X-LinkedRider

Hey everyone. I put close to 2k miles on my new bike this year and am getting some clicking from my bottom bracket/crankset. I will most likely just end up with a new bottom bracket and hope that fixes the problem. yes i have already tried to do rebuild and regrease, but still have very consistent clicking coming from my crank when i use force like climbing.

If the new bottom bracket DOES NOT fix the problem however and it is time for an upgrade in the crank AND bottom bracket. I don't know what I should upgrade to. The 105 crank would look nice and finish off rest of my group but the force crank would probably look just as nice and be more of an upgrade. What do you guys think? Any other suggestions, feel free to post them as well.

here is my bike.as it sits, pretty much.

Current setup:
Shimano 105 shifters, front/rear dearilluer, chain, cassette. pedals
SL Race - Crankset, Bottom Bracket, Wheelset

yzeater

What's your budget?

Elvo

SRM Rotor 3D

yzeater

I doubt his budget is $3k

garciawork

I have nothing but good things to say about my Ultegra SL crankset's. Peobably cheaper on eBay right now too since 6700 came out.

X-LinkedRider

Budget is probably around the 300 mark, but nothing set in stone. The less expensive the better, but not at the expense of function and yes fashion. I would totally consider an ultegra crankset but I have yet to see one in black for sale. I just think even an ice grey would look kind of weird on the bike. no? What are peoples thoughts on mixing Sram/Shimano stuff.

v70cat

Dura Ace is about $400 and is very light and high quality.

domyen

+1 for SRAM Force and Rival value. Be careful to install the new cranks and BB properly to avoid clicking (read below for a bit of history on my SRAM clicking).
Warning: the big ring shifting of my Force crankset is awful, consider a Shimano large ring.

My SRAM crankset experience:
I had an similar problem on two of my bikes equipped with SRAM Force and Rival respectively with the GXP bottom bracket. At the time, I concluded that the relatively inexpensive SRAM BB's were the problem, all but confirmed by the unqualified internet research. I was ready to repurchase a new BB or upgrade to a Chris King...

Then I took it to a shop where they attributed the problem to be poor tightening on the BB as well as the road grime accumulation. I don't think either crankset was ever called into question.

X-LinkedRider

The bike shop I use is the designer and manufacturer of the frames. He builds custom bikes and completely understands that inner-workings of the bike. We have tried re-greasing, which requires re-tightening and seating. This was all done at the shop professionally. I have been caught in the rain about 3 or 4 times (hard) and do ride on some really grimey roads sometimes. Like I said, I will most likely try a new bottom bracket first and then see if that doesn't work then new crank/bb set.

BTW, for anybody wondering. The BB is standard external. (Not BB30)

Thanks for reading

zatopek

Stronglight Pulsion

nhluhr

There are so many things that could be causing your click that simply easter-egging with new parts is a massive waste of time, money, and frustration.

Start with basics like chainring bolts (lubed and torqued correctly), seatposts, seat rails, pedals, cleats, handlebar/stem bolts, spoke tension, cassette lockring, etc.

https://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

thirdgenbird

very cool looking crank but ive seen quite a few pictures of broken ones.


to throw a different option out there i am going to recommend a campagnolo set. 10spd crankset prices have plummeted since 11spd was released. i actually just picked up a brand new take of Record 10 carbon crankset and bottom bracket cups for under $300 shipped to my door. for the money i doubt you will find anything that balances weight, stiffness, shifting performance, and bearing quality better.

ultra torque cranks also allow a lot of frameset flexibility. campagnolo makes reasonably priced cups for nearly any frame type.

M_Wales

I love my Ultegra 6650 and 6750 cranksets, but also like the looks of the FSA SL-K Light.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FSA-SL-K-Lig...item336b9540b8

c_mack9

i recently upgrade to a 105 5600 crankset/BB. i got it for $125 installed from the shop i bought my bike from. i dont think the ultegra weighs much more, but i havent looked it up. a 105 might be worth the consideration, im happy with mine so far.

sced

Used 7800.

M_Wales

for the 53/39's
105/5600 weighs 833, Ultegra 6600 weighs less @ 823 and the Ultegra 6700 is a little less @ 785. Not a huge diff...

But the compact Ultegra 6650 is 756 and the 6750 is @ 650...

They did make a compact 5650, but I couldn't find much on them..

bengreen79

What about bringing it back to the LBS? Shouldn't still be under warranty if it was new this year?

X-LinkedRider

I already mentioned that the bike is custom build from a local designer. I already mentioned, that I will try a brand new bottom bracket first. For the 30 dollars i'm not going to mention any warranty, not do I care as I clearly put some hard miles on this bike. I have also already mentioned that I understand where the noise is coming from. I was just considering a crankset upgrade from the very beginning, I just never figured out which one I want.

I do love the rest of my 105 stuff, but will eventually be upgrading everything over time. I just did not want to start putting mixed components if it is going to impede the smoothness. (Keeping in mind that the current Crankset is not Shimano 105)

X-LinkedRider

Btw. I want to keep it a COMPACT crankset. I don't know how I have not mentioned that. I live in very hilly area.

Megiddo

You might want to check your pedals... I took mine apart, greased and now no clicking. That assumes they are serviceable (mine are fairly inexpensive gray Looks... I don't know the model). The next day I replaced my BB30 bearings because they arrived and I had the time.

The next bearing change will be with standard bearings bought from someplace cheaper. They are standard 42x30x7 bearings.

GDA

SRAM Force - 97% of the performance of Red but quite a bit less costly. You can save big by going gently used off ebay or CL. I really like the one I have on my road bike.

Elvo

SRAM Red crank is $180 on Bonktown

X-LinkedRider

i see nothing but apparel on bonktown.com. Am I missing something? So noissues using Dram crank with shimano setup otherwise?

mantis

If you think its the bottom bracket, remove the crank and the BB, lube the BB threads with grease and then reassemble and properly torque it down. I would try this before spending a lot of $$$$$.

musicmaster

I'm not going to lie... That doesn't look like a custom frame. More like one of the Chinese carbon clones. Nothing wrong with them, but he provably didn't actually make it.....