So I’m running a 1x10 setup with an XT Shadow Plus rear mech and need some cranks, I want to go for an anti drop tooth profile up front and let the rear mech do the work in keeping the chain under tension.
I was considering getting a SRAM X01 crank thinking it would be rad value as I thought they came with the anti drop chain ring included (but they don’t) X01 would have been nice as it’s pretty much all black and wouldn’t stand out against all the XT components too much. Unfortunately price will blow out with having to buy the SRAM specific ring to go with it.
My other go to option was to pick up a set of M785 XT cranks and fit a Raceface Narrow Wide ring to them, cheaper and would get the job done, would match the other XT components, but be a bit heavier.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Criteria is that it must be black, for an English BB, 175mm and reasonably light without breaking the bank, hence why I was hovering around the XT/X01 pricepoint.
i’d go shimano saint, the m825 is made for 1x10 and they are bulletproof yet not too heavy. probably not the cheapest yet not outrageously expensive, plus all the girls (ok, just downhill nerds) will love you.
xt is pretty good and a good price though.
Saint cranks are tooootally over kill, in both price and weight. I already have an XT Shadow plus rear mech, when coupled with a chainring with an anti-drop tooth profile it defeats the purpose in buying extra shit like chain devices that add weight and price to the mix which I’ve already specified that I do not want/need.
Maybe I should have mentioned that this is going on a rigid 29er, DH parts are stupid here.
Thanks, I’ll take that as a vote to head down the XT avenue.
Cranks - Go for what you want/smallest q-factor/wankiest looking/most badass. My SLX cranks are totally bomb proof though and at the time were stiffer (and heavier) then its XT and XTR counter parts although that has now changed AFAIK. Also the Shimano external bottom brackets will not die.
I’ve heard these are THE BEE’S KNEE’S in anti-drop chainrings: wolftoothcomponents.com and they come in black.
Personally I haven’t used them, namely because my mountain bike is SS.
Spiderless set up is pretty cool. Works on X9 and some X7 cranks as well I think, there are a couple narrow-wide tooth profile direct mount chainrings around as well.
I think bang for buck, grab a set of SLX triple cranks which can be gotten for like $120, then get the most cost effective ‘X-Sync’ style chainring you can find ala Raceface, Wolftooth etc. I think Raceface are probably the cheapest.
Worth noting the SLX crank arms are the same, if not slightly less weight than XT.
Spiderless with a direct mount ring is something i never really did look further into, but makes sense. I like those Absolute Black rings, Aeon. Thanks for the link. $75 posted seems decent and their design looks way cooler than Wolftooth (and is lighter)
I think that is the route I’ll head down. I’ll try to hunt down some older XO’s at a good price.
Yup, have everything to ride besides cranks, I’ll make a thread once I have all the parts in. Once I have everything in I’ll strip the frame back down and do something with paint stripper/paint/decals across it as it’s a pretty boring white/red/black at the moment.
I was thinking of snaring some X9 cranks cheap, removing the anno, finishing them with some wet and dry and mounting a black Absolute Black spiderless ring. I can always upgrade to carbon in future if I feel I need it, this way is just really affordable and will match nicely as I’m also removing paint from the frame.
