Believe it or not, you can make your bicycle rides more comfortable and your bike more attractive without much effort. All you need is the best crankset that converts the leg pressure on the pedal into propulsion to drive the rear wheel forward. Often, this set is equipped with chain rings, cranks, an axle, a spider, and even a bottom bracket. Whether cycling is a hobby reserved for your weekends or a passion you follow day after day, the right crankset can increase your bike’s visual appeal while enhancing your comfort. Whatever your budget or size requirement, you’ll find a suitable option among the many cranksets listed and reviewed below. Take a look.
10 Best Cranksets
1. Best Easy-To-Install:Shimano M316 Hybrid Crankset
The Shimano hybrid crankset is compatible with any bike with a square bottom bracket. It comes with a chain guard, 170mm crank arm length, and three chainrings. You can use the best low-end Shimano MTB components for the everyday bike as its chainring guard is fully replaceable. It looks great as it has been molded to blend with the crank shape. Pros
Easy to install and remove Helps increase the ratio of each gear Helps make cruising easier Bolted chainrings
Cons
May not be suitable for steep inclines May be slightly noisy
2. Best Lightweight:Sram S300 Courier Crankset
The lightweight and stiff crankset is equipped with TSM power-glide chainrings. It includes a plastic bottom bracket that enables better power transmission than an average square taper one. The good quality pedal threads and spindle have no rough edges and can be installed conveniently with a park tool. It comes with washers that fit the crank arms for pedal installation, so you don’t have to worry about messing up the arms. Click this video to learn more about the product. Pros
Helps maximize performance Smooth and tough Easy to drill Spins well
Cons
May not be very customizable Bearings may creak
3. Best For Effortless Pedaling:Shimano FC-TY501
The chainguard model from Shimano comes with 170mm cranks on both sides. This budget-friendly mountain bike group set is an excellent replacement crank for entry-level bikes. The crankset comes with triple chainrings, a plastic chainguard, and a 9/16 pedal spindle. It also features a 48-tooth main sprocket for high-end speed and effortless pedaling. Pros
Suitable for trekking Easy to install Smooth and silent cruising Soft but sturdy
Cons
Thread in the crank arms may cause trouble at times
4. Best Stylish Look:Vuelta MTB Comp Crankset
If you have an MTB, this crankset with 104/64mm BCD triple steel chainrings and 44T/32T/22T gearing designed for indexed shifting can be an ideal choice. It is 170mm long and perfectly fits the square taper 110mm bottom bracket. The mountain cranks are built to offer quality and performance at a great value. It also has cold-forged alloy crank arms in black finish for a stylish look. Pros
Lightweight Reliable Removable rings Can be made into a single chainring
Cons
Threading may be flimsy May not be scratch-resistant
5. Best Sturdy:CDHpower Single Speed Crankset
Get this compatible, simple, and sturdily designed crankset with 9/16-inch pedals and 1.257lb weight. It has alloy crankarms with solid carbon steel chainrings, which measure 132mm in diameter. The durable crankset comes with a square taper interface and is easy to remove or install. Pros
Can easily shift up to go faster Good weight Stylish design Doesn’t creak
Cons
Protective guard may interfere with leg movement May not be suitable for shredding
6. Best Aluminum Material:Origin8 Track/SS Crankset
The lightweight yet sturdy single-speed crankset is made of durable forged aluminum. It has fine machined-aluminum 46-tooth chainrings for super-smooth pedaling. You can find it in three different crank arm lengths- 160, 170, and 175mm. It can be an ideal option for vintage and modern style bikes. Available in two colors, this stylish crankset can make your bike the coolest ride on the block. Pros
Includes crank bolts Helps lighten the bike Changeable gears Easy to install
Cons
Not compatible with steel pedals May creak
7. Best For Fixed-Gear Bicycle:DONSP1986 Crankset
The burly and lightweight aluminum-forged crankset can be a good choice if you are looking for ultimate strength and reliability. It includes a left crankarm, a right crankarm, and chainrings and is compatible with 9/16-inch pedals. This black crankset has a square taper weighing 772 grams, which can be used on a single-speed mountain road bike or a fixed-gear bicycle. Pros
Removable chain ring Lightweight Easy to install Good-quality material
Cons
Paint may chip off Threads may be flimsy
8. Best Compatible: Ganopper Single-Speed Crankset
The narrow-wide tooth single-speed crankset from Ganopper is compatible with 9,10,11s 1X system. It comes with a 24T threaded bottom bracket and is pocket-friendly. The crankset produces no noise, facilitates smooth installation, and includes quality bearings. It weighs approximately 622g and can provide an edge to your bike. Pros
High-quality steel FSA-compatible Works with 9/16-inch pedal size Includes a direct-mount chainring
Cons
Rod may be short Arm may seem flimsy
9. Best Multi-Speed: SR Suntour Crankset
The nine-speed, triple crankset has melt-forged arms in either square taper or octalink bottom bracket options. It features steel chainrings and a 50mm chain line with a 113mm spindle. The crankset is compatible with most bike designs and has replaceable chainrings, allowing you to use a narrow-wide ring in time. Pros
Compatible with eight-speed cassette Easy to install Helps add more gear ratio Lightweight
Cons
Threads may seem flimsy May bend while downshifting
10. Best Noise-Free:Vuelta Pista Track Crankset
The high-quality track/fixie crankset from Vuelta fits well with any 108mm BB spindle. It does not make a creaking noise and works perfectly on a 7X speed bike. The crankset has a shiny and highly polished appearance and looks even better with a pair of black candies. The design and quality of the crank arms have no mechanical flaws or issues. It is easy to mount and moves and turns the chain smoothly. Pros
Suitable for daily commute bikes Durable High-quality paint Lightweight
Cons
Threading may get damaged eventually Chain may need to be tightened often
How To Choose The Right Crankset?
While the right crankset can improve performance and provide an overall comfortable ride, the wrong one can make you work harder. So, here’s a list of factors to consider before purchasing a crankset for your bike.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Sristi Suman, an adventure sports enthusiast, loves to share her knowledge and experience through her insightful articles. In this article, she has compiled a list of the best crankset that will take your bike riding experience to a new level. While preparing the list, Sristi has included products that suit everyone’s budget and needs. In addition, she has highlighted every product’s features and has explained in detail what you should keep in mind before buying a crankset.
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