RaceFace Atlas Freeride cranks - A closer look.

43 Comments

Muttley (Jul 26, 2008 at 7:11)

shame, they look great, but the whole self extracting system is designed by someone with downsyndrome, doesnt wrok at all, the preload is well...a joke,i mean what retard desgins a crank to bew preloaded with elastic bands! justr get so gravity lights and be done with it.

DavidMakalaster (Jul 26, 2008 at 16:13)

If there's any preload at all you have set it up wrong. It is a floating setup. Ideally the side to side play should disappear the second the arm is bottomed on the splines. If it isn't bottomed you have too many spacers.

swiftpain (Jul 26, 2008 at 18:05)

If you cant figure out how to self extract the crank YOU have down syndrom. it tells you how to do it right on the crank and its much better than having to use a crank puller.

james182 (Jul 26, 2008 at 22:58)

Just cause its Canadian made doesn't give them the right to produce second rate product, their stem clamping system causes their OWN carbon bars to break! ask any shop mech! It sounds like there are equal amounts of satisfied people as unsatisfied, that makes it nothing more than an average product IMO, I'm not going to support a company just because of where it is made. Just ask the big 3 auto makers what making shit product results in

ShopMechanic (Jul 27, 2008 at 8:19)

Svenie, the drive side crank threads on because a right hand threaded bolt on the left side of the crank will come loose more easily. Just ask any mechanic and they will tell you that left arms always come loose but the right ones always stay tight. I don't understand why left pedals have left hand threads but the left crank arm fixing bolts don't? Seems like an obvious improvement to me.

As for the controversy on which cranks are better... I vote shimano. The new slx cranks look like they would be just perfect for a light dh build that won't kill your wallet. But Race Face cranks are the prettiest.

DavidMakalaster (Jul 27, 2008 at 14:16)

The threads are backwards for the same reason as bottom bracket threads. The planetary effect. This has actually come to be a bad design now that so many pedals use bushings but with bearings they actually turn the spindle the opposite direction.

v10riderkodey (Jul 26, 2008 at 21:19)

i have 2 sets of Diabolous Cranks now and i have never had a problem with them what so every the bb treads in very easy same with the bolt for the axle i don't know why everyone is knocking a Canadian made product for the years i been riding a raceface crank never had a problem

Ben-P FL (Jul 26, 2008 at 6:47)

I had to sets of Diabolous Cranks and had never an issue. They just last... And i was overall 13 weeks in whistler, allday riding. I just ordered an atlas fr crankarms to replace my diabolous as i want to lighten up my shocker. I'll report...

andyjacko123 (Jul 26, 2008 at 12:08)

race face cranks are good. i cant find anything to beat them. if you put a hope bb in your sorted for years

stpgeminirider (Jul 27, 2008 at 0:00)

meh not a fan of raceface after i bought their 2007 dh cranks... once u get the crank on u can never get it off to service it except it finds a way to get loose when u dont want it to be... i shelled em for a set of old heussephelts believe it or not (except the ones i had arnt the ones with the bolt problem so they stay on better than the racefaces even)

i would rather ride the shimano hones than these cranks.

enduro06 (Jul 28, 2008 at 10:22)

Shimano Hone, is a wicked set up I rode them for a season. I would never put anything by Truvativ on my bike again. I have blown up 2 sets of Truvativ cranks, more exact, the cryo-fit came apart from landing force. I have never had a problem getting my Race Face components on or off for service. You are obviously doing something wrong.

k2dan (Jul 26, 2008 at 5:43)

i had a raceface ,assembly went good but after a while it would get slack and if you lose the red washer your done for ,so i went whit shimano never had a probleme ,too bad i wanted to go whit a canadian contructer but....

james182 (Jul 26, 2008 at 12:11)

agreed but for that amount you shouldn't have to shell out another $100 bucks or even $5 for that matter, it should work with the BB it comes with

DavidMakalaster (Jul 26, 2008 at 16:14)

It does if you set it up right. Most people have a serious lack of comprehension when it comes to spacing a RF setup.

mikethebiker69 (Jul 26, 2008 at 19:58)

those are shit there junk trust me my friend has been through 2 now there shit

rocko6 (Jul 26, 2008 at 4:22)

for 308cad it's not a best buy... until you have 68/73BB
but it's look great

zdeluca (Jul 26, 2008 at 18:45)

Does anyone know how the Atlas FR's 2.4 pounds compares with older Holzfeller and Howitzer setup?

muzzgnar (Jul 26, 2008 at 1:40)

These rock, i have them on my fully, gonna get some for the hardtail too!

fr3er1d3r (Jul 26, 2008 at 23:06)

raceface is pretty sick... but i remember the threading on the bb wasnt that smooth, so ya it took all my strength to get the appropriate torque on it and on my new fsa gravity cranks, that weigh 875 singlespeeded, took about half that effort. so with price in mind, still go with fsa

svenie FL (Jul 26, 2008 at 11:44)

is there a reason why the axle is fitted in the non-driveside , and not in the driveside?

thanks.

gustofwind (Jul 26, 2008 at 1:43)

has anyone had problem's with the pedal threads?

undercoverfreak (Jul 26, 2008 at 1:56)

not with the pedal threads but with all the others! The axle thread is so poorly machined on my set that the drive side wont fit. The BB is also poorly threaded and it takes two people to get it all the way in. Contacted RaceFace, no answer. I'm quite frankly gutted!!!

bisk (Jul 26, 2008 at 2:20)

they dont have inserts :S seems abit worrying, although they are worentied for DH race so if you break a pair you should get them replcaed.

astrawso (Jul 26, 2008 at 7:27)

if you're having problems with your BB threading into your frame you might have a problem with your BB shell threads. have them tapped to ensure it's not the bike first. Also, i hope your using anti seize compound on the threads and a good amount of teflon grease on the spindle, which can help ease the installation of press-fit components. good luck,

undercoverfreak (Jul 26, 2008 at 9:12)

Thanks for the advice but the Shimano bb I fitted the next day went in perfectly.

sniggled (Jul 26, 2008 at 11:19)

Shimano BB cups aren't as deep as Race Face ones. So a BB shell that a Shimano will easily fit into may have to have the threads tapped deeper to ensure that RF cups will fit. The RF bearings seem to last longer in my experience. The fit between the axle and cranks is supposed to be quite tight, the easiest thing to use for install/uninstall is a 18v impact driver--just be careful.

brule (Jul 26, 2008 at 13:48)

There is no need for pedal thread inserts as they are using a higher grade of metal, same thing on XTR cranks, no need for washers or inserts. But on the tight BB note, I totally feel your pain. It took me so long to thread the BB into the shell that on more than more occasion I was second guessing myself. Same thing too with the Shimano as the other guy stated-it went in fine. Really think that they could set it up a little easier.

undercoverfreak (Jul 26, 2008 at 14:02)

*sniggled* fair play with the BB cups as they do go in despite having to use a silly amount of force. The axle thread is completely unacceptable though as we have tried with a looong allen key and the manpower of three people just to get it stuck about 5mm from the end. On the same note, the fact that raceface customer service ignores all my emails isn't brilliant either considering I paid Â£150 (yes, thats $300 US) for a product.

DavidMakalaster (Jul 26, 2008 at 16:11)

It's a press fit setup. There's nothing wrong with it. You just have to crank down on it REALLY hard to get it on.

undercoverfreak (Jul 26, 2008 at 17:18)

Honestly, it won't fit. I am aware of how its supposed to work but the discrepancy is just too significant.

DavidMakalaster (Jul 27, 2008 at 4:53)

Honestly, it DOES fit. I promise. It's just REALLY tight.

undercoverfreak (Jul 27, 2008 at 6:29)

Well if it does neither my lbs, my friends or me (and any combination of the 3) are strong enough to fit them which surely should not be the case right?

undercoverfreak (Jul 27, 2008 at 6:34)

Anyway, thanks for the help but we're clearly not getting anywhere here. I somehow have to try to track down RF and see what they have to say.

DavidMakalaster (Jul 27, 2008 at 14:12)

Yeah. We're not getting anywhere cause you're not listening. They will say the same thing I'm saying. Then they will get off the phone and roll their eyes and laugh at you. I'm sure the reason you aren't getting a response is because they can't be bothered when so many people have this "problem." Put a leverage bar on your allen and crank down on that hoe. It's REALLY REALLY tight but I PROMISE it will work.

undercoverfreak (Jul 28, 2008 at 5:22)

Look, this is getting pointless now. I took you're point the first time you said it. Don't act like you're the only competent person on this planet. I know you know your stuff but so do some other people. Face it. Is it so hard to believe that RF has actually made a mistake for once? I would love what you say to be true but after putting on so much force that the top cap's threads went bust it just seems unreasonable.

HartofDarkness (Jul 28, 2008 at 10:18)

After working in bike shops for the last 19 years I can tell you that RF has yet to learn anything about tolerances!I have seen each and everyone of their products fail...Period! Nice track record! And you'd get better bike mechanical advice from a clerk at walmart than you would from rapeface. The reason you can't get your crank installed properly is because its a POS.

fantaman (Jul 26, 2008 at 10:15)

Those cranks are looking good but expensive.

alxxx (Jul 29, 2008 at 11:12)

the race face evolve xc is the same thing but is less expensive

kingfisher1 (Jul 26, 2008 at 2:12)

nice work man!

gtschallenge (Jul 26, 2008 at 8:48)

rock solid, heart touching ^^

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dazem (Jul 26, 2008 at 6:47)

RaceFace X-type cranks are garbage for anything but XC, buddy a few posts up got it right....the machining on the axle interface just wont hold up to real abuse, anyone who wants a real crank that'l take real abuse should buy cromo bmx cranks, aluninum arms on the steel axle just doesn't work, beleive me or not, I dont care, but I will NEVER buy another raceface crank util they have a steel bmx type cranks available that will stand up to real abuse...save your money and buy a real crank, Raceface has produced nothing but garbage sence they stoped making square-taper turbines, not that I'd want those anyway, but save your $400cdn, and buy some profile's or somthing that isn't disposabe like all the raceface X-type PAPERWIEGHTS!

pinkbike12345 (Jul 26, 2008 at 12:26)

buddy alls you need to do is stop being such ahack and shut up..like bmx cranks suck on mtb..there like 10 pounds

enduro06 (Jul 28, 2008 at 10:16)

Dazem, I've seen bmx cranks on a mtb, but by really heavy guys though. I have had the same set of Race face cranks / bottom bracket for 2 seasons now. I can describe them as bombproof. I have snapped two pedals off and they are still going strong. I think pinkbike12345 said it right!

Size	165, 170, 175mm & 68/73 or 83mm or 100mm BB shell
Weight	1085g (175mm with double ring, bash & BB) 2.4 lbs
Chainline	48-54mm / 56-62mm / 64-70mm
Chain Rings*	22,24,32,36,44, Bash, DH & Bash, DH ring