Middleburn RS8 X-type Cranks – First Look
Look what we’ve got! Finally, the 83mm BB, X-type Middleburn crank is here. With 165mm arms this brings Middleburn bang up to date in the big bike category and many of us (I dare say many of you too) are very happy about it. With their longstanding reputation for excellent reliability at a very low weight, these are some metal pieces that many a discerning downhiller would be happy to own.
The set pictured comes in at less than 650g with chainring and bolts! Add any half decent bottom bracket to that and you’re right in there with carbon weights, however these are far less likely to catastrophically fail and stab you harshly in the leg, unlike some carbon cranks we could mention, but won’t. Middleburn also offer all kinds of spider/chainring combos, even a one-piece spider/chainring (the Uno) so everyone’s catered for, and it’s a real simple Shimano tool job to swap them. This also means that you could probably batter the chainring so hard that it kills the spider, but you won’t have to get a brand new arm.
The 24mm alloy axle is compatible with most X-type BBs out there, Middleburn don’t do their own as there are plenty of quality units out there already which would be very hard to improve on. And if you’re considering dropping something in the region of 200 sheets on a crank then you might well own a bling BB already? It’s worth noting that Middleburn offer a superb warranty, which even covers use in competition unlike many other manufacturers, and that definitely adds value in our eyes. Oh and did I mention, every unit is proudly Made In The UK?
As far as fitment goes, just insert the LH arm with the attached axle (factory fitted) into the BB, wind the RH arm on, rotate the collar on the LH arm until the required amount of bearing slack is taken up, clamp the collar up, remember to add pedals, and off you go. To be fair most X-type cranksets are pretty easy to install but the adjustable collar here does away with the need for lots of spacers or anything of that nature. We’ve got this one on our test rig and will let you all know soon whether it lives up to the tough, light and stiff reputation that goes before it. Fingers crossed!
RRP: £239.99
www.middleburn.co.uk
Words: Ant Gaskin @T_Onetime
Images: Matt Slocombe www.mattleephotographic.co.uk