Generic Chinese Cranksets?
11-03-20, 08:47 AM
#1
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Generic Chinese Cranksets?
I have been trying to find an inexpensive 165 mm crankset, and these fit the bill. "Folding Bike"? WTF?
Anyone here try them or similar generic brands? They look fine, but if they snap during a hard sprint, I'd prefer to pay a little more and avoid the ER.
Anyone here try them or similar generic brands? They look fine, but if they snap during a hard sprint, I'd prefer to pay a little more and avoid the ER.
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11-03-20, 10:47 AM
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I bought this LitePro crankset off AliExpress.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3279...2be24c4djbSsgu
Very light and stiff. The only issue I've had with it was how wide the arm is. My cadence meter's rubber band snapped and I lost the cadence meter. Thankfully, Strava showed me approximately where I lost it,and I was able to find the meter again.
Edit: I looked the crankset above. Not too bad. A tad heavy, but good for a nice build if you're looking to mix it with other chrome/silver parts.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3279...2be24c4djbSsgu
Very light and stiff. The only issue I've had with it was how wide the arm is. My cadence meter's rubber band snapped and I lost the cadence meter. Thankfully, Strava showed me approximately where I lost it,and I was able to find the meter again.
Edit: I looked the crankset above. Not too bad. A tad heavy, but good for a nice build if you're looking to mix it with other chrome/silver parts.
Last edited by friday1970; 11-03-20 at 11:34 AM.
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11-03-20, 11:20 AM
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https://www.nashbar.com/shimano-sora...0ax04x/p530611
$74 for a Sora crank in 165mm. I bought one earlier this year for my 13yo.
It's more modern looking that the OP's generic and it uses a HT2 BB. So that could be a bonus or drawback depending in wants.
the Aora crank will certainly remove the concern over quality though.
$74 for a Sora crank in 165mm. I bought one earlier this year for my 13yo.
It's more modern looking that the OP's generic and it uses a HT2 BB. So that could be a bonus or drawback depending in wants.
the Aora crank will certainly remove the concern over quality though.
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11-03-20, 12:37 PM
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^^^ A real Shimano crank with HTII
11-04-20, 06:12 AM
#6
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I bought this LitePro crankset off AliExpress.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3279...2be24c4djbSsgu
Very light and stiff. The only issue I've had with it was how wide the arm is. My cadence meter's rubber band snapped and I lost the cadence meter. Thankfully, Strava showed me approximately where I lost it,and I was able to find the meter again.
Edit: I looked the crankset above. Not too bad. A tad heavy, but good for a nice build if you're looking to mix it with other chrome/silver parts.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3279...2be24c4djbSsgu
Very light and stiff. The only issue I've had with it was how wide the arm is. My cadence meter's rubber band snapped and I lost the cadence meter. Thankfully, Strava showed me approximately where I lost it,and I was able to find the meter again.
Edit: I looked the crankset above. Not too bad. A tad heavy, but good for a nice build if you're looking to mix it with other chrome/silver parts.
EDIT: Fairly certain this is the one I've got: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000782616263.html
Last edited by The Chemist; 11-04-20 at 06:18 AM.
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11-06-20, 06:51 PM
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Like every other cheap component out there, why bother? Life is too short for cheap bike components. I find the cheap stuff to be a huge waste of money unless I am buying a bike to be used very very very little and not in situations I need it to perform well. The really only time for something cheap is if you need to test something out maybe gearing wise say for maybe fixed gear/single speed.
11-13-20, 10:51 PM
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yeah why would you ever buy the cheap chinese brands , you could just buy used carbon cranks for pennies , or look on china cycling youtube for some ideas , china has some descend brands !
11-13-20, 11:21 PM
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No thank you.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
11-16-20, 10:33 AM
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I think the technology used in forging aluminum cranksets has trickled down to the generic suppliers, to the point where brand name is not critically important.
With stocks of name brand 165 mm cranks drying up, I think I will give one of these a try. Though the $74 Sora cranks look interesting, I'm just not a big fan of black cranksets, unfortunately the anodizing tends to wear off. And all my vast stock of 5 bolt chainrings would be rendered obsolete.
With stocks of name brand 165 mm cranks drying up, I think I will give one of these a try. Though the $74 Sora cranks look interesting, I'm just not a big fan of black cranksets, unfortunately the anodizing tends to wear off. And all my vast stock of 5 bolt chainrings would be rendered obsolete.
11-16-20, 03:26 PM
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At that price point, I suspect it's not truly forged, but rather cast (aka "melt forged"). Not quite as strong as a real forged part, but it is a proven technology that has been used on low and mid-level cranks for decades.
