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What suggestions do you have for 1x cranks with 52mm chainline, that have 104BCD*?
More specifically, 52-53mm chainline with a ‘normal’ fitment N/W chainring – instead of my current SLX M7000-B cranks with their limited choice of 96bcd asymmetric chainrings (the daft 4-bolt but not equally-spaced design). Ideally something inexpensive/non-blingy that’ll take inexpensive but durable chainrings, e.g. I’ve found Sunrace MS steel N/W chainrings in 36t 104bcd at £11ea, but I can’t find suitable cranks though.
Frame is 73mm shell, threaded BB, 148 rear end and works best with a 52mm IME. Chainstay clearance limits it to 38t max with a decent 52-53mm chainline.
* Doesn’t necessarily have to be 104BCD – just as long as there’s a reasonable supply of good, durable, inexpensive chainrings. This is for my commuter which sees a lot of use, hence inexpensive/non-bling preferred. There’s limited chainring choice in my current 96bcd asym in bigger sizes (I use 36t or 38t) so I’m currently using cheap eBay random 'rings which aren’t very durable and hence my desire for steel.
Thanks.
snail chainrings come in 96bcd
i also grabbed a load of blackspire chainrings from wiggle previously due to undesirable colour
granted, these are aluminium rings...
@alan1977 thanks, but that's exactly what I've been using and trying to find a better solution to. First chainring I used was a lovely Blackspire Snaggletooth in black, then the same in orange as it was cheap but they're typically £40. Then multiple Snail/Deckas alloy (or are they cheese?) chainrings.
I could make use of these cranks on another bike if I find a replacement for this with more options for cheap/durable chainrings.
Any direct mount crank, and use a steel ring?
Raceface Cinch rings can be had in steel, and their Aeffect cinch crank will fit a Shimano BB
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/race-face-cinch-direct-mount-steel-chainring/rp-prod213731
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/race-face-aeffect-single-chainset/rp-prod146212
SRAM also, but they might require a different BB also
https://r2-bike.com/SRAM-Eagle-X-SYNC-2-Direct-Mount-Chainring-Steel-3-mm-Offset-BOOST
I use some shimano 1x cranks and an 104bcd adapter like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384995247023 and some small spacers to get whatever chainline works best.
Raceface Cinch rings can be had in steel, and their Aeffect cinch crank will fit a Shimano BB
RF Cinch rings top out at 32t unfortunately. There are alloy rings up to 38t but generally around £30 (and alloy) with CRC/Wiggle having some at £16 at the moment. Thanks for that though - that's the exact setup (RF Aeffect with 28t steel ring) I use on my short-travel FSer, so at £7.99 I'm buying a spare ring!
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I use some shimano 1x cranks and an 104bcd adapter like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384995247023 /a> and some small spacers to get whatever chainline works best.
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Oooh. That converter's for GXP, I've seen similar for Shimano fitment but it's £40ish: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234906564230. I'll have a search as that'd work nicely with some Deore cranks at £40...
[i]RF Cinch rings top out at 32t[/i]
Plenty of compatible ones go larger, eg Superstar go up to 40T -
I'm sure I bought a Shimano adapter off ebay but I can't find them anymore either. Some on aliexpress though
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004797902592.html
<em class="bbcode-em">RF Cinch rings top out at 32t
Plenty of compatible ones go larger, eg Superstar go up to 40T –
Sorry, I meant steel RF cinch chainrings top out at 32t.
I’m sure I bought a Shimano adapter off ebay but I can’t find them anymore either. Some on aliexpress though
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004797902592.html/a >
Thanks, I found that Fovno ML-008 one earlier too. However, I'm back to the start as the Sunrace 36t steel chainrings I found for £11 - I misread and they're actually 96bcd (but not asymmetric) and not 104bcd. Bugger.
Cinch cranks with 4 bolt adapter.
Any old 2x or 3x cranks, with spacers as required to get the right chainline. I've got 2015 3x Deore cranks on one (non-boost) bike, and 2x (10 speed) XT cranks on a boost frame, both working fine with the chainring spaced in by 2mm on the middle and outer tabs respectively.
I've tried an old SLX triple M660 already - middle position is too far inboard, outer position too far out. That's what I used with my previous frame (a Roadrat) but doesn't work with this one being 148 rear end I think.
Currently thinking the Shimano direct mount > 104BCD adaptor suggested by HH above (the cinch 4-bolt adaptor by nixie is also an option, but Shimano cranks are cheaper than RF) is my best option, and use a steel N/W 104BCD chainring such as this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193619600431. 104BCD steel N/W chainrings are thin on the ground it seems.
Here y'go. £25. Chainrings in the metal recycling bin, put on 104bcd NW chainring of choice with 4x2mm spacers.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115710772782?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3vKAdJj2THO&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=fskVY7jvSgK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
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The old M785 cranks I'm now running as boost cranks on a Scandal with 2mm spacers.
Those Shimano double chainsets - when they quote chainline as 48.8mm (as in the case of the M785 above), what's their reference point? I assume that must be to the small/inner chainring?
What size ring is on that @montgomery?
Edit - probably answering my own question about chainline measurement on a double: to the midline between the two rings:
That's a 104bcd 32t chainring on a Scandal v3 boost frame. When I built up the frame I initially tried a 34t chainring but couldn't space it in due to the chainstay yoke, and the chainline wasn't right. That's a limitation of the frame, not the crankset. I've run those cranks with a 38t chainring spaced in by 4mm on a non-boost frame, too. Very versatile, one crank to rule them all.
My frame - Titus Mutsu (very similar to Sonder Broken Road) - is boost with a wide chainstay (clearance for 29x2.6 apparently). 52mm chainline with 36t ring is tight but not uncomfortably so, so this might work assuming the chainline in the outer position of a M785 2x crankset can be adjusted to 52-53mm. Sounds plausible if the 48.8mm quoted chainline is to the middle of the two chainring positions. I've already got a bag of various thickness chainring spacers from previous faffing... tempting.
Ah, you'll be reet. I'm a big believer in tinkering rather than going by absolute numbers. Even if those cranks don't work in this particular case - they're £25! Nothing to lose, and a handy item to have in the spares box. I bought my M785s off here for £25 with that mindset, didn't use them for two years - but they've done thousands of miles on a couple of bikes since.
I put my old XT M785 double on a bike for my little bro, using some probolt alloy washers got the chainline around 51mm, bought some red Raceface N/W chainrings from CRC last week 34t and 36t for £8 each, theres still some different colours left for a tenner.
If you're after cheap, there's the cheapo Amazon cranks
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L6T2VZY/
They're 2x so you can mount the rings inside or outside of the spider.
I was going to change them, but they do the job
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