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Shimano XT Crankset review (M760)
Most people take the cranks on their bike for granted when, in fact, cranksets are some of the most heavily abused parts on a bike. Regardless, whenever riders experience any sort of problem, they blame shoddy bearings, lousy pedal threads, or cheap chainrings.
The fact of the matter is that most cranksets – including those with square taper or ISIS drive bottom brackets – perform really, really well for a reasonable period of time so, when Shimano and Race Face introduced their versions of X-Type cranks to the cycling public, I was a little skeptical about the change. Needless to say, after a good eight months on a set featuring the much ballyhooed external bearing system, I am duly impressed and recommend the Shimano XT crankset to anyone looking for a quality, race level set of cranks.
For this review, the Shimano Deore XT crankset (M-760) was installed on my Giant cross country bike.
First impressions
Shimano Deore XT Hollowtech II cranksetThe first thing I noticed after opening the box containing these cranks – other than the solid looking crank arms – was the weight. The entire crankset (rings, arms, and bottom bracket assembly) weighs 860 grams. I’m not sure exactly how much weight these cranks shaved off my bike but I’m certain it was a good amount (I was going from square taper Deore cranks to the XTs). Regardless, most riders will lighten up their ride by between 100 and 200 grams when moving from a non-integrated setup to this one.
Installation of these cranks is probably one of the easiest things you can do with a bike. After making sure that my bottom bracket shell was properly faced (so the bearing cups can be parallel – improper installation leads to premature bearing wear), I threaded the bearing cups by hand (and with appropriate spacers) into my frame. After that, I torqued the cups to spec and slid the drive-side crank arm and bottom bracket spindle through the bearing / bb interface. Once that was complete, I mounted the non-drive side crank arm on the spindle, applied the appropriate amount of sideload to the cranks (ie. I tightened them so there was no play), tightened some pinch bolts and was good to go.
Performance
I’m the first one to admit that, typically, I don’t notice a whole lot of difference between crankset A and crankset B. However, in this case I was moving from an entry-level product (Shimano Deore) to one that’s race ready, and I noticed a difference immediately. Aside from the fact that the chainrings on the XT cranks were of much higher quality than those they replaced, I immediately noticed an increase in stiffness and rigidity with the XTs. The XTs felt solid and didn’t exhibit significant flex on grinding climbs.
As stated above, I’m running the Shimano XT Hollowtech II crankset on a cross country bike. I’d have little concern about moving them over to a trail bike that doesn’t see any real ‘freeride’ action but if you’re going large on a regular basis, you might want to consider the Shimano Hone, Shimano Saint, or Race Face Diabolous offerings (since that’s what they’re made for).
Durability
I don’t live in an area with especially challenging conditions – despite what many people say and write, it doesn’t always rain in British Columbia and most of the trails I ride drain well and quickly. Aside from the brief spat of mud and water (a nasty combination, I know), I consider myself relatively lucky to live here.
I’ve read stories about premature bearing wear where people burn through a set of bearings in two or three months. I haven’t experienced any of this, although it could be a result of a couple of things: I don’t ride cross country as much as others; my bearing cups were installed properly. The other complaint I’ve seen scattered across the internet is that the Shimano XT rings wear more quickly than others on the market. While this may be the case, the chain rings under review here exhibited only normal wear patterns. I’m still going strong on my first set of rings after 8 months.
As per usual, the detailing on the crank arms exhibit significant ‘rub’ or ’scuff’ marks from my shoes and ankle. Some people might be able to avoid creating said marks on their cranks but I’m not one of them and pretty much every person I’ve come across does the same thing to their cranks. This comment is just to say, ‘It’s normal. Don’t get too bent out of shape when your cranks start to look the same way.’
Aside from doing regular preventative maintenance (ensuring chain ring and pinch bolts are torqued appropriately, lubing the chain regularly, checking chain ring wear) I haven’t touched these things, which definitely is an improvement over the cranks they replaced. I usually cleaned and overhauled my old cranks about once per month — more if the weather required it.
Pricing
MSRP for the Shimano XT Hollowtech Crankset is $271 (usd) or $404 (cad). Depending on where you live (Canada or the United States), similar cranks from Race Face may be cheaper or more expensive than Shimano’s product. You’ll need to check at your local shop for up-to-date prices for your area.
The Shimano bearings are significantly more expensive than those by Race Face. This wouldn’t normally be an issue except the Race Face bearings are fully-compatible with the Shimano crankset. When you’re looking for replacements, be sure to check it out – your diligence might save you enough for a handful of energy bars, a couple of spare tubes, or dinner at a pub after your next ride.
If you’re interested in running a set of external bearing cranks but can’t afford the price of the XTs, consider looking at the Shimano LX or the Race Face Evolve XC cranks. They offer all of the benefits of the X-Type system at a more affordable price.
Wild card
The Shimano XT crankset is a decent piece of work, which it should be given the price point that the component carries. The one thing I was disappointed with for the cranks was the fact that my set didn’t come with the sideload ‘tool’. Sure, it’s only a couple of dollars to purchase the plastic dial after the fact but it’s something that should be included in the parcel – especially since you need it to service your cranks reliably.
Summary
The Shimano XT Hollowtech II cranks are a solid upgrade for someone looking to replace their older style square taper, ISIS drive, or Octalink cranksets. Should you do so, you’ll save a bit of weight and a lot of servicing time.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to track down similar X-Type cranksets from other leading companies for less money – it’s just a question of research. Similarly, it may be cheaper to track down Race Face bearings when looking for replacements for your bottom bracket cups.
Manufacturer website: www.shimano.com
MSRP: $271 (usd) | $404 (cad)
| Category | Rating (?) |
|---|---|
| First impressions | 8 / 10 |
| Performance | 36 / 40 |
| Durability | 17 / 20 |
| Pricing | 14 / 20 |
| Wild card | 7 / 10 |
| Overall | 82 / 100 |
1. Posted by Shimano Saint crankset and rear derailleur review » The Biking Hub | 12:12 pm, 6 December 2005
[…] I agree with the assessment of the cranks (easy to install, easy to maintain, stiff) and, based on my experience with Shimano’s Deore XT cranks, wholeheartedly recommend the X-Type bottom bracket setup. As for the rear derailleur, I’m not the biggest fan of Shimano’s mountain bike rear derailleurs because of the way the mechs consistently smack your bike’s chainstays on rough descents. The Saint derailleur continues this legacy but, by most accounts, the slapping isn’t quite as bad as some of its siblings. Of course, that doesn’t make it acceptable or right, but it’s good to read that Shimano is at least making an effort to address product flaws. […]