Originally Posted by
adlai
As I am looking for parts for an 8 speed bike, most 8 speed cranksets use cheap steel, and it is hard to tell what a crankset uses.
Besides 8-sp compatibility (9-sp works fine, too)
What kind of crank are you looking for? MTB triple? 53-42 Road Double? Compact? Half-step? Potential big or small ring sizes?
Modern or ‘classic’ aesthetic? Black or silver?
Typically brand new 8-speed cranks will be intended for the lower level groups, so they’ll be heavier cast arms with steel rings.
You could also go with an older higher level crank, and fit it with new rings, since using a new high end crank may require updating the BB as well.