8mm and is compatible with a variety of axle and bottom bracket spacing configurations.
3. XT M8100 Shimano Crankset
Specifications:
| Chainline | 52mm |
| Rear Speed | 12 |
| Brand | Shimano |
| Chainring material | Aluminum |
| Chainring size | 28T, 30T, 32T, 34T, and 36T |
| Length | Available in 165mm, 170 and 175mm, and 180mm |
| Bolt Circle Diameter | Direct Mount |
The XT M8100 Shimano crank profile is designed on the newest Shimano XTR chainset and employs a direct-mount chainring. However, Shimano’s most recent drivetrain, which includes the XT M8100 Shimano bicycle crank arms, represents the brand’s final acceptance of the 1x revolution.
Moreover, the arms are somewhat different in form than the SLX model. Like SLX, XT’s 1x sprocket is kept in place by an alloy lockring and has an alloy spider with a steel outer ‘toothed’ section. The steel surface has a more costly coating than SLX, which makes chain wear last longer.
4. Descendant Carbon DUB Truvativ Crankset
Specifications
| Chainline | 49mm, 52mm, 55mm |
| Speed | 11 or 12 |
| Brand | Shimano |
| Chainring material | Aluminum |
| Chainring size | 30T, 32T, and 34T |
| Length | Available in 165mm, 170, and 175mm |
| Bolt Circle Diameter | Direct Mount |
| Weight | 1.22 pounds |
Affordable carbon sounds wonderful and can sometimes be attractive, but it is rarely the best performer. That makes Truvativ’s excellent price-to-purpose ratio even more striking. However, the slightly curved carbon and alloy arms, as well as the almost 30mm DUB axle, reduce weight to a minimum.
Moreover, they are still considerably stronger in usage than an aluminum crank of comparable weight and price. Furthermore, they are more resistant to scuffing than most alloy cranks. In addition, rubber guards are available if you find yourself scratching the ends on rocks. Also, they are available in various sizes.
5. Pista Track Vuelta Crankset
Specifications
| Brand | Vuelta |
| Chainring material | Alloy |
| Gearing | 46T |
| Length | Available in 165mm, and 170mm |
| Bolt Circle Diameter | 144mm |
| Bottom bracket | 108mm |
If you are in search of a premium bicycle crankset then the Pista Vuelta model is an ideal option, which is proudly built in the United States and is constructed with the greatest quality components. Vuelta has developed this crankset with a flexible 144mm BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter) that will fit on any square tapered bottom bracket and 108mm BB spindle, which will not disappoint in terms of performance.
Moreover, it performs admirably on the track and offers excellent value for money components. Also, it’s quite simple to install and operate and it works silently even on a 7x speed bike.
After looking at the top 5 bike crankset, you can think of purchasing them for your bicycle. However, it is necessary to take into consideration a few important pointers, which will help you in purchasing the finest crankset for your bike.
Important Pointers Before Purchasing Best Bike Crankset
Remember that your chainset comprises several separate components, including bicycle cranks, and bottom brackets, together known as the crankset and chainrings, which we will discuss below.
1. Cranks
An axle connects two crank arms located on the opposite sides at 180 degrees to each other. The axle is threaded through the bottom bracket (BB), which is bolted into the frame’s BB shell at the seat tube or down tube junction. Moreover, the pedals are joined to the opposite ends of the crank arms. Furthermore, crank arms are available in a variety of materials, particularly steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. Steel cranks are popular on older bicycles and BMXs, aluminum on low to the mid-range road, and mountain bikes cranksets.
In addition, carbon fiber, which is lightweight but expensive, is used on high-end cranksets which are meant for racing, on-road or off-road. Note that the crank length is an important factor to consider while upgrading or replacing crank arms or cranksets.
Most road and mountain bikes cranks are 175mm in length, however, riders with shorter or longer legs may be more comfortable with cranks that are shorter or longer than the norm. Thus, it may be worth your time to discover what crank length is appropriate for your inside leg measurement.
2. Bottom Brackets
The bottom bracket is the crankset’s engine room, which consists of an axle that spins inside several pairs of bearings that are preferably long-lasting and weather-resistant. However, the older-style cartridge BB, in which the axle and bearings are enclosed in one readily replaceable tube, has been completely overtaken by the external BB, which places bigger bearings outside the frame, towards the end of the axle.
Moreover, external BBs provide higher rigidity and less weight, but if you’re upgrading from an older-style square-taper cartridge BB, you need to have your BB shell professionally surfaced to extend the life of your bearings.
3. Chainrings
Chainrings allow the chain to drive the rear wheel by fitting the gaps in the chain between the teeth along the edge of each ring. Often, rings are constructed of lightweight aluminum alloy and, in the case of small and intermediate rings on mid-range cranksets, it is made up of less costly steel. Rings are affixed to four or five-armed spiders.
However, the size and number of chainrings will vary based on the bike type and riding discipline, with BMX bikes having one and road or MTB bikes having one, two, or three depending on the riding discipline and desired gear range.
Taking into account the above pointers will assist you in purchasing the best bike crankset. However, you should take into account the buyer’s guide for making an informed decision about the crankset.
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Bike Crankset
While the appropriate crankset can boost performance and give a more comfortable ride, the wrong one might make your work harder. So, here’s a list of things you need to consider while buying a crankset for your bicycle.
1. Budget
While purchasing a crankset, the first and foremost thing you should consider is your budget. Thus, begin by determining how much you want to spend based on your requirements and then sort out the available possibilities. If you don’t ride your bike very frequently, it’s best to invest in a crankset that won’t break your bank.
2. Material
While solid forged-alloy cranks are the least expensive, they are also the heaviest ones. On the other hand, drilled or hollow molded metal cranks, are stylish but not often functional. Thus, it is advised to select one based on your preferences and your requirement.
3. Chainrings
A road bike usually has two chainrings, on the other hand, a mountain bike has three. Thus, it is necessary to know what bike you have and how many chainrings the crankset has. Before purchasing the crankset, count the teeth on the chainrings. It enables you to determine the size of the chainrings. For instance, the large chainring has 52 teeth, whereas the little chainrings have 39 teeth.
4. Type
There are four varieties of chainsets to pick from; regular, compact, semi-compact, and sub-compact. While a regular chainset is the usual option for road bikes and is the first choice for many racers in most situations, on the other hand, a compact chainset is the greatest option for individuals who wish to travel up steep hills. Moreover, a semi-compact chainset, is perfect for most sorts of terrain, while a sub-compact chainset is for individuals who like lower gears.
5. Weight
If you’re a cross-country or trail rider who doesn’t like to jump or do massive drops, a lightweight crank is a way to go. However, keep in mind that the lighter you go, the more cautious you must be while riding.
Now that you have understood the top bike cranksets available in the market, it is advised to evaluate the options clearly and then make the best decision. You are required to consider all of the aspects, including a budget, types, chainrings, weight, and material, and select the one that best suits your bike’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the function of a bike’s crankset?
Cranks are one of the most crucial pieces of your bike as they allow you to transform the power generated by your legs into rotational motion that propels the bicycle ahead. Cranks, like handlebars and saddles, come in a variety of lengths, so determining which crank length is best for you is a bit of a maze.
Q2. Holize of crankset I require?
The crank length is the distance between the bottom bracket center and the pedal axis center. The most frequent lengths are 170, 172.5, and 175 mm, however, cranks ranging from 165 to 180 mm may be found on the market.
Q3. How do you remove a bike crank if you don’t have a puller?
To remove a bike crank, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Wear gloves to protect your hands, clean the parts, and pop the safety tab.
- Then, remove the Crank Nuts or Bolts from the Bike.
- Also, you are required to take out all of the washers.
- Next, locate the Crank and rotate the Coupler.
- Also, insert the Puller’s Spindle Driver into the Arms of the Bike’s Crank.
- Set the Driver Spindle to rotate clockwise.
- Then, remove the puller tool’s thread from the bike crank.
- Repeat the same process to the other side.
- At last, perform a final bike inspection.
Q4. Is it possible to swap shimano cranks?
Crankset parts from Shimano are not interchangeable, instead, they are compatible. Shimano manufactures a wide range of cranksets designed for different sorts of bikers. Thus, Shimano Chainsets are not at all the same.
