Unmatched efficiency and reliability

Concept

At Raketa Components, we dedicated our efforts during the development of our crank arms to three main objectives:

— Stiffness - because we know that optimal power transfer is what truly saves those precious watts out on the road.
— Reliability - after witnessing a remarkable failure of Shimano cranks, we made it a priority to ensure our crank arms would be absolutely dependable.
— Compatibility - we wanted our crank arms to be compatible with all types of bikes and riders, providing a seamless integration.

So, how did we achieve these goals?

Development

To start, we meticulously examined the three main technologies used in the production of racing bicycle crank arms, carefully considering their advantages and disadvantages. We noticed a glaring potential for failure with both carbon and bonded alloy cranks, leading us to choose the route of solid CNC machined arms.

During the development process, we utilized FEM analysis and discovered a structure that not only offered high stiffness but also maintained a competitive weight. For our crank arms, we chose the finest 7000-series aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, due to its exceptional stiffness to weight ratio.

Going beyond the regular 7075-T6, we opted for a truly aerospace-grade alloy, one commonly used in the production of aircraft wings. At this moment, we are unable to disclose the exact name of this alloy.

Reliability tests

In order to ensure the utmost reliability, we rigorously tested our crank arms to meet the stringent ISO 4210-8 standard for racing bike cranksets. This proved to be a challenging task that required six months of development and the testing of 27 prototypes. The ISO test applies a repetitive load of 1800 Newtons to the crank arm over a period of 100,000 cycles, simulating the pedalling of the most powerful sprinters. This test checks for any failure resulting from fatigue, which is a common issue with bicycle crank arms.

Given that our crank arms are manufactured from a solid block of aluminum, they are not susceptible to bond failure like hollow aluminum and carbon cranks. They are also resistant to abrasive wear and sharp objects. As a testament to their durability, our crank arms come with a 5-year limited warranty against manufacturing or material defects.

Results

The results of our efforts speak for themselves. Our crank arms are 100% reliable and serve as a perfect fit for Road, Gravel, and Time-trial bikes. In fact, our cranks are, on average, 20% stiffer than the latest generation SRAM Red or Shimano Dura-Ace cranks. This improved stiffness translates into enhanced power transfer and a reduction in energy loss during all-out efforts.

Crank lengths

Recognizing the wide range of modern road bikes, we aimed to provide compatibility that not only covers the basics but also ensures the best fit.

For crank lengths, we wanted to offer as many options as possible to accommodate all types of riders. Thanks to the flexibility of CNC machining technology, we will be offering our crank arms in various lengths ranging from 145 to 175 mm. Additionally, we offer the possibility of custom lengths and even mismatched pairs.

Drivetrains

As for drivetrain compatibility, we have chosen the popular 8-bolt Direct Mount interface. This allows our crank arms to be compatible with a variety of drivetrains. You can pair our crank arms with our Oval or Round 1x Narrow-Wide chainring, our 110x5, 110x4, or 104x4 spider. Additionally, you can easily combine our crank arms with any SRAM AXS chainrings or spiders, use them with 8-bolt powermeters (e.g. Quarq, Magene, Sigeyi), or pair them with any other aftermarket chainrings compatible with an 8-bolt mount. The possibilities are endless!

Appearance

Besides that, each Raketa crankset receives signature Raketa finish quality, with hand-polished crankarms and unmatched gloss anodizing. Crankarms are available in 10 different colors, with an option of getting them multicolor anodized.

Bottom Bracket compatibility

The Raketa Road Cranks boast a 30 mm axle that fits directly onto BB bearings without any additional plastic shims that could compromise the bottom bracket's stiffness and durability. We machine all our axles in-house with sub-0.005 mm tolerance, eliminating the need for extra shims to cover any manufacturing imperfections. For greater durability our axles have CNC-machined aluminum preload collar, instead of plastic collars commonly found on mass-market cranksets.

We offer two types of axles: road (narrow) and gravel (wide), which provide different chainlines and Q-factors. It's important to select the appropriate axle based on the Bottom Bracket dimensions of your frame. The axles are detachable from both crank arms, allowing you to swap the arms between different road/gravel frames should you ever decide to change bikes.

Our axles fit most Bottom Bracket standards of modern bicycles, including BSA, BB30/PF30, OSBB, BB386, T47, and many other bottom brackets that support 30 mm axles.


If you're uncertain whether these cranks are compatible with your bike or not, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Pre-order

Now, you may be wondering why we are launching a pre-order for our cranksets. Well, our own cranksets represent a significant leap for us, far more complex than chainrings or hubs. Unfortunately, the current state of the bike industry, with its multitude of standards and compatibility challenges, doesn't make things any easier.

We acknowledge that we lack the experience and statistics to confidently determine the most popular crank lengths, colors, and bottom bracket options to prioritize. With limited resources, we are unable to produce all the possible options right from the start. That's why we encourage you to make a pre-order, allowing us to develop a production plan for the next couple of months while we gather valuable insights. As a token of gratitude, we are offering a 20% discount on the first 50 sets of cranks.

But wait, there's more! Early birds who make a pre-order will also enjoy the following benefits:

- A matching Raketa chainring with a 30% discount
- A matching Raketa bottom bracket with a 30% discount
- The chance to have a custom anodized crankset with a 50% discount!


At Raketa Components, we approach our products with a commitment to quality and a dedication to improving the cycling experience for all riders. We value your trust and believe that by offering a pre-order, we can better meet your needs and expectations. Join us on this exciting journey towards innovative and reliable crank arms.

Pre-order your Raketa Road Crankset!

PRE ORDER