Will My Road Bike Crank Fit On My Mountain Bike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Mountain bike frames aren’t designed for road cranks

. The chainstays are wide to accommodate fatter tires and often create clearance issues.

Do all cranksets fit all bikes?


Many chainrings are not compatible across different brands or even across different models for any given brand

. Cranksets attach to a frame via bottom bracket, and there are many different types of bottom brackets.

How do you tell if a cranks will fit my bike?

Most manufacturers will print the type on the bottom bracket shell of your bicycle.

Look for a match between the “shell width” of the bottom bracket and the “diameter” of the crankset’s axle

. If both are equal, use the crankset. On the other hand, you can use the BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter) to check compatibility.

Can road bike groupset be used on MTB?

There are a couple of problems using a road group on an MTB frame.

If you have a frame with 130mm rear spacing and a 68 or 73mm BB shell, you can fit a external BB, road crank and rim brake hub

. (I checked: 105 5700 and R7000 cranks both work with 68 and 73mm shells.

Are cranksets interchangeable?


No, cranks are not generally always interchangeable

, but you probably can transplant the crank from the broken bike.

Is it worth upgrading crankset MTB?

Is Crankset Worth Upgrading? Absolutely! The main purpose of upgrading your crankset is for performance improvement and that means adjusting or replacing the crankset to get an improved experience. So

yes, the crankset is always worth upgrading

.

Are Shimano cranks interchangeable?


Shimano road cranks are interchangeable between other component levels that utilize the dual pinch bolt

. Nearly all pinch-bolt style Shimano road cranks are able to be interchanged in equivalent lengths.

Are all Shimano cranksets the same?


Shimano Crankset Parts are not interchangeable

, but they are compatible. What is this? Shimano makes many types of cranksets geared for different cyclists. All Shimano Chainsets are not the same.

Are all crank arms compatible?

Crankset compatibility

In general terms,

most cranksets can be fitted to a variety of bottom bracket shells

, though much of this compatibility depends upon the availability of suitable hardware (see next section). Any incompatibilities that do arise are often related to the length and/or diameter of the crank axle.

Can I upgrade my crankset?

Can I use SRAM crankset with Shimano?

Buyers are free to use a SRAM chain and cassette with their Shimano groupset, and vice versa, just as a SRAM chain can be paired with a Shimano cassette, and vice versa.

SRAM’s cassettes and chains are compatible with all of Shimano’s groupsets, and vice versa

.

Why do mountain bikes have no front derailleur?

Mountain bikes no longer have a front derailleur

because of the invention of the wide range rear cassette

, meaning you can have the same range of gears with fewer parts, which saves weight, and keeps things simpler. Also making the bike build look cleaner.

Is 10 speed enough for mountain bike?

Yes, 10-speed bikes are good simply because they have a lot of range.

If you’re climbing a mountain, they’re not the best

. However, if you’re just climbing a hill, then you’ll be all set with a 10-speed bicycle.

Do lighter cranks make a difference?


Lighter crank and same saddle will be your best improvement

. As for the saddle, it’s really a personal item and you really shouldn’t give up comfort for less weight.

Do carbon cranks make a difference?

In all other cases,

carbon cranks do not offer game-changing benefits

. One could even argue that they make for a poor purchase because a good set of alloy cranks is cheaper, tougher, and doesn’t weigh a lot more. Thus, recreational riders are better off buying alloy cranks.

What is the purpose of a crankset?

The crankset (in the US) or chainset (in the UK), is the component of a bicycle drivetrain that

converts the reciprocating motion of the rider’s legs into rotational motion used to drive the chain or belt, which in turn drives the rear wheel

.

Are Ultegra and 105 crank arms interchangeable?


Yes, 105 and Ultegra components are largely compatible but it depends on the exact model numbers

. Its best to check Shimano’s compatibility charts.

How do I identify a Shimano crank?

Shimano cranks are all identified

with model information above or surrounding the area on the backside of the pedal threads

. For example; FC-6700/6750 = Shimano Ultegra. The crank length is often located in the same area, which is helpful to note before placing an order.

Are FSA and Shimano cranks compatible?


YES, FSA cranks work just fine with Shimano BBs and vice versa

.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.