Track cranks: Best bang for the bug?

Hi guys!

So, I am about to replace my stock noname cranks on my track bike for something nicer, with 144mm BCD and maybe stiffer. But I still struggle in choosing the right set. At the end of the month I will hopefully have saved almost 200 pounds so that I could try to invest in something nice - or even nicer when bought used. But which one to chose?

• My first considerations were Sram omniums, as they come with the BB and are relatively cheap to get. But after talking to some people and their experience I heard that many have problems with their aluminium crank bolts and the poor quality of the GXP bottom bracket, which both have to be replaced by more reliable counterparts. When considering costs through the life cycle they seem to be not so much of a good deal anymore.

• Also very nice but much more pricier would be Rotor 3D track cranks, sometimes people are selling them for much cheaper and noone complained about their BB or chainring bolts so far to me. Also their black aero finish would suit my bike best, but thats secondary at this point.

• Many favour Dura Ace track cranks. I am kinda attracted to their octalink version. Although they are a bit out of budget when new I would see if I could get some used ones and polish them a bit.

• Much cheaper are Miche Primato Advanced Track cranks. I saw lots of people using them. Are they actually worth it? I worry they might be considerably heavier than the rest and wouldn't be such an inprovement from my current setup. But then again as they are much cheaper this would mean to have more money left to spend on other things like a new chain, new tyres etc..

I am more of a sub-70Kg endurance rider and not really the quadzilla-sprinter type, so superstiff is not very much needed. But even I feel a certain wobblyness in my cranks when accelerating, especially compared to my sram force road bike cranks. That's the reason for me to invest some money in that part.

any opinions?

Sugino 75's? Either the standard version with a sealed campagnolo BB or the new 75dd version if you can stretch.

I had no issues with the bb on my omniums and it can easily be replaced with a non-sram one, but the rotor bb is not great and can only be replaced with the same pricey rotor one.

And steer clear of miche

Suginos are another option, but so far I haven't seen any of them around lately.
Proper non-sram BBs are pricey, you think its still worth it? And whats the issue with rotor BB's and Miche?

Look for a good deal on 7710s. Mine were less than £100 BNIB on eBay. A 105 octalink BB will last forever and costs about £20.

Definitely get 75DDs if you can though. Lightest, stiffest, best looking cranks out there. Even cranks on there own (£210) come with a ceramic BB which can be swapped out for a £10 shimano jobbie when it dies.

+1 for Sugino. I have the rd2 - got them on here for 15. Matching bb for 10

No problems with my Omnium BB, it's been going for... god maybe 4-5 years now without complaint. I should probably regrease the poor thing, never had cause to. Nothing but good things to say about Omniums in general.

Fuck Miche.

+1 for fuck miche

Best bang for your buck is usually top end unfortunately. But take the hit. It's worth it long term. And you'll love it more.. Probably.

Proper non-sram BBs are pricey

Unless I'm mistaken you can use a Shinano ht2 Bb which'll cost you about a tenner for a good one or twice that for the best one. Hardly pricey and what I intended to do when I bought Omnomnons but the gxp bb is still going fine so I haven't bothered yet.

I heard they are not compatible.

I always thought the 75s are the stiffest but are you sure that the DD version is stiff enough, too?
And where to get them for 210? I just saw them for 299 including a Zen chainring..

haven't tried a lot of others, but those man.
it's a pleasure everyday i spin them. I'd recommend those 100%

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http://www.dolan-bikes.com/bike-components/bike-cranks/sugino-dd75-black-crankset-bottom-brackett.html

These ones. They'll be stiffer than square taper 75s because of the external BB interface. I was lucky enough to get mine for £190 in the boxing day sale

stiff enough for what? The 75s are stiff enough for a good selection of pro riders, don't see why the DDs would be any different.

Have they done a silver one? Bloody black parts.

So, I am about to replace my stock noname cranks on my track bike for something nicer, with 144mm BCD and maybe stiffer.

All the 144 BCD cranks are comparatively stiff. Differences are really in the bottom bracket and its interface. Up until a few years ago most frames were not really stiff enough to make any difference. Oversized outboard bottom brackets are indeed stiffer. They allow for both a large oversized axle-- which can be made lighter-- and properly dimensioned bearings but their support is, however, comprimised-- whence the call to the BB30 standard. The DuraAce 7710 uses an oversized axle (increases stiffness) but undersized bearings. The old square taper standard (Sugino75, Campa Pista, Miche) has a smaller axle but nice well dimensioned bearings. At the highest levels of competition one sees a lot of Shimano 7710, some Sugino75 and Campa Pista and and some SRAM. It seems in the US the Omniums are much more common than on the European continent-- where they are quite rare while Campa is much more frequently seen. Of the the lot I think the Campa Pista is probably the better value. The Campa BB is very good and the crankset is priced (in Europe) much lower than Sugino or DuraAce-- even sometimes cheaper than SRAM: ~200 EURO including a chainring. The 7710 is typically ~300 EURO without a chainring and the Sugino 75 is in between (but again without chainring and does not even include dustcaps anymore). All these three, I think, look and perform well. The Sugino75 looks a bit more "old school"-- like the last Super Record cranks. Any of these are good choices-- and none is a wrong choice.

If you don't want to spend that much the Andel Racing cranks are not that bad (note they are available in both 130 and 144 BCD)-- just not that nice looking. I'd not suggest the Miche since its not that cheap (~150 EURO) and its finish is not in the same class as Campa (for 50 EUROs more a better finish, excellent chainrings and a Campa logo). An attractive bargain option is perhaps the Stronglight 2000 cranks that Planet-X are selling for £50 (with chainring).

@Burke I've got no complaints about current Record Pista, not sure why people don't rate them, but because of that you may be able to get a pair 2nd hand for cheap.

Yeah you're right actually! Haha! Dunno what I read before.

The 75s are stiff enough for a good selection of pro riders

Sure. I think Sugino just needed to make an outboard model to not loose ground on the US marketplace. In the Keirin circuit the Sugino75 and even Shimano 7600 are still popular. At UCI events, however, the 7710 are really king.

But after talking to some people and their experience I heard that many have problems with their aluminium crank bolts and the poor quality of the GXP bottom bracket

Stop talking to the wrong people :)

They are not compatible, although you can buy adapters for the boutique CK / Hope / Phil ones etc

Record Pista, not sure why people don't rate them, but because of that you may be able to get a pair 2nd hand for cheap.

Interestingly I think the resale value of Campa Pista is relatively high-- I suspect that a lot of people don't realize what a deal they are in Europe. In the US they are $$$. Ben's, for example, has them "on sale" for $460 USD with chainring vs $331 USD for the 7710 without chainring. If one considers that in the US the Omniums are ~$250 USD including chainring and BB (the Campa set would add up to $582 USD which is these days 411 GBP or 516 EUROs) it is no wonder that Campa Pista is less common...

The DuraAce 7710 uses an oversized axle (increases stiffness) but undersized bearings.

And a bunch of needle bearings to compensate, no?

I'll be selling some 75 cranks and BB soon if you're after some square tapers.

A seller on here is asking £135 for a nearly new pair of Record Pista this morning. Seems alright.