Home > Feature Stories

New Race Face Turbine Cinch Crank Tightens Up Your Ride

32 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

New Race Face Turbine Cinch Crank Tightens Up Your Ride

When Race Face introduced their Next SL crankset they not only set the benchmark for light weight durability, but compatibility as well. Offering a single crank that would work on XC, Enduro, even fat bikes, with multiple ring combinations, the Next SLs quickly became a hit. However, thanks to their carbon construction the Next SL cranks are fairly pricey.

Enter the new Race Face Turbine Cinch Cranks – all of the versatility of the Next SL that you’ve come to love, just in aluminum. What does that mean for the weight? Find out next…

Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (13)

At the heart of the Race Face Cinch system is interchangeability, whether you’re talking rings or spindles. The removable spider allows you to run almost every chain ring configuration including 1x, 2x, and 3x with multiple chain lines. The 30mm spindle can also be changed to accommodate either 68/73mm or 100mm BB shells which makes it fat bike compatible. Designed for anything from XC to Enduro, the CNC machined 7050 alloy arms are available in 170 and 175mm arms initially.

Chain Ring options:

B.C.D: 64/104mm

  • tbd (22/36T, 24/36T)
  • tbd (24/38T)
  • tbd (22/32/42T, 24/32/42T)

B.C.D: 80/120mm

  • 2X w/o bash – 47mm
  • 2X w/o bash – 49.5mm
  • 3X – 51mm

DM – 51mm

  • 26,28,30,32,34,36T

 

Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (8) Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (7)

Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (14)

Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (4) Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (10)

Like the Next SL, the Turbine Cinch cranks use a 30mm 7050 alloy spindle which requires the use of a Race Face bottom bracket. That also means the BB requires the use of a special race face tool since standard bottom bracket tools are too small for the enlarged BB cup. While a little awkward to work with, the tool does provide the option to connect to a torque wrench for proper installation. Ideally, we’d like to see a socket type tool at least offered in the future, especially for shops.

As for the removable spider, that does use a standard bottom bracket tool for easy removal. The easiest method of removing the lock ring is to place the crank in a vice with large padded soft jaws so that you can keep the tool from wanting to slip out. This method also makes torquing the lock ring to 30 ft-lbs easier.

The arms themselves have been machined to offer improved frame and heel clearance, with quite a bit of weight removed by pocketing the back side of each arm. The Cinch system uses the same installation process as the Next SL with the tension nut taking up the final bit of play.

Race Face turbine cinch crank actual weight (1)

On the scale, the entire crank system with a 32t DM chainring comes in at 720g. It’s no 495g Next SL, but for the price and added heel scuff durability of aluminum, 720g all in is certainly impressive.

Race Face turbine cinch crank actual weight (3) Race Face turbine cinch crank actual weight (2)

Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (2) Race Face turbine cinch crank actual weight (4)

Race Face Turbine aluminum crank 1x 2x 30mm  (3)

The individual components are weighed above giving an idea of what a 2x set up with a 24-36 would weigh. Currently the cranks are only listed as coming in black, but other colors are on the way. Sold for $269.99 with a 32t direct mount ring, we see these cranks cinching down on a lot of bikes in the near future.

 raceface.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

32 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Andrew
Andrew
9 years ago

Fairly proprietary, but still pretty cool. Needing a Race Face only BB tool will be something of an irritation to many stores.

Brian
Brian
9 years ago

How does this weight compare to an XT setup?

Huck
Huck
9 years ago

“The easiest method of removing the lock ring is to place the crank in a vice with large padded soft jaws so that you can keep the tool from wanting to slip out.”

It would be a lot better idea to put the steel tool in the vice and use the leverage of the crank arm, instead of clamping the carbon crank arm. …….Just sayin’

hair
hair
9 years ago

Q factor? How much does the spindle cost?

Harry
Harry
9 years ago

The Zipp bottom bracket tool works too.

SB
SB
9 years ago

There are several very low-quality BB tools that work with these BBs. There’s also Rotor and Zipp BBs, if you’re looking for crappy BBs to match the crappy installation tools.

However…it’s still a great system. I have Next cranks on several of my own bikes and many of my customers. Fingers crossed that good quality BBs will follow before too much longer.

RUSTYDOGG
RUSTYDOGG
9 years ago

Why or why do manufacturers of quality(?) products insist on using Chinese bearings!? For the love of god stop the madness. Charge 10$ more a put decent bearings in there so I don’t need to take it apart in 2 months, throw those terds in the trash and put a decent bearings (NSK, NTN, KOYO, etc..) in there.

James Forrest
James Forrest
9 years ago

I have the Next SL (lighter version of this crank) the proprietary standard of the Cinch BB is a pain in the ass.
Also the BB, despite Race Faces’ boasts is as useless as ever.
I’ve killed a BB in less than 6 months in the UK, it’s been a bit wet at times and dry now but it’s not lasted.
If you get this crank (love my Next SL) don’t get the Race Face BB, get a Hope, Enduro or someone else you trust.
I spent £30 on the BB £20 on the tool and now I’m having to spend £75 on a Hope BB…

I should have known better RF BB are utter utter rubbish and always have and always will be.

James Forrest
James Forrest
9 years ago

Oh also the preload bolt is a POS!
I’ve swapped mine to a torx bolt as the 2mm allen key bolt is swiss cheese and rounded almost instantly…….

Joe
Joe
9 years ago

You can actually torque everything just by propping the arm on a table and torquing, no vise required.

wako29
wako29
9 years ago

Any idea what a comparable X01 or similar 1x crank weighs in at? I have a Next SL crank and have been quite impressed with it, but interested in how the weight compares to XT/X0 units

greg
greg
9 years ago

FSA’s MegaEvo (not MegaExo) is the same tool as the others mentioned. it’s a proper socket type tool for a 1/2″ ratchet or torque wrench.

steve
steve
9 years ago

Thanks greg!

CS645
CS645
9 years ago

Would it be possible to run a 24/34 or 26/36 combo with this crank?

Gène
Gène
9 years ago

Looks a lot like what the folks at Middleburn can offer you too, without special (shop) tools…

xcracer
xcracer
9 years ago

@ Rustydogg
Have you ever priced out a Chinese bearing and an NSK/NTN/KOYO bearing side by side? Its not a matter of $10.
I recently modified an XBOX racing wheel to run on a bearing rather than a plastic bushing. Chinese bearing was $6.50. A quality bearing was $78.
The other thing to consider is how they’re used on a bicycle. A NTN 6805-2RS (Shimano bb size) is rated for dynamic load of 965 lbs, and a max rpm of 18,000 rpm. If you can load a bearing up to those limits, you win mountain biking.
And before I get flamed for my above comment, I do realize that the tolerance & sealing of a higher quality bearing is what makes them last longer in an MTB application, and the limits are a byproduct of that tolerance & sealing.
Cheers

RUSTYDOGG
RUSTYDOGG
9 years ago

@ xcracer. Incorrect buddy. $78.00 for a 6805 size bearing? No Way. If you are paying more than $20.00 you are getting ripped off.
I have sold bearings and related components for over 15 years for high tech applications.
There is a big difference in quality between Chinese and Japanese bearings. Chinese bearing tolerances are all over the spectrum. They are making them in such high volume they just suck at QC. Second to the low quality materials used is there inability to consistently maintain radial internal clearance (play in the bearing). Bearing manufacturing is complicated and a very precise process. So what happens is you take a bearing that already is too tight and press it into a housing. Next stop failure. We all know how well bike manufacturers and some BB manufactures maintain their tolerances for bearing fits. Not so good.
The moral of the story is not all bearings are created equal. If it doesn’t have a reputable brand name printed on it, its most likely Chinese junk. NSK, NTN, KOYO, FAG, FAFNIR, EZO, etc…

Race Face
9 years ago

Just to clear it up – The RF Cinch BSA30 BB cups do not need a proprietary RF tool to install the cups. We do have a tool available to install but existing BSA30 cup tools from Enduro, Zipp, and Rotor will work as well.

http://www.raceface.com/components/bottom-brackets/cinch-bb/cinch-bsa30/

xcracer
xcracer
9 years ago

That price comparison was for a 6809-2RS (I think). But regardless, every time I go to buy a bearing, the cost of a non – chinese is prohibitively high. Maybe its because I’m just buying one or two pieces as a cash sale. (If you know a more competitively priced place in the west end of the Toronto area, let me know. I’m always looking for bearings for small odds and ends – bikes, dirt bikes, cars, etc).
And while I agree entirely that not all bearings are created equal, and that Chinese bearings are inferior in every way, the way they’re loaded in an MTB application is still far from their limits, so they’ll at least run OK for quite a while before giving issues.

hampel
hampel
9 years ago

is the spider with the carbon sl compatible?
weight of the spider?

Race Face
9 years ago

Yes the Cinch spiders are compatible between the Next and Turbine cranks. Weights on the Cinch spiders are:
2x – 50 grams
3x – 52 grams

SB
SB
9 years ago

Just to clear it up, again…there are several ultra-low-quality stamped steel tools available, and one sand-cast socket from FSA.

RaceFace, you’ve got a whack of CNC machines, and I don’t. Turn out a proper aluminum tool to fit a 3/8″ ratchet so that the people – like myself – whom you want to have selling a lot of these things can also install a lot of these things without finishing the day with scratches on chainstays, marring on your BBs, cut marks on their hands, and an air bewilderment regarding the inclusion of a torque spec on the cups. (And as usual, FSA doesn’t count. But thanks somebody for throwing that out there.)

Having said all that, a high-quality bearing option would be nice, too, but I’m comfortable whacking out your bearings when they poop out in two weeks and installing something that won’t.

bikeryder85
bikeryder85
9 years ago

for those who have wondered, a Sram X9 crank with bb and an Absolute Black 32t n/w ring is 700g. XO is 620g. Not sure of xx1, but these are the numbers I came up with for the others (I was bored, saw a few comments, thought I’d find out).

James
James
9 years ago

You people need to start remembering that BB’s are wear items.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

Problem with raceface BBs is the fact they are full compliment bearings, so X amount of crap that makes it past the seal will have a much bigger impact on running
http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/index.php?title=Hollowtech_II_Bottom_Brackets&oldid=3296
Swap them for even cheap chinese bearings and you’d make an improvement

J
J
9 years ago

No love for RaceFace? Wow. Sadly, my older XT 1x is too light to justify a new crank. The Next SL on the other hand… I’m saving up for it.

dubSea
dubSea
9 years ago

RaceFace – The weight shown here is quite a bit more than what you advertise on your website. 720g actual vs 675g. That is a bit sleazy.

Can you explain? Should we not trust the advertised weight on your carbon products either?

Phiphoo
Phiphoo
9 years ago

Nobody knows the Q-Factor of this cranks please ?
Mr Race Face ?… 🙂

denny
denny
9 years ago

dubsea my tubbrine crank is 670g…not selazy but rather there is a variance of metals weights! haha sleazly what do you think they are trying to lie you?? haha 🙂

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.