jnbrown

I just bought a vintage frameset. I have not received it yet but assuming it has 68mm BSA bottom bracket.
I want to do a more modern build to mimic the setup on my current road bike which is a Cannondale SuperSix EVO.
I have been riding bikes since the 1970s and I am pretty familiar with most of the bottom bracket standards, although some newer ones I am not.
Although the frame (531C tubing) will be relatively heavy I want to keep things as light as possible without breaking the bank.
I have budgeted up to $200 for the crankset.
I would like to have a compact crankset with 50/34 chain rings which rules out a lot of possibilities that are 53/39.
I prefer to use external bearings and not a square taper BB but will consider everything.
I will most likely be using SRAM 11 speed shifters.
Here is what I have come with so far:

Square taper:

Velo Orange: At the top of my budget. Nice classic look and pretty light at 654g. Not sure how well they shift. Has a narrow Q-Factor that some people complain about. I already have to use pedals with a longer spindle so that could be a problem.

Sugino: It is not clear what the availability is or where to buy them. Not very compelling.

Campagnolo:

My current bike has a Campagnolo Over Torque crank set. I love it. looks awesome and shifts great. Although it was discontinued years ago I can still get one for a good price and already have the removal tools.
This would be my first choice but it appears that BSA external cups are not available for it.

Campagnolo CX Carbon 11s 46/36: Pretty light at 628g. I think the 46/36 could work since this bike will be more for cruising. I can get it for a good price at $99.95 but would have to buy the crank puller tool for another $97.

I would prefer to have Ultra Torque but could not find anything.

FSA MegaExo:

I found several NOS older models with carbon arms. Meets my need but probably not my first choice.

Shimano:

SHIMANO 105 FC-R7000 comes in silver $158. Not the lightest but not bad at 713g. I am sure it works good, not sure about the look.


Thanks for any ideas / suggestions

ThermionicScott 

Does the crankset have to be new? If you don't have special needs when it comes to chainring sizes, you could get a lot more value for your $200 with an older Sugino/Sakae/Shimano 110mm BCD double.

My 165mm Sugino GT weighs 643 grams with newer 48/34 rings, and doesn't require specialty bottom brackets or pullers:



I don't think I even have $100 in this.

masi61

jnbrown - could you show a photo of the frame you plan to install this crankset on?

You mention a Cannondale SuperSix Evo - does it have the 30mg Cannondale Hollowgram SI crankset? Do you like it?

Not sure what you what think about having the same crank on your 531 steel bike but there are "BSA 30" external bearing bottom brackets that can be made to work. It anyone has successfully done this I would like to know how you did it. I'm trying to implement one such crankset on an old English threaded bottom bracket Cannondale Silk Tour 800. The Cannondale SI crankarms to me are cool but getting the crankarms installed with no play or binding of bearings is eluding me right now.

nlerner

I assume you're looking for a silver crankset?

Two of the more obscure models out there are the Andel 3-pin double and the Stronglight Impact. Both are compact doubles, reasonably light, reasonably priced.

Classtime 

Sugino Mighty Tour shifting 10 speed.

jnbrown

I looked for Sugino, just didn't find anything new or used.

jnbrown

I will post a photo once I receive it but it should be similar to this: https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frames/king-of-mercia/

I did not realize that they made BSA 30 bottom brackets. I found this one from Rotor: https://rotoramerica.com/products/bsa-30-bottom-bracket

I have a Campy Over Torque crankset in my Cannondale and would like to use the same thing on this bike.
It looks like it may work depending on if the width works out right. The crankset has a preload adjuster so that will help.

sdn40

Not gonna be for everyone, but IMO this is the bargain. You can find them new for $59.99 and recently I picked one up for $47.99 new. Square taper so you don't have to buy a $60 dedicated bottom bracket.

squirtdad

just to note the shimano bbr60 external cup 68mm bb is about $25

sdn40

Thanks for interjecting. I should have clarified that I am not a BB expert and grew frustrated very quickly with the BBO, EXO, EVO, JoeSchmo, and countless other terminologies and which cranksets go with what. And for the most part, prices that IMO are flat out stupid. I was ecstatic to find a bolt on option for $60 all in.

mstateglfr 

New sugino for 11speed is limited in availability and expensive.
The VO crankset is light, but you then pair it with a heavy bottom bracket. You should compare crankset and bb weight to see what total systems will weigh.

An HT2 weighs about 75g and a UN55 weighs about 300g.

tgot 

Ok, so I see the BBR60 is both affordable and lightweight. What reasonably priced compact crank sets are available to go with it?

I'm tempted to try a compact.

[Edit] I guess I'd also need a new FD, though, unless a Shimano 600 is more capable than I thought.

squirtdad

the shimano will work with SHIMANO 105 FC-R7000

other than square taper (and then you need to think spindle length) IME it is best to think about crankset and BB as a matching pair, pick your crankset and then get the BB that fits, most have a way to work with a 68 mm BSA

clubman 

I bought two of these and they shipped to Canada in one week. Silver, inexpensive, wide range of rings and arm lengths.

Of course it's still square taper and 9/10 speed. Did I mention inexpensive?

https://www.xxcycle.com/impact-double,,en.php

mstateglfr 

Thats just an Ultegra bottom bracket. But you can use it with a 105 or Tiagra crankset too. Even Sora and Claris are HT2 now. Decide how much you want to spend and buy whichever crankset level hits your budget.
Ht2 is super easy- you thread em in, tighten with the wrench, slide the DS crank thru, shove the NDS crank arm on, set the little pin on the NDS crank, and tighten both bolts.

Wilbur76

Second this. Hollowtech2 bb all the way. Cheap and super easy to install. Did them myself on 2 of my vintage mtbs when I converted to 1x.

tgot 

Thanks all!

jnbrown

I have pretty much decided to go with the Campy Over Torque crankset which is the same one I already have on my Cannondale.
Although not super cheap I can get it for a good price and i already have the removal tools.
The only doubt was if it will fit but appears that it will using a BSA30 bottom bracket. I will have buy yet another tool to install the BB which is 48.5mm instead of 44mm that I already have.

Spaghetti Legs 

First, if you're going new, modern groupset, I'd think a compact crankset would be available in whatever flavor you're choosing. I, too, don't keep up with the mish mash of the latest BB standards (or non-standards if you ask me) but I'd assume you would just pick English threaded cups with the crank you choose. Is that not the case now? I do know that with Campy Ultra Torque cranks, you just get the cups to match your bike's BB shell.

Second, last year I was real close to buying a Sugino XD compact crank direct from the factory in Japan. They had free shipping which worked out that I'd get the crank and BB for same price as crank only shipped from a USA shop. Turns out though that due to Covid, they weren't using Japan postal service for international and the insurance or something jacked the price up. I ended up buying from Ben's Cycle I think. Anyway, check out the Sugino website. They're nice cranks.

Third - Boulder Bike sells IRD 46-30 cranks which are very nice, They used to have them for $165 but looks like they have upped the price recently - $184

https://boulderbicycle.bike/Crank-stu...d-lengths.html

letenn 

Hello,
I used this on a Gravel Build just recently: Working pretty good so far:
https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-FC-RS510-Crankset

Only comes in Black though.

jnbrown

Well my plan to use the Campy Over Torque crankset hit a snag.
I got the Wheels Mfg Bottom Bracket and it went easily into my frame, although the diameter looks huge compared to my frame.
I made some measurements on the Over Torque crankset installed in my Cannondale and determined that the spindle was not going to be long enough by a few mm.
Wheels Mfg states the spindle needs to be at least 104mm long and when I measured it the first time I did it wrong and now I am measuring 100mm.
Good thing is I can return the BB and did not order the crankset yet.
I think I am going with the Shimano 105 now. I am not in love with it but don't hate it either and it comes in silver.
Plus I already have the tool for it and it is pretty much guaranteed to fit.