BMX cranks on big bikes

there may be a thread about this that i cant find I HAVE SEARCHED !
if there is please link me to it.
if not, what do you guys think about having bmx crank arms and stuff on fixed/single speed bike? or is it just fashionable to have it?

Most people do it purely for the increased durability, not sure why else you would want to do it, it doesn't exactly look good unless its on a trick specific bike IMO, i'm planning on getting a set, but only because i'm on my second set of messenger cranks in 7 months, and my bike gets a bit of abuse.

cheers

EDIT: how do they last longer?
stronger better quality?

Pain in the ass in my experience. The single bolt for the chainring comes loose far too easily.
Still, I know enough other people who get on with them.

Pain in the ass in my experience. The single bolt for the chainring comes loose far too easily.
Still, I know enough other people who get on with them.

Yep, this seems to be the problem for most people riding them fixed, heres a link to someone whos been riding them for a bit and a ghetto solution to the problem.

interesting

alternatively, you can use a tree chainring, which doesn't require a chainring bolt:

cheers

EDIT: how do they last longer?
stronger better quality?

stronger materials, stronger construction, built for tricks and major abuse, whereas most track bike cranks are not.

Simples :)

Yep, this seems to be the problem for most people riding them fixed, heres a link to someone whos been riding them for a bit and a ghetto solution to the problem.
Yep yep, I swapped out all of the bolts for longer, stronger bolts but the rigour of polo still manages to work them loose.

I'm still using BMX cranks (AC Mini LE (155mm)) but as they have a proper spider and run on a square taper I have most of the strength of the profiles with none of the ballache.

so if i was to by say some not to expensive cranks would i need to replace the bb or take the spindle out that already in there and replace it with the one that comes with the cranks?

sorry, im trying to my head around all of this!

you need a bmx crankset and then a bmx euro bb that is suitable for the cranks you purchase
a standard normal square taper or any other bb will not work
it needs to be a bmx EURO BB

I run profile BMX cranks.

The chainring problem is easily fixed. 1 x allenkey + 1 x spanner + 1 x Grommet Screw + 1 x Splitring washer + 1 x nylon locknut + locktight.. BINGO it shouldnt come looose for a very very long time. I like the Spline spider idea, but i dont know when it will get to AUS or price.

cool

I was going to go the bmx crank route, BUT after lengthy discussion with other people that have done it
(including SuperTed and a few of the FixedGearLondon guys), and talking about other alternatives, splined tree chainrings, non-splined normal bmx chainrings etc etc.....
I reached the conclusion that its simply not worth doing it, until they come out with a better solution for fixed that isn't a bodge, and cranks with a narrower Q factor.
In the meantime I am looking at saving up for some downhill MTB cranks, specifically these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=26950 as the Q factor will remain very similar to track cranks, but you still get a massive increase in strength :)

Not sure what your reasons are for wanting bmx cranks, but if you need increased strength and durability above and beyond what you get out of normal track cranks then I suggest you go for what I was talking about above, if however you are just doing it for aesthetic reasons, then just do whatever the hell you think looks nicest ;)

James you may have issue with chainline on those as they're not adjustable via convential methods (shorter BB spindle) and the chainline for the inside ring is 50mm.

volumes spider
http://www.volumebikes.com/img/spider-fixed.jpg

Any thoughts on these guys? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30146

i looked into them for my cutter
seems pretty much the same as usual bmx cranks
but probably has a lower qfactor

Seems to be lower Q factor, different construction method, and can also utilize a spider it appears?

Any thoughts on these guys? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30146

I wouldn't buy either of those two — if you want to spend real money and want freeride/downhill mtb cranks, get shimano saints. They're lighter (hollowtech), stiffer and just as durable

if you run a very short axle the Q factor won't be that bad. probably better for tricks with increased stability anyway

i got a set of primo powerbites today for free
im going to get these set up soon as
and ill tell you the verdict

SHimano Saints are soooo overkill for a fixed gear bike. Why not just get Hone? Still be toos trong to break on fixed gear and lighter still.

SHimano Saints are soooo overkill for a fixed gear bike. Why not just get Hone? Still be toos trong to break on fixed gear and lighter still.

Dude have you not seen the amount of parts i've broken lol?!
Everything about my bike right now is overkill, 48spoke wheels, heavy duty rims, DH mtb bars, heavy as hell bmx stem, chunky MTB forks, Volume cutter frame etc etc, I need as much overkill as I can get so I don't kill it haha!