Back in the 90’s, Boone Technologies created alloy cranks with an identifiable, twisted structure, aptly named the Twist!. Their iconic design has returned, but this time the unique-looking cranks are being manufactured from titanium.
Each TwistTi crank arm weighs just 140 grams and is made from four strips of 6al4v aerospace grade titanium. The manufacturing process has proved more difficult than the previous aluminum version because of titanium’s properties. It's easier to bend than steel, but it also likes to undo any twisting processes. To overcome that barrier, Boone Technologies uses a CNC driven roller to hold the shape before they are placed in a jig to first be tack welded. Braces are added to the inside to add stiffness and machined pedal and bottom bracket threaded components are all TIG welded into the twisted, box-section crank.
The crank arms ride on a 30mm spindle that comes in three popular widths and the price includes all fixing hardware, like the end caps and self-extracting crank bolts. For now, the cranks are only built in a 170mm length since changing that number requires a new parametric design, altering the shape that the four sheets are cut into.
If the direct-mount chainring pattern doesn’t look familiar to you, that’s because Boone uses their own standard, but there’s a good reason for that. The TwistTi cranks uses Boone’s Adapt’R chainring mount, which can be swapped to mate to three popular standards: SRAM, Race Face, Hope and FSA/HollowGram. That means you don’t need to buy new cranks if you need to switch between one of those three chainring mounting patterns. At just $18, the little Adapt’R is a clever and valuable piece of equipment.
All of Boone Technologies products are made in Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, including the ultra-boutique TwistTi cranks that cost $1,095 USD. Part of that reason is due to the manufacturing process which is said to take five times longer than the aluminum version of the cranks. However, they are offered in six finishes, including a polished version and three anodized colorways at an added cost.
Further information about torque values, chainring clearance and for those worried about hitting their heels on the Twist, shoe clearance is shown
here.
I'm frequently slightly wrong though.
A) I'm not that smart
B) it says they could be lighter and they could be heavier.
Wasn't even trying to hit Submit, but here we are.
My point being Cane Creek sells Ti cranks, they're made elsewhere and people go crazy over them. I just assumed maybe Litespeed was resurrected when I first saw them.
If I had money to burn on high end cranks, I'd outfit my bikes with Profile Racing cranks, with Ti spindle & hardware.
Not light. Not Gucci. Just US made, raw sex!!!
Tubular cranks make most sense as despite how impressive the hollow forged Shimano cranks are, I doubt they can beat the inertia over weight ratio (in short, getting most/all material to the far end of the cross section) of tubular cranks. Cane Creek is cool there because they make them out of titanium, but Profile is cool enough already making them out of steel.
This is one of those "just because you can doesn't mean you should" achievements in my book. Welding four plates together that'd like to spring back is impressive. But now you've got something with lots of internal stresses and multiple sharp corners in your cross section. Great because you can, but not something I'd be willing to replace my cheap Shimano Zee cranks for (which aren't even hollow forged).
If you want dent resistance make it an oval.
Me: -clicks on AliExpress-
That better not be sarcasm, smashmouth is still one of my top 5s.
I did learn that day that nausea is a symptom of concussion that day...did not know that prior.
#themoreyouknow
With that in mind, I wonder how much these weigh comparatively, and if they are as indestructible as eeWings.
I still wish CC did a steel version of the eewing.
Second I found this line a bit curious. "That means you don’t need to buy new cranks if you need to switch between one of those three chainring mounting patterns".
Who is buying and entirely new crankset to change chainring brands? Why would that ever really be an issue when almost all aftermarket chainrings can be purchased to fit any of the major mounting patterns? What chainring would be that special that you'd buy a whole new crankset just to have it?
But I do get what you're saying.
Like you say, it offers almost zero benefit to anyone what so ever and is a very odd choice on a crank of this value, just pick SRAM 3 bolt and be done with it.
I mean there is nothing wrong with the adapter, its actually kind of a cool feature. Just the way they worded that was weird. Could have just said you won't need to buy a new chainring if you buy our cranks.
But if I see "you" in the parking lot with a set of these cranks, I'll call you out for sure!
I mean, why else would someone spend $1000 on cranks unless they wanted the attention?
Let’s not forget Boone makes titanium wedding rings and other rings. I have 2 rings from him. His website last I checked was pretty cool.