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i might be needing a new set of cranks for frame compatibility. I’m looking for a native 1x crank, not a double or triple. Ideally I’d like 104 chainring compatibility. I’m struggling apart from oddities like a NSB spider on a set of SRAM’s. Any suggestions?
What about one of the RaceFace direct mount cranks? You can get spiders for them - but then for 1x there's not much point as you are just adding two parts to the crank rather than one.
I went through this a while back. I ended up with a set of Zee cranks.
They are not light but they are stiffer than a teenage boy at a strip club.
Why do you need 104 compatibility? Direct mount chainrings are really easy to use / change the rings on.
Middleburn maybe.
Yep, my Middleburn on the SS are 104bcd
“I went through this a while back. I ended up with a set of Zee cranks.”
When you look at them more closely you can see that apart from the heavier duty axle and lack of bolt holes for the granny, they’re identical to Deore - the space for the bolt holes is there, they just haven’t been machined.
If you want decent 104BCD single ring cranks you can’t go far wrong with SLX or XT triple cranks. Or get some Saints for a real 1x crank.
Just get the sram, much prefer the fitting style to shimano And tbh direct mount is just better and easier.
What chiefgrooveguru says.
I think the Zees have pedal inserts as well, I might be wrong though.
They are certainly stiffer than the SLX they replaced and hopefully more durable.
OP, why do you want 104 BCD compatibility?
Direct mount is by far the best system for 1x, I've two direct mount cranksets and one spider and the latter is double the faff of the DM pair: want to swap from 32T to 30T? different set of bolts; want to put a 28T oval ring on? No chance! Etc.
Only downside is 30T up only. All 30T rings I’ve seen have threaded holes so you just ditch the nut.
Added bonus is being able to adjust chainline with chainring spacers which is often a benefit.
All sorted now! Totally understand that DM is the correct way forward but I was struggling with existing rings and trying to find a solution that would allow me to keep them. Turns out that I was using overlong bolts and with true singlering bolts the 34T oval clears my chainstay in the middle position of the existing repurposed triple ... just! New DM crank before any more rings though I think!