I'm noticing some great deals on the FC-M960 Cranksets now that the new stuff is out. I'm currently running some XT Octalinks that work fine. I like the idea of a nice light stiff crankset but I'm concerned about the proprietary ring setup. Are any 3rd party companies building rings for the M960? Any other reasons why I shouldn't get them?
There's some hot deals on the 970 series XTR too, the extra $90-ish is well worth it to get the new stuff, it's easier to install and adjust for preload and the Ti/carbon middle ring makes shifting super smooth. I bought a set of the 970 cranks from Chainreaction and it was as painless as any other mail order transaction.
I blackspire makes some rings for the 960, if you can find them. I think getting the 970 would save you money down the long road with replacement rings.
No harder than most other external BB cranks, but preload adjust is always fussy, the 970 cranks with the threaded preload adjuster is so slick and you can make it spin smooth as butter with no sideplay without having to take stuff apart and play with spacers.
There's some hot deals on the 970 series XTR too, the extra $90-ish is well worth it to get the new stuff, it's easier to install and adjust for preload and the Ti/carbon middle ring makes shifting super smooth. I bought a set of the 970 cranks from Chainreaction and it was as painless as any other mail order transaction.
There's some hot deals on the 970 series XTR too, the extra $90-ish is well worth it to get the new stuff, it's easier to install and adjust for preload and the Ti/carbon middle ring makes shifting super smooth. I bought a set of the 970 cranks from Chainreaction and it was as painless as any other mail order transaction.
... different alu alloy than the other Shimano stuff, I would get the newer XTRs. I wore out my rings pretty fast on my octalink XTs and my HT2 LX cranks. THose things are soft. The TI middle ring (where you spend the most time) oughta last a nice long time. The funky 102mm BCD makes replacement rings expensive for the older XTRs. I think Boone TI rings might be the only ones not mentioned so far.
But Ooooooh! M960 XTRs with Boone Ti chainrings?!? Purdy! $$$, but purdy!
... different alu alloy than the other Shimano stuff, I would get the newer XTRs. I wore out my rings pretty fast on my octalink XTs and my HT2 LX cranks. THose things are soft. The TI middle ring (where you spend the most time) oughta last a nice long time. The funky 102mm BCD makes replacement rings expensive for the older XTRs. I think Boone TI rings might be the only ones not mentioned so far.
But Ooooooh! M960 XTRs with Boone Ti chainrings?!? Purdy! $$$, but purdy!
I don't know if I would buy the XTR 960's. My experience with them is that the rings are buttery soft. My 952's were like that too. It's getting so I am afraid of XTR rings in general (I am acared to even look at the price of the 970 rings). I am thinking of downgrading to XT or even a cheap Deore with steel rings and see how long they last (as long as the wieght penalty is not that extreme).
I wish someone would make some good old fasion ramped stainless steel chainrings like the old Onzas or Engagements.
Good Luck
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