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stupid exotic components!

Old 04-21-05, 04:02 PM
  #1  
kcirtap
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stupid exotic components!

i've been reading reviews on mtbr.com and all of the crap that i've been looking into getting is getting bad reviews when it comes to durability the 5th element coil, FSA carbon crankset and XTR crankset all got mediocre to bad reviews what the crap!
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Old 04-21-05, 04:47 PM
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Hehe...when I stopped riding, I went into a bike shop about 5 years later for some tubes for my kid's bike. I saw a carbon fiber crankset in the case and was amazed.

"That must be super light!" I commented.
"Well..." the guy behind the counter said, "It's actually heavier than Ultegra."
"Oh, well it must be wicked stirong!" I remarked
"To be honest, it's got a weight limit of 180lbs." he said.
"Really? Well I guess it's cheap, right?"
"Yeah, right," he laughed, "it's $100 more than any campy or Dura-Ace."

Lessee...heavier, weaker, and more expensive. Sign me up!!
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Old 04-21-05, 05:37 PM
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when looking at user reviews you have to remember who the user is. People buying an xtr crankset are demanding perfection and are going to nitpick. Someone buying a deore crankset is going to be more forgiving and likely unware of many of the downsides because they might not know what to look for or they might not push their stuff to the limit. Also with MTBR I tend to read the actual reviews because have the time I see ridiculous things like a downhiller reviewing an XC rim and giving it a 1 because it broke on him.
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Old 04-21-05, 05:44 PM
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I can see how a carbon crankset got a bad review from a bunch of mountain bikers...

You have to understand, XTR sacrifices some durability to lose weight. Thus, it isn't as durable as some of the "lower-end" heavier stuff.

Or maybe the people writing reviews are morons, who knows.
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Old 04-21-05, 06:15 PM
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Goodness yes I hate it when these people on mtbr make these stupid ratings. I think the rims is the most evident one. DH rims get stars off for being heavy. XC rims get stars off for bending when people go off 6 foot jumps
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Old 04-21-05, 09:27 PM
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XTR cranks are actually pretty nice. My mate has them on his DH rig, yess they flex a little bit, but they are really quite strong and light. Also believe it or not, but the XTR cranks are designed to be able to take DH. What some people don't realise however is that some cranks are designed to flex.
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Old 04-21-05, 09:29 PM
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why are they designed to flex? XTR is a XC grouppo, the parts should be as stiff as possible in order to maximize power transfer.
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Old 04-22-05, 12:11 AM
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Originally Posted by forum*rider
why are they designed to flex? XTR is a XC grouppo, the parts should be as stiff as possible in order to maximize power transfer.
Exactly.
The whole durability sacrificed for weight savings is why I won't go higher than XT or X-9 on my rigs/ That's the best blend of light weight and strong anything beyond that and someone else is paying for my parts
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Old 04-22-05, 01:30 AM
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I'm not totally sure what the full story is. But some cranksets are designed to flex, it allows for power transfer to be more even when NOT using clipless pedals also I guess it could give a smoother ride.
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Old 04-22-05, 01:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Hopper
I'm not totally sure what the full story is. But some cranksets are designed to flex, it allows for power transfer to be more even when NOT using clipless pedals also I guess it could give a smoother ride.
Tell you what. Find me one major name brand crankset that the manufacturer says on their website is designed to flex and I'll believe you. Stiffness has been a main marketing position since day one so I doubt seriously that a manufactuerer would design a crank to flex. Just find me some evidence
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Old 04-22-05, 04:33 AM
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the reality in life is that all things flex. Nothing is absolutely rigid. thats Impossible.
When they stiff they mean stiff by industry std's or when judged against the competition.
XTR M960 cranks do flex a little, and thats simply because an infinately rogod material has not been invented yet.

Back to MTBR.com and the reviews.
Most reviews there are ridiculous anyways. What are they judging the components against, persoanl experience and that soretty subjective.
Also some of those guys I swear work for the companies of the components they review
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Old 04-22-05, 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by TimB
Also some of those guys I swear work for the companies of the components they review
Originally Posted by Pot
Hey Kettle! You're Black!
<shakes head>
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Old 04-23-05, 06:06 PM
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I've been running an XTR crankset for about a year now and haven't had a single problem. They're stiff, have taken some decent abuse and look cool!

As for MTBR, it's an excellent source but you really have to read the whole reviews as there may be certain aspects that people dislike about a particular component that are either derived from a lack of understanding or misuse. You can generally weed those reviews out if you take the time to read through them.

If you read enough of the same complaint on one component however, you should pay attention. I saw the same stuff when it came to the 5th Element air shock when I was bike shopping; the volume of negative reviews really made me realize that 5th Element is a company that screws up their quality control and has horrible customer service...not a company you want to deal with.
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Old 04-23-05, 06:29 PM
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I don't think anybody has mentined this...another issue with race-components like XTR is that it is not designed to be used for much more than a season (of racing). The same can be said about pretty much all "race-level" stuff.
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Old 04-23-05, 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by gregseto
another issue with race-components like XTR is that it is not designed to be used for much more than a season (of racing).
That is total BS.

Where do you come up with this crap?
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Old 04-24-05, 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by justsomeguy
That is total BS.

Where do you come up with this crap?
The time line may be off, but it IS true that a XT part will be more durable than an XTR
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Old 04-24-05, 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Raiyn
The time line may be off, but it IS true that a XT part will be more durable than an XTR
Hey, if I wanted the goofy opinion of a clueless flat lander shop rat I would have asked you.
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Old 04-24-05, 12:28 AM
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Originally Posted by justsomeguy
Hey, if I wanted the goofy opinion of a clueless flat lander shop rat I would have asked you.
Smile when you say that.
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Old 04-24-05, 12:30 AM
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I'd sooner listen to the advice of a donkey farting than the reviews on mtbr.
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Old 04-24-05, 07:23 AM
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Originally Posted by KonaRider24
I'd sooner listen to the advice of a donkey farting than the reviews on mtbr.
Same goes for some reviews I've seen on this forum.
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Old 04-24-05, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by mtnbiker66
Same goes for some reviews I've seen on this forum.
Same as any forum.
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Old 04-24-05, 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by KonaRider24
Same as any forum.
wwhhhhsssssssssssssssssss (it goes over his head)
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Old 04-24-05, 12:09 PM
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well mtbr is a good reference to a point. For example, https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/disc_bra...ct_20482.shtml
we see there ate over 500 reviews and a rating for 4.62. I dont care how bad people say that place is, we can clearly see its a good product. Same goes if you see one with 50 reviews and a rating of 1.5/5. Especially if they all complain about the same problem
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Old 04-25-05, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Raiyn
<shakes head>

touche....
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Old 04-25-05, 10:35 AM
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I tend to take a bit of advice from every source and disect it myself. Its worked 90% of the time when buying new parts. mtbr, bikeforums, ridemonkey and nsmb.com all offer differing perspectives. On ridemonkey and nsmb.com I know 100% I am getting reviews from people who race/huck/jump in varrying degrees. mtbr the guy claiming to ride dh and reviewing a part could in all likelyhood live in florida and never travel. On this forums I have opinions I trust and others I just laugh at often.

After all of that I go to my lbs and see from the horses mouth what survives in whistler. If everything matches up, I buy those parts.

Phantom is right too, if you treat it like ebay, 500 reviews with a high average regardless of the smack talk, is gonna be a good review.
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