Crankset quality question: advice needed.



D

Derk

Guest
Hi,

Could anyone tell me if the Truvativ Elita GigaPipe crankset with external
bearings is any good? I bought a bike that was advertised on the Internet
with a FSA ISIS drive crankset, but it came with a Truvativ crankset.
How is the quality of the Truvativ compared to the FSA? Will it last some
time? In other words: do I have to demand the FSA crankset or shouldn't I
complain about it?

I have a new Ultegra Octalink crankset here. Should I sell the Truvativ and
install the Ultegra or just use the installed crankset and when it fails
install the Shimano?

Thank you for your help.

Greetings, Derk
 
Derk wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Could anyone tell me if the Truvativ Elita GigaPipe crankset with external
> bearings is any good? I bought a bike that was advertised on the Internet
> with a FSA ISIS drive crankset, but it came with a Truvativ crankset.
> How is the quality of the Truvativ compared to the FSA? Will it last some
> time? In other words: do I have to demand the FSA crankset or shouldn't I
> complain about it?

ISIS BBs are very prone to short, short lives due to the teeny
bearings. Outbard BB cups were an answer to this and Octalink, which is
rapidly going away. The cranks themselves, Truvativ and FSA are both
good cranks with so-so rings.

I would keep the Truvativ and sell the shimano one.
>
> I have a new Ultegra Octalink crankset here. Should I sell the Truvativ and
> install the Ultegra or just use the installed crankset and when it fails
> install the Shimano?
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Greetings, Derk
 
Derk <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Could anyone tell me if the Truvativ Elita GigaPipe crankset with external
>bearings is any good? I bought a bike that was advertised on the Internet
>with a FSA ISIS drive crankset, but it came with a Truvativ crankset.
>How is the quality of the Truvativ compared to the FSA? Will it last some
>time? In other words: do I have to demand the FSA crankset or shouldn't I
>complain about it?
>
>I have a new Ultegra Octalink crankset here. Should I sell the Truvativ and
>install the Ultegra or just use the installed crankset and when it fails
>install the Shimano?

I have Shimano cranks on my road bike, but the best crankset I have ever tried
are my MTB Truvativ Firex :)
Wanted Truvativ for my road bike but couldn't find italian ISIS BB.
Those new external bearings should resolve some durability issues that splined
BBs had (both ISIS and octalink).
I think that integrated crank/BB are not that important but bigger external
bearings are great idea.
 
Hi Peter,

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:

> ISIS BBs are very prone to short, short lives due to the teeny
> bearings.
So I should be glad I got the Truvativ GPX with exterior bearings instead of
the FSA Isis drive if I understand you well.

>The cranks themselves, Truvativ and FSA are both good cranks with so-so
>rings.
Are there any aftermarket rings? Will T.A. rings fit for example?

How much do these exterior bearings cost when I have to replace them btw?

Thanks for your answer!

Greetings, Derk
 
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 15:33:46 +0100, Derk <[email protected]> wrote:

>How much do these exterior bearings cost when I have to replace them btw?

Assuming they're compatible with Shimano (and the noises I've heard are
that they're mostly all interchangeable, since really the interface
consists of a tube of a certain diameter, which is easy to match), 26.50
euro for an Ultegra at Rose versand. 105 BBs are so far not available
separately, I believe.


Jasper
 
Jasper Janssen wrote:
> On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 15:33:46 +0100, Derk <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> How much do these exterior bearings cost when I have to replace them
>> btw?
>
> Assuming they're compatible with Shimano (and the noises I've heard
> are that they're mostly all interchangeable, since really the
> interface consists of a tube of a certain diameter, which is easy to
> match), 26.50 euro for an Ultegra at Rose versand. 105 BBs are so far
> not available separately, I believe.

A coworker of mine replaced the OEM BB with an XTR BB on his external BB FSA
Gossamer crankset. He loves it and will probably go with the same BB next
time, also because it's cheaper.
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training
 
Jasper Janssen wrote:

> Assuming they're compatible with Shimano (and the noises I've heard are
> that they're mostly all interchangeable, since really the interface
> consists of a tube of a certain diameter, which is easy to match)
That would be VERY good news Jasper. I hope the rumors you heard are right!

Greets, Derk
 
smokva wrote:

> I think that integrated crank/BB are not that important but bigger
> external bearings are great idea.
I hope they're better than the ISIS bearings. My fear was that I got a very
cheap crankset on my bike, that I have to replace very soon, but according
to what I hear on this group, I'm lucky I got the new model with these
external bearings.

Grettings, Derk
 
smokva wrote:
> Derk <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Could anyone tell me if the Truvativ Elita GigaPipe crankset with
>> external bearings is any good? I bought a bike that was advertised
>> on the Internet with a FSA ISIS drive crankset, but it came with a
>> Truvativ crankset.
>> How is the quality of the Truvativ compared to the FSA? Will it last
>> some time? In other words: do I have to demand the FSA crankset or
>> shouldn't I complain about it?
>>
>> I have a new Ultegra Octalink crankset here. Should I sell the
>> Truvativ and install the Ultegra or just use the installed crankset
>> and when it fails install the Shimano?
>
> I have Shimano cranks on my road bike, but the best crankset I have
> ever tried are my MTB Truvativ Firex :)
> Wanted Truvativ for my road bike but couldn't find italian ISIS BB.

Really? They're out there and widely available.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training
 
On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 08:30:28 +0100, Derk <[email protected]> wrote:

>smokva wrote:
>
>> I think that integrated crank/BB are not that important but bigger
>> external bearings are great idea.
>I hope they're better than the ISIS bearings. My fear was that I got a very
>cheap crankset on my bike, that I have to replace very soon, but according
>to what I hear on this group, I'm lucky I got the new model with these
>external bearings.

Well, I'd generally recommend that you apply a bit of compression to the signals
you get from any marketers, magazines or the nutty fringe types on the internet.
98% of the time nothing is as bad as the guy who screams "it suXXX" says it is
and it's never as great as the ad copy claims.

We're nuts, cranks, geeks and obsessives. We take "marginally better" and turn
it into "best ever." Even if it is best ever, it ain't by much.

There truly are bad, crappy, sucky components out there. Not many anymore and
again, not by much. Even the cheap stuff is nowhere near as bad as cheap stuff
used to be. There's a broad middle range of price point manufacture in this
industry that does a great job of giving you something pretty damn good for what
you paid. The exceptions are at the very highest and lowest price ranges.

Ron
 
Jasper Janssen wrote:

> Assuming they're compatible with Shimano (and the noises I've heard are
> that they're mostly all interchangeable, since really the interface
> consists of a tube of a certain diameter, which is easy to match)
Is there anyone who ever tried this? I'm very curious if this is possible or
not.

Greetings, Derk
 
Derk wrote:
> Jasper Janssen wrote:
>
>> Assuming they're compatible with Shimano (and the noises I've heard
>> are that they're mostly all interchangeable, since really the
>> interface consists of a tube of a certain diameter, which is easy to
>> match)
> Is there anyone who ever tried this? I'm very curious if this is
> possible or not.
>
> Greetings, Derk

Derk, I posted the following just above your 2 posts:
-----------------------
A coworker of mine replaced the OEM BB with an XTR BB on his external BB FSA
Gossamer crankset. He loves it and will probably go with the same BB next
time, also because it's cheaper.
-----------------------

I don't believe he needed any modifications to get it to work. I will call
him and ask.
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training
 
Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:

> Derk, I posted the following just above your 2 posts:
> -----------------------
> A coworker of mine replaced the OEM BB with an XTR BB on his external BB
> FSA Gossamer crankset.
> -----------------------
Thanks Phil, I read it, but I don't have a FSA crankset, but a Truvativ
Elita crankset with external bearings.....

Greetings, Derk
 
Derk wrote:
> Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
>
> > Derk, I posted the following just above your 2 posts:
> > -----------------------
> > A coworker of mine replaced the OEM BB with an XTR BB on his external BB
> > FSA Gossamer crankset.
> > -----------------------
> Thanks Phil, I read it, but I don't have a FSA crankset, but a Truvativ
> Elita crankset with external bearings.....
>
> Greetings, Derk

I too wonder if Shimano BB cups and bearings would work with Truvativ
GXP cranks, and I think not. The Truvativ cranks I've seen have two
different diameters where the bearings fit, but Shimano Hollowtech II
spindle is the same diameter for both bearings.

See this PDF for hints of the different diameters Truvativ uses. Clues
are the two different ID's of the left and right seals (Figure 2) and
also two different diameters can bee seen on the spindle (Figure 3).

http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/2005_gxp-05-r5-e.pdf
 
[email protected] wrote:
> Derk wrote:
>> Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
>>
>>> Derk, I posted the following just above your 2 posts:
>>> -----------------------
>>> A coworker of mine replaced the OEM BB with an XTR BB on his
>>> external BB FSA Gossamer crankset.
>>> -----------------------
>> Thanks Phil, I read it, but I don't have a FSA crankset, but a
>> Truvativ Elita crankset with external bearings.....
>>
>> Greetings, Derk
>
> I too wonder if Shimano BB cups and bearings would work with Truvativ
> GXP cranks, and I think not. The Truvativ cranks I've seen have two
> different diameters where the bearings fit, but Shimano Hollowtech II
> spindle is the same diameter for both bearings.
>
> See this PDF for hints of the different diameters Truvativ uses. Clues
> are the two different ID's of the left and right seals (Figure 2) and
> also two different diameters can bee seen on the spindle (Figure 3).
>
> http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/2005_gxp-05-r5-e.pdf


Derk and Dianne, I found the following in a quick internet search:
-------------------------------
Like I said Shimano and Race Face external cup BBs will not work with
Truvativ or Bontrager cranks and vice versa.

Shimano and Race Face use the same standard. Truvativ is the same as
Bontrager. Which is not interchangable with Shimano or Race Face.

Bontrager is the same as Truvativ.

Truvative makes Bontrager's cranks.

Bontrager cranks are Truvative cranks with Bontrager decals.

Their (Truvative/Bontrager) cranks use different BB cups than Shimano and
Race Face.
---------------------------

From:
http://www.dirtragmag.com/forums/printthread.php?t=6861

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training
 
Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:

> Like I said Shimano and Race Face external cup BBs will not work with
> Truvativ or Bontrager cranks and vice versa.

When it looks too good to be true.............I already feared this.

Thank you!

Grettings, Derk
 
smokva wrote:
> Derk <[email protected]> wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >Could anyone tell me if the Truvativ Elita GigaPipe crankset with external
> >bearings is any good? I bought a bike that was advertised on the Internet
> >with a FSA ISIS drive crankset, but it came with a Truvativ crankset.
> >How is the quality of the Truvativ compared to the FSA? Will it last some
> >time? In other words: do I have to demand the FSA crankset or shouldn't I
> >complain about it?
> >
> >I have a new Ultegra Octalink crankset here. Should I sell the Truvativ and
> >install the Ultegra or just use the installed crankset and when it fails
> >install the Shimano?
>
> I have Shimano cranks on my road bike, but the best crankset I have ever tried
> are my MTB Truvativ Firex :)
> Wanted Truvativ for my road bike but couldn't find italian ISIS BB.


Lots of these 'out there'....Probably not MO, but most bike shops of a
decent quality will have them.

> Those new external bearings should resolve some durability issues that splined
> BBs had (both ISIS and octalink).
> I think that integrated crank/BB are not that important but bigger external
> bearings are great idea.
 
On 24 Nov 2005 07:27:26 -0800, "Qui si parla Campagnolo"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Lots of these 'out there'....Probably not MO, but most bike shops of a
>decent quality will have them.

What gives you the impression that 'most' bike shops have a larger
assortment than the better MO places? It sounds like even people like
Harris and you need to go to QBP or other distributors for the unusual
stuff, and there are certainly ways to MO anything that the major
distributors carry.

Jasper
 
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