Profile Racing cromo race cranks are the strongest, stiffest, most affordable and most versatile cranks around, and they seem to be taking back control of the crank market. Profile was once considered the crank only for the pros but now with lightweight titanium spindle and bolt kit upgrades, and crank arms as short as 145mm, they are for everyone.

A couple of years after I started racing I out grew alloy cranks. 180mm was the longest alloy crank and it was too short and just didn’t feel comfortable. There were just two crank choices Profile or Redline, they were the only cranks on the market that came in a 185mm length. I went for Redline because of the pinch bolt system. I had seen Profile crank owners struggling with hammers and a crank removing tool to remove a crank arm just to change a gearing and the Redline cranks were a whole lot simpler. You just needed two allen keys and the job was done. Wind forward a few years and I’d snapped a Redline spindle at a race, none of the pro shops had a replacement so I had to take some Profile cranks to get me back on the track and racing again. I have never looked back.

I learnt that the problem with the hammer and crank removing tool was just that the user was going about it all the wrong way. I can remove a set of Profile cranks with a light tap. A little grease on the spindle goes a long way, and stops the cranks from essentially bonding with the spindle. I also realised that the Redline pinch bolt system wasn’t that great, they were forever coming loose.

There are a number of advantages with going for the Profile cranks. The one I love most is the lifetime warranty to the original owner…I mean come on, why would you own any other cranks? They are fully configurable to suit anyone’s budget or needs. Cromo arms are the other major advantage, you will be struggling to get these crank arms to flex. Which means more power through to your back wheel.

There are other cranks on the market which have become more of a social status than anything else. The Shimano DXR cranks come in one colour, polished, and only two sizes 175 or 180mm. The 175mm crankset, without chainring, weighs in at 1,026 grams and come with a hefty price tag. The Profile cranks are so configurable that you could have a set up that’s both lighter and cheaper and cromo. Or if a few extra grams wasn’t an issue you could have a crank set up that’s nearly half the cost, freeing up a whole lot of cash for other things.

Features:

• Tubular welded CrMo crank arms are available in more colors and sizes than any other crankset.
• New! Gun Drilled Hollow BB Spindle. Solid Ti Spindle upgrade still available.
• New! No Boss Arms with no sprocket bolt boss for spline drive sprockets
• Limited Lifetime Warranty on arms and spindles
• LHD and RHD compatible. 170, 175, 180mm
• Available in 145, 160, 165, 170, 175, 177, 180, 185, 190mm
• 175mm Arms and New GDH spindle = 880g
• 10 Color options
  • Mint Green
  • Chrome Plated
  • Gloss Black
  • Dusted Purple
  • Gold Sparkle
  • Matte Aqua
  • Matte Blue
  • Red
  • White
  • Black w/ Gold Flake
  • Sparkle Lime Green
  • Raw/Clear

The crank arm and spindle kit is selling like hot cakes, and given the price, all the options, sizes and upgrades Profile cranks are for everyone.

Options:

• Inboard Euro bottom bracket
• Outboard bottom bracket
• American bottom bracket
• Mid bottom bracket
• Ti Spindle
• Ti GDH Spindle
• Ti Bolt kit

I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t even look at any other crank.

Rating
20/20:

Comments:

• Whether you are on a budget or looking for the stiffest, most free spinning cranks on the market Profile cranks can be configured to suit
• With a standard GDH or an upgrade to titanium spindle profile cranks are just as light as any of the competition
• Stiff and strong cranks, who could ask for more?
• I love the classic, simple look of the Profile cranks, and the chrome are my favourite

Profile Racing products are distributed in Australia by Elite Cycle Imports

Reviewed by Shane Jenkins/bmxultra.com July 8, 2011