RaceFace Diabolus Cranks/BB
Outboard bearings = X-Type.
Words and photos Cam McRae
There have always been some truly deluxe offerings in the Raceface line.  Usually they have been reserved for the gram counting crowd (like the next LP cranks with hand laid carbon fibre inserts) but the Diabolus line changes all that. Top quality materials, beautiful cnc machining, amazing attention to detail and cool factor that is off the Richter characterize everything I have seen bearing the Diabolus moniker. The cranks and bottom bracket don't mess with the trend - these babies will make your ride look pimptastic.

Freeride and DH parts finally get sexy.
It was a big surprise at Interbike to see Raceface seemingly chasing Shimano by serving up a bottom bracket system employing outboard bearings.  After being one of the leaders of the highly successful ISIS charge I found it puzzling that Raceface would go to a new standard - particularly one developed by Microso...er - I mean Shimano.


The left crankarm is permanently bonded to the hollow, steel spindle.

There are some differences in the way the whole interface goes together though.  Both systems allow only one crank arm to be removed from the spindle.  Raceface chose to have the non-drive crank integrated while the drive-side attaches after the axle has been inserted into the bottom bracket - Shimano chose the opposite route.  The way the unattached crank mates with the spindle differs as well.  The Raceface interface is similar to a conventional bottom bracket mount in that the arm bolts directly to the spindle which is threaded to accept the bolt.  The Shimano system uses a pinch bolt to hold the removable left arm in place - which allows you to see right through the hollow spindle. 

 
After initially posting this I received an email from Marshall Rutman of Raceface.  It turns out that the left crank is actually 'semi-permanently attached' to the spindle.  This allows parts to be replaced individually if there are an problems.  The Saint system on the other hand is actually on there forever - the spindle and right hand crank arm are mated for life.  If you were to break a Saint spindle you would need to replace the right hand crank arm as well - an expensive proposition.

A nice element of the X-Type system is that the cranks can be removed easily without special tools.  A cover threads over the crank fixing bolt and is tightened using a 10mm Allen head wrench.  The fixing bolt itself uses a conventional 8mm Allen head fitting so you can fit it the Allen wrench inside the 10mm opening in the cover.  The cover stays in place after installation so that when the 8mm fastener is loosened it pushes against the cover and the crank is easily removed.

 


The arms can be removed with only an 8mm Allen wrench.  You'll need a new BB tool though.


The arms have a musclular, squared-off look that would scare off a Pitt Bull.

There are all sorts of crazy things happening with big bikes this days.  Some bikes have asymetrical rear triangles, many run chainguides (some with dual chaingirings) and use ISCG mounts and people are coming up with other inventive ways to keep their chain on the rings where it belongs.  With all of these combinations a system that allows the rider to adjust the chainline easily and without having to buck up for a new bottom bracket, or worse, new cranks, would be a welcome addition.
The beauty of the X-Type system is deeper than the anodizing.  It will adapt to 68 or 73mm bottom bracket shells and the spacing options afforded by the system make virtually every option a possibility.  Whether you want to run a dual rockring system with no guide, a dual ring and guide or a single ring and a guide you should be able to space things out with appropriately - to acheive a 48, 49 or 50mm spacing. There is even a removable granny spider for those only running one ring.

I decided to put the chameleon-like qualities of X-Type to the test by trying something relatively new. Apparently the folks at the Surrey Bike Zone have been using the Envy Double E inner ring to set bikes up to run a dual rockring system as well as a granny ring.  The Double E is made to mount either on the inner chainring circle or the outer one.  The mechanics in Surrey were removing the tabs that allow inner ring mounting to make space for a granny.  Envy got word of this and they began making the Double E2 which has no inner tabs.

Now some of you might be wondering about moving from one ring to the other when there is an inner ring between two chainrings - this has to be done manually.  For the riding we do here this isn't a problem because on the Shore we face long climbs followed by equally long descents necessitating only a couple of manual changes per ride .  Thus far I have been really happy with this combination.


I am running a Double E2 inner ring as well as a granny - confidence and gear selection.

Cranks worthy of a beautiful ride.

All this went together using the X-Type system with very few modifications. I was installing the cranks on a Specialized Demo 9 which doesn't have a lot of space between the rings and the frame so I needed to mount the 32 tooth ring on the outer circle and this necessitated cutting a notch in the outer rockring to make space for the crank arm. 

I have been out for several rides on the Diabolus cranks thus far they receive top billing.  They are noticably stiffer than any aluminum cranks I have used before, while tipping the scales at significantly less than a chromoly set up (around 1200 grams including bb).  While I wouldn't hesitate to hand these cranks to Bender for a rip in his backyard in Virgin, I have pedalled up Fromme with them more than once without feeling like I was dragging a carcass.

In short these are some of the nicest freeride/DH cranks I have threaded pedals into.

Raceface Diabolus Cranks and Bottom Bracket (165, 170 or 175mm)
MSRP
US
Canada
Cranks and BB
$339.99
$469.99
Cups only
$32
$49.99

For more info head to raceface.com

Cam McRae