ForrestDump Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Just been to the Forest of Dean doing a lot of trail riding which has further damaged my previously worn bearings in my bottom bracket. The cranks are pretty worn out and old too. So, I'm looking for a new bottom bracket and cranks that will last me a long time, therefore they need to be nice and strong. I've seen a lot of downhillers, dirt jumpers and other mountain bikers using the Saint cranks so I’m guessing there pretty tough but they are quite pricey. Would just like to know if they are worth what they cost and if they would be a good substitute to my current 'BMX style' cranks and bb on my jump bike at the moment? Also do saints fit a 30T chain-ring? Comments would be much appreciated, thanks. James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Mallinson Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 I don't think saints can take a 30t chainring, measure from hole to hole on your chainring if its like 110mm if I remember correctly then it should fit. Saint cranks are meant to be amazing, stiff and rugged but don't count out the more AM/XC models like XT or SLX both of them are maybe as good just cheaper. I'd say go for SLX they look better than most of the other shimano cranksets and are cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 BMX style cranks probably won't have well-sealed bearings since they're designed mainly for street, not Forest of Dean grit. Saint cranks are nice - they're very stiff and feel really well made (in a way that SLX and even XT don't), but the bottom bracket isn't sealed any better so it won't last any longer. They're also a fair bit heavier, and definitely not the right choice for general 'trail' riding. As Milo says, I'd go for some SLX or XT ones. Having said that, Hollowtech2 BBs aren't actually that amazing compared with the old square taper UN73. I wouldn't recommend going back to square taper, mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted August 7, 2011 Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 I've just swapped to a set of slx cranks an I have no regrets (I say just, I've ridden about 50 miles on them upto yet). They feel awesome an incredibly stiff. I swapped after my old truvativ setup started to show their age an everything started to feel abit wobbly. If you go for it go for a set from crc, there about £100 at the minute which is a fair good price for them in my books. Don't forget a tool set for the hollowtech2 bb an preloader thou, there about £9 on crc also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForrestDump Posted August 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 Thanks for the comments so far lads, looks like it will either be the Saint's or the SLX's. Personally I’m not too bothered about the weight as they would be going on my jump bike not on my trials bike which I have built to be light. I'm guessing that the hollowtech 2 bb tool is the same as the park tools hollowtech ring spanner sort of thing which I already have. Also, what is the 'preloader' that you said I should buy if I got the SLX’s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Mallinson Posted August 7, 2011 Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 (edited) The preload is on every Hollowtech 2 system, its on the non drive side to preload the bearings. I think the park tool hollowtech 2 tool has a preload thing on it. Edited August 7, 2011 by Milo123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForrestDump Posted August 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 The preload is on every Hollowtech 2 system, its on the non drive side to preload the bearings. I think the park tool hollowtech 2 tool has a preload thing on it. Thanks for letting me know, at least I won't have to buy any extra tools when I get my new cranks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 You need a different type of BB tool for hollowtech if you've not had an external BB before. You also need one of these things to tension the bearings which won't come with the cranks (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10180) or buy the BB tool with that bit attached (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10179). Saint cranks are twice the price of SLX and heavier. I can't see why you would use them except for DH/Freeride. If you want to spend more money, I'd go for XTs. But of course it's your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsmax04 Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 SLX are the shizzzz!! Get them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForrestDump Posted August 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 You need a different type of BB tool for hollowtech if you've not had an external BB before. You also need one of these things to tension the bearings which won't come with the cranks (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10180) or buy the BB tool with that bit attached (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10179). Saint cranks are twice the price of SLX and heavier. I can't see why you would use them except for DH/Freeride. If you want to spend more money, I'd go for XTs. But of course it's your money. This is the tool I’ve got 'Click' I think it should be fine. Well I don’t think I'm going to be doing much DH/Freeride on a hardtail jump bike, personally I think it’s the design of the saints that I like more, but, I think I'll go for the SLX's, from what you've said they're just as good as the saints and in the end they are half the price. Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted August 9, 2011 Report Share Posted August 9, 2011 Yep that tool will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 Like others have said, Saint cranks are really nice but they are overkill unless you are fitting them to a DH Bike. The difference between SLX and XT is minimal so if I was in your position I would probably go for the SLX cranks and save some money for other shiny parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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