First Look: 5DEV's $200 Titanium Chainrings For SRAM Cranks

Mar 15, 2023
by Seb Stott  
photo


Can a $200 chainring be considered good value? 5DEV's new Titanium chainrings for SRAM direct mount (3-bolt) cranks could be viewed that way - sort of.

The San Diego company says they last three times longer than an aluminium ring, and their own 7075 Aluminum equivalent costs half as much ($99.99), so theoretically, you'd be better off in the long run going with Titanium.

Of course, steel chainrings are the obvious choice for people who really care about value, and you can find much cheaper aluminium chainrings elsewhere. But these are designed and made in San Diego, California, "on the same machines that produce medical implants, and components for NASA and SpaceX", apparently. So you should be covered if you want to send one into space or implant it in your abdomen. Besides, 5DEV doesn't highlight the (highly questionable) value proposition, but the other benefits of greater longevity: "more time riding, less time replacing parts, and less waste."

photo

There's no word on how much they weigh, but the aluminium equivalent weighs 58g (32t), so I wouldn't expect a significant weight saving, if any.

They're available now in two sizes (30T and 32T) and four colours: Raw, Bronze, Purple, and Teal. Apparently, the colours are "richer and deeper than in aluminum". They're compatible with SRAM and Shimano 11 or 12-speed chains.

For more info, go to 5DEV.com

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219 Comments
  • 184 2
 Steel is most definitely real for chainrings
  • 16 8
 Completely agree, but people almost never buy steel chainrings.
  • 41 0
 SRAMS own steel ring is like £20.
  • 21 0
 Remember “Real” chainrings? They were nice quality for the time.
  • 17 18
 Yeah, but almost no one makes steel NW (better yet Oval) chainrings, and when they do (Wolftooth) they charge premium for it. And they are hard to find.
Does anybody know the costs of manufacturing a steel CNC chanring?
  • 39 0
 @lkubica: Shimano OEM DM rings have steel teeth, Raceface does a £15 steel DM ring and Sram does a £15 steel DM ring.

That covers quite a few of the direct mount standards at pretty low costs.
  • 6 0
 @lkubica: SRAM, RF and Shimano do, albeit they are round.
  • 5 16
flag void (Mar 15, 2023 at 4:54) (Below Threshold)
 Is it just me or steel chainrings make more noise from chain slap? That would be the only drawback.
  • 2 5
 @spudlord: Does Shimano make a real NW chainring? Never seen one.
  • 4 0
 @watchmen: I've found them for £13!
  • 8 0
 @lkubica: yeah, their 12 speed chainrings (except XTR) are all steel NW teeth on an aluminium carrier.
  • 1 0
 @Muckal: Sounds ideal
  • 9 0
 Yep, I’ve gone back to the steel sram ones, sure they’re heavy but they’re a third of the price and last at least twice as long as aluminium
  • 7 0
 @lkubica: Steel is about 3-4x slower to machine than aluminum. Based on what I see in my industry (not bikes) most of the cost of a machined aluminum or steel chainring would be the cost of the machine time and not the raw material. Titanium chainrings are likely a different story because the raw material is much more than steel or aluminum. Titanium does not machine as quickly as steel and it much more expensive. I'm sure that the big producers like SRAM and Shimano stamp, forge, or use some other much faster forming process to make chainrings.
  • 7 7
 The steel chainring I bought was noisier, so I went back to aluminum.
  • 1 0
 @lkubica: Yep all the new DM single rings are NW.

keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/02/mbr260.grouptest.shimano_xt-601x400.jpg
  • 1 0
 @Tigergoosebumps: Their front hubs were awesome as well.
  • 2 0
 Back when I was running a 2x9sp drivetrain, I was using steel 32t Deore chainrings. They were only 9 euro a piece but I wouldn't say they'd last incredibly long. I definitely tried to replace my chain in time but after a few chains a new one would skip and I'd have to replace the ring. It probably lasted longer than the aluminum shift rings (which I'd never buy) but the aluminum oval narrow wide ring I'm using now on my 1x10sp drivetrain definitely lasts longer. What could wrong with that one really? It isn't like a chainring could ever skip (or at least I can't imagine it would) and I'm using a chainguide so the chain doesn't drop either.
  • 3 11
flag lkubica (Mar 15, 2023 at 6:48) (Below Threshold)
 @riish: Ok, I am totally not interested in 12 speed, maybe that's why never came across them.
  • 3 0
 @motdrawde: same here. they're certainly heavIER but all things considered, they are not that heavy. I think the steel 28t X sync ring is like 130g, and the wolftooth equivalent is 60 grams. So they are twice as heavy but we are talking about 70g, which overall is not much, especially since it's low on the bike and hardly a factor when rotating.

My thought has always been run the steel and go with a slightly lighter pedal and/or shoe and save like 200 grams where it's more noticeable. I think this works well on my bikes, but I am not building XC rockets.
  • 7 0
 @lkubica: Aye, I run them on my 11 speed setup and they're fine.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know of steel nw rings that fit e13 direct mount?
  • 6 0
 @Tigergoosebumps: I actually still have my 52 'Real' from back in the day. I did the Mammoth "Kamikaze" DH back in the day with it. (yes I am old Big Grin )
  • 1 0
 @lkubica: Not sure, but race face makes a NW steel one for $20 or less (in 11 speed, 12 speed, and 12 speed shimano specific), and it's been quite great. Might be region specific though - they seem to always be in stock in the US. If you're stuck on Shimano, yeah, you might be out of cheap options if they don't make a NW chainring.
  • 4 3
 Always use a steel chainring on my ebike. I cant hear if its any noisier over the motor whir.
  • 10 1
 But you can't anodize steel in all kinds of colours, so that's an automatic pass for the fashion victims.
  • 1 0
 @lkubica: I agree, with all of the great 10 and 11 speed options out there, i see 12sp as "bike Bling"
  • 1 0
 @void: they are a little noisier but they last so much longer.
  • 1 0
 @FatTonyNJ: still have mine from 1996. Currently on my road bike. Original bearings too!
  • 1 0
 @watchmen: yep, I have sram steel in 2 sizes. Pretty indestructible.
  • 1 0
 @void: how bad could it be?
  • 4 0
 @lkubica: Sram steel rings are 11/12spd compatible.
  • 7 0
 In this case, it's Steal
  • 1 0
 anyone know of steel oval rings?
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: I thought Wolftooth has them.
  • 5 0
 @vinay: I see them on their website now (terrible filtering, BTW, if anyone from Wolftooth reads this), but man $100 for a chainring that still needs a spider, thats tough.
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: Yeah, the reason why at the moment I'm still sticking with aluminum rings from Superstarcomponents. It takes quite a few of those rings for me to wear out until it pays off to get a steel ring instead. And a bit of risk too. Does it indeed last three times as long as the Superstarcomponents ring (in which case it would be break even) and won't I be moving on to a different crankset in the mean time (currently running Zee cranks with 104BCD)?
  • 2 0
 @Tigergoosebumps: I still have a set of never laced REAL hubs. It was really good product for its time.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I get the wear benefit of steel, but I've been riding Works Components rings on all my bikes for like 5 years, and only now is one of them needing replacement. Light, cheap, oval, good retention, ticks all the boxes.
  • 1 1
 @lkubica: Plus the wolftooth teeth stick to the chain as it is ending its cycle. Makes an annoying sounds and increases chain wear. I suspect it costed them too much to do an actual SRAM chain tooth profile
  • 1 0
 @bman33: nice!
Have a couple sets of Real brake levers/canti’s if you ever need to complete your 90’s (bad) dream build.
  • 2 0
 @seb-stott: too heavy. I can save at least 2, maybe 3 grams going with an expensive exotic metal.
  • 1 0
 @brooklyn1: real hubs where garbage. Bearings wore out in less than 100 winter miles here in the pnw and the ratchet mech would fail shortly after that. Dt Swiss or HUGI hubs back then where and still are the most durable if u actually ride your bike….
  • 1 0
 @seb-stott: XT rings are steel bolted to an aluminum centre section. Have been for a little while.
  • 2 0
 @jonemyers: I can’t comment for shimano, but sram (based just on recent observation) seem to increase the amount of machining as you go up the brand range. I think the lowest are either completely forged, or 90% forged with some of the assembly face and teeth profile machined. The gx x sync 2 looks to be an initial forge with nearly all of the teeth and interior shapes machined. Then the top range stuff has additional machining into the face to reduce weight / add coolness…
  • 1 0
 @JosMaple: Interesting as the forged surface is the most durable. If they all start from the same forgings, the lowest end ones would make most sense to me.
  • 1 0
 @seb-stott: I've got Wolftooth stainless steel chainrings on the HT and FS bikes. They're £100 each but have lasted.
  • 1 0
 @fartymarty: SRAM make them for about £20!
  • 1 0
 @Mayzei: 4 bolt 104? If so sign me up.
  • 1 0
 @Mayzei: Does SRAM even make oval rings? I can't find them.

www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain/products/chainrings?filters=&sort=Relevancy&page=1

I also use oval rings with the 104BCD but I don't see them on the SRAM website and definitely not in steel.
  • 1 0
 @fartymarty, @vinay: ah sorry no, sucks that there's such a price difference for a small difference in machining.
  • 1 0
 @Mayzei: Wolftooth make nice stuff and it's MiUSA. The chainrings I have have lasted therefore im not too bothered about paying more for them.
  • 1 0
 @Mayzei: Not sure whether it is true but I recall I once read that the chainring on a mid-motor e-bike doesn't spin at the same rate as the cranks do. Is that true? Obviously this goes for bikes with a frame-mounted gearbox too. And finally you have the bikes with a raised idler pulley. All these won't work as intended with an oval chainring so maybe a brand like SRAM is not interested and they view the steel chainring primarily as something for those running pedal assist. Either way as I said, I feel those Superstarcomponents Raptor rings last long enough. For us on European mainland the Brexit may have gotten them a bit more expensive but I suppose for those in the UK it is a deal that's hard to beat.
  • 1 0
 @watchmen: And a mere 150 grams haha
  • 1 0
 @watchmen: And a mere 150 grams
  • 2 0
 @Blackspire-Super-Components: No more laughing matter apparently?
  • 79 4
 I love how these companies drop in stuff like “on the same machines that produce medical implants, and components for NASA and SpaceX” like that literally doesn’t make the foggiest bit of difference to me, and it’s just a way of ‘justifying’ the price.
  • 29 0
 I've got a cuddly toy that's identical to the one that went to the ISS. It is a quality toy, professionally cute and has been keeping up incredibly well. I'd almost say it cuddles better than the toys that lack space technology.

i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/2d/be/1c2dbecac16b85b8632868af196b97a5.jpg

blogs.esa.int/andre-kuipers/wp-content/blogs.dir/9/files/logboek/badgebrei320.jpg
  • 82 0
 I have a Ti hip... but its on the non-drive side.
  • 7 0
 So funny init.. basically a 5 axis cnc... oh wow ....lol
  • 4 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: now that was funny
  • 14 0
 Einstein's poop was made by the same metabolism that came up with the Theory of Relativity.
  • 2 0
 I think they are saying using the chainring is the closest you'll ever get to flying the space shuttle.
  • 2 3
 Who cares about all that mumbo jumbo, as long as they're e-bike rated!
  • 6 0
 Says it all when they get into bikes for better margins over medical and aviation.
  • 3 0
 Well, I want to know if it is safe when I inevitably implant one of these into my knuckles.
  • 72 8
 The bike industry knows suckers are born every minute.
  • 35 0
 down here we have a saying like "every day a clever guy and a dumb one goes to town... when they cross paths, a deal is made"
  • 28 2
 Plenty of people have the money for what they perceive as 'nice stuff' - if not absolute black etc wouldnt even exist.

The 5dev stuff will be made really well and I am sure it will work and last a long time - is it massively expensive for a chainring, of course but we dont need to buy it, like we dont need to buy a $200 tshirt.
  • 35 2
 @justanotherusername: in the fall I spent a few hundred dollars on ti bolts- rotors, stem, derailleur pulleys, etc (even the rocker paddle on the axs shifter). Is there a noticeable difference in performance? Of course not. Was it a ‘waste’ of money? Almost certainly. Sometimes we make decisions that aren’t remotely based on rationality and just act like dumb dumbs instead.
  • 6 1
 im waiting for generation specific materials

boomers =
gen z =
millenials=
gen x =
  • 23 7
 @Compositepro:

boomers = uranium
gen z = NFT chainrings
millenials= avocado skin
gen x = non gender specific unobtanium
  • 34 2
 @Compositepro:

Boomers = rusty steel
Gen X = Aluminum (anodized purple)
Millenials = Carbon Fiber
Gen Z = Material is irrelevant as long as it's "oil slick"
  • 2 3
 Gen Z= iN tHe FuTuRe EvErY tHiNg WiLl Be PrInTeD iN nAnO cArBoN
  • 5 0
 @bikebasher: Gen Z can't afford Oil Slick, they're still on SX.
  • 2 0
 @StFred: "those who can, do; those who can't, buy"
  • 19 0
 Do 5DEV titanium chainring customers get discounts on 5DEV titanium medical implants? Because that’s a more viable value proposition...
  • 11 0
 "from dentists to dentists" seems apropriate.
  • 19 3
 am i the only one who is jealous of those who buy a bike and leave everything bone stock, and just ride the piss out of it, having a great time and not caring about upgrading anything at all? i want to be one of those people.
  • 8 0
 I upgrade parts as I break them. Very little is original on my bike anymore. Frame, shock, stem, and brakes only (though I did replace the bars without breaking the old ones).
  • 13 3
 Then be one of them? That's the most 1st world problem I've ever heard
  • 14 0
 I get mad when i see a guy ripping on Fox Performance suspension, stock 31.8 bars and stem, crappy NX drive and bald tires. Mad myself for sucking. To make myself feel better. I buy bike bling and cry myself to sleep.
  • 2 1
 Do this and upgrade later. Makes a longer lasting bike with a better spec than original after 3 years.
  • 3 3
 I can't buy a stock bike. What's the point? I'll swap out so many parts for the ones that I prefer that it just doesn't make sense to do anything except buy a frame and build it up as I see fit. My wife bought me a stock bike and I replaced everything but the frame, fork, shock, and wheels...because she got the upgraded parts on those things to begin with and they're very nice.

If you're prone to putting on new parts, build up from frame is the way to go.
  • 3 0
 @damagemydirt: same here! Try to ask them about tire pressure, suspension setup, head tube angle etc etc and they have no idea what you're talking about! And completely shred faster than fck
  • 1 0
 thats me, all stock, always. I also bought a used m5 that I restored to fully stock spec.
  • 1 0
 @mariomtblt: That's kind of interesting because my Satellite(pics on profile if you care) is about as far from stock as you can get.
  • 1 1
 @Explodo: very nice
  • 2 0
 You mean a sane and stable person? God I wish I was that.
  • 1 0
 @ruckuswithani: this is pinkbike. those are the only kind of problems we have.
  • 16 2
 "Less waste", as if there is an environmental positive side of this product. Meanwhile, making Titanium metal from ore uses more than 1.7-3x the energy than Aluminium and 14x more energy than Steel. (Depending source data.) Using recycled Aluminium and Steel is even better than either of those options.

TLDR: Titanium uses a f-load of energy to produce.
  • 11 3
 The article is nice, but it would be so much nicer if they'd have 5dev marketing person here trying to explain why these kinks in those arms are clever. As even more so than with aluminum, with CNC'd titanium less material is more money (more machining time, more tool wear). If you're going down that route, there must be a very good reason to leave what they left there.

Also, what's the point of this direct mount standard? As these are wear items, it seems to me you'd waste less if you bolt the chainring to the spider rather than having such a big structural part that needs to be replaced.
  • 2 0
 Agreed, I've never had a problem with normal chainrings that bolt to a spider on the crank. When Shimano changed to the non-square bolt pattern on their spiders I thought that was stupid too, but at least you can still swap a chainring without removing the whole crank there.
  • 11 0
 Lets be realistic. Unless the brand is claiming to be offering a super low weight product chainrings are designed with aesthetic in mind first of all - the kinks and shapes will all be there to create the desired look for the product. There are almost zero performance benefits of this ring vs a steel product at one 10th the cost - and I imagine many people will be onto a new bike before they wear out more than a handful of 7075al rings too, most buying this ring will be doing so for the looks.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: without the spider they can use the same cranks for several different driveline configurations. The only thing difference between a boost and a non-boost crankset is the chain ring. Lighter without the spider, which really was only there to support multiple front rings which obviously SRAM wasn’t interested in.
  • 2 0
 Since these parts are likely made from a solid bar of titanium, once you machine the outer ring of teeth you have defined the amount of raw material that will be used to make the part. If you make it a direct mount or just a ring, you still use the same amount raw material and probably close to the same machine time to make it.
  • 3 0
 @jonemyers: You reckon these are bar and not plate? I dont do any Ti work but it would scare my wallet to buy a 3m bar of 150mm dia Ti, pre machine processing would also be a massive bitch.
  • 2 0
 @justanotherusername: You are probably right. Maybe waterjet a blank out of plate then machine the part. Sawing or feeding a 5.5 inch bar into a machining center would not be a very efficient use of raw material.
  • 1 0
 @jonemyers: CNC mill with live tooling might make this a possibility, although you'd be relying so much on the live tooling vs traditional turning that not sure it would make sense other than the automation benefit of auto-feeding the bar between parts vs a robotic load/unload cell on a traditional vertical milling center. This is where shops can really differentiate themselves in the machining space. Materials are a constant cost, labor is roughly the same, but machining time efficiency is where the money is made.
  • 2 0
 @microwaveric: Would you care to show me a bar-fed lathe that can take a 150mm diameter bar?

And gear driven live tooling is total dogshit compared to a proper milling spindle - you can get multi task lathes like the NLX but they are not far off a million to buy, and why the hell would you put a super simple part you can make just as well on a 100 grand 3 axis cnc mill on a million quid machine?
  • 2 0
 Thanks for your responses. True that if the chainring is going to be cut out, you're going to get the same area of scrap material. But I do think that in order to get all those spokes, you definitely are going to do more cutting (hence the machine time and tool wear) than if you'd produce a 104BCD chainring. What sizes do people need? Maybe from 28t oval up to 38t oval or so. I think those can all efficiently fit 104BCD. I have no experience with boost but I thought that was a matter of mounting a chainring to the inside or outside of the spider. Or, if the chainring is round (not oval), flipping them. I do agree that the spider is great if you want to attach several chainrings and/or a bashring. But I thought they were also just a carrier for the chainring so that you don't have to start with such a thick blank in the first place.

Either way, I'm not complaining as I'm not in the market for these. I don't need the material and they don't fit my cranks. I was just curious why the whole different interface exists. It may add value to some but it doesn't appeal to me. At the end of the day, people just need chainrings for the cranks they have. Unless you consciously choose your cranks (which may not go for people who buy complete bikes) you're just going to buy whatever fits.
  • 10 1
 @vinay

I sent your question to 5DEV and this was their answer:

"Reality is the design was based on our Aluminum ring and we wanted to maintain the 5 point pattern that matches our crank design. Because titanium is such an awesome material to work with, you can get striking designs that are also functional. A lot of inspiration comes from the rally and GT world. (auto)"
  • 1 0
 @seb-stott: Thanks, sounds like an honest answer. It isn't for me (and I'm not into the rally car sports) but I it may appeal to some.
  • 1 1
 @vinay: I would love to know what part of a rally car this looks like, I cant see it at all.
  • 4 0
 @justanotherusername: The thing with inspiration is that it doesn't have to resemble what you took inspiration from. Maybe they were inspired by a corner at an iconic racetrack, an exhaust pipe, the crooked cigar of a legendary racer, a gesture to show disapproval of another's driving style. As said, I know little about the sport but those who do know, do know.
  • 1 0
 @justanotherusername: probably a square part.
  • 1 0
 I definitely think hearing from the 5Dev marketing person would be more informative than from the engineering department.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: looks like an Audi alloy 5 v spoke wheel or maybe a Renault or citroen
  • 1 0
 @vinay: obviously there are people who see Martians in the rocks on mars so I could just be wrong
  • 13 3
 Why don’t people just buy steel OEM SRAM and Shimano chain rings? They’re like $30 and last forever.
  • 5 2
 7075 Al rings don't exactly wear out fast either unless you are riding 5 times a week year round.
  • 2 0
 @StFred: a lot of us do. Raceface also does steel for their cranks.
  • 2 0
 Shhh don’t give away our secrets!!
  • 9 1
 Ti is fly. Worth it. Pretty sure Ti makes your bike 15% faster up climbs because of the increased fly factor and decreased basic bitch OEM parts.
  • 2 0
 exactly
  • 6 0
 Say what tou wish, but I’m always a sucker for titanium parts. I won’t have one because I can’t afford it, but if I could; “shut up and take my money!”
  • 13 7
 I buy my 7075 direct mount chainrings from aliexpress for around 10 dollars each. They last for ages.
  • 27 3
 That's the other end of the field I wouldn't like playing on either tbh
  • 5 1
 @Bro-LanDog: Exactly - you can get a quality product from the likes of Works Comp, Unite, Wolf Tooth, NSB, Blackspire etc, sure its not 10 dollars but it isnt 200 dollars either.
  • 9 1
 @Bro-LanDog: I thought the same, but honestly, you give up nothing, they only downside is a stupid name, they work exactly the same as chainrigs costing 5x more. It seems like in XXI century machining a piece of alu is not a big deal really.
  • 16 2
 @lkubica: Its a simple product - companies in China are more than capable of making them, I would just prefer to pay a little more and buy from a company that is part of the industry rather than a faceless factory in fairly 'hostile' country.
  • 19 5
 For 10$ its doubtful its really 7075, most likely chineesium alloy
  • 1 4
 i bet they look hella basic and boring on your bike though....
  • 6 0
 @Hoeperjoe: you would be wrong there - www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MTB-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-GXP-Chainrings_1600273417398.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_title.1e1a27a5sfOjeJ
  • 2 5
 @justanotherusername: no thank you - bobo Ali baba parts aren't my style.
  • 14 4
 @justanotherusername: 40% of Americans think California is a hostile country...
  • 16 7
 @RonSauce: Fox News told them so.
  • 2 0
 @justanotherusername: Agreed. I just bought a PASS QUEST GXP 0 offset chainring for $26 shipped. They look pretty nice in person too.
  • 1 0
 @englertracing: They last significantly longer than the Raceface rings I've used and they're very tough and hard to bend. If it's not 7075 then it's a similar hard wearing alloy.
  • 1 0
 @Hoeperjoe: They look similar to the XTR ones. Pretty nice looking.
  • 3 1
 Ok now I'm just getting confused. A ti chainring is expensive and ridiculous. One from AliExpress is cheap and unamerican. Please, please tell me, PB comment section exactly which chainring I should buy and how much I'm allowed to spend.
  • 3 0
 @HughBonero: Make your own with a file.
  • 1 0
 @HughBonero: you should go to your local frame builder and have them machine it foor you to your own specifications. It should cost between 90 and 110 dollars plus a sixpack of their favorite beverage.
  • 6 0
 That is an awkward time to come out with these chainrings since we all know there is a new Eagle groupset on its way
  • 3 0
 Aye, but the EEwings have the same fitment so they'll be OK.
  • 2 0
 It fits their current crank set and i believe they have a ti crankset coming soon enough probably with the same standard.
  • 7 0
 I'm sure the 350$ Titanium hammer crowd will love these...
  • 3 0
 They are cool looking but they are also fragile looking. Certainly a bling item. Can't say I've ever worn out an alum Eagle chainring and there is definetely something to the funky shape of the Eagle teeth in terms of quiet and smooth interfacing between chain and chainring.
  • 5 2
 5DEV seems to specialize in exorbitant prices. It manages to ask $500 for an aluminum crank, and $100 for an aluminum ring. The titanium ring at $200? Sorry but it is not "almost a bargain". With a weight around 2/3 more than aluminum, I will keep using my absolute black (or similar) aluminum rings that at around $60 are at less than 1/3 of the cost!
  • 2 0
 Don't forget the $249 and $189 pedals.
  • 1 0
 My AB chainrings seem to last forever
  • 9 3
 That raw with some eewings will be nice
  • 6 4
 Wolftooth nickel oval with mine looks pretty awesome for way less.
  • 3 1
 @txcx166: nickel isn't Ti though.
  • 2 0
 @txcx166: Agreed, this is the one I use and will probably continue to use since $200 is kind of a lot.
  • 2 1
 @txcx166: That nickel lasts about two rides then flakes like an unreliable friend.
  • 3 0
 @dualsuspensiondave: can confirm. Just falls right off.
  • 1 2
 @dualsuspensiondave: You must have gotten a bad one. Mine is fine.
  • 1 0
 @Explodo: I’ve had multiple and they all do it. Bike shop says the same thing.
  • 6 0
 They're stupid and I love them and I'll have one.
  • 2 0
 I couldn't resist and bought one. I'm a sucker for Ti.
  • 2 0
 @Explodo: did you really buy one
  • 1 0
 @KeithShred: Yes. Hopefully it works. It will go perfect on the EE Wings(the only SRAM interface I have).
  • 3 4
 @Explodo: if a sucker for Ti, don’t look here…
dward-design.co.uk
  • 1 0
 Good man explodo Performance elite vs factory around $200. Fck it give me a gold fork, bling is good
  • 5 0
 i don't care much for $200 chainrings but can we have chat about the

SCAMMERS who have ruined the Pinkbike Classifieds?
  • 2 0
 The problem with titanium is that nothing rhymes with titanium so it will always come up short compared to steel. I'm a free thinker though and don't need rhyming tag lines for my material choices so sign me up for this sexy hunk of unreal unsteel.
  • 4 0
 Ti is fly
  • 2 0
 Quit wasting time in the gymnasium, buy yourself a chainring made of titasium
  • 1 0
 @HughBonero: Ti is high.
  • 5 0
 Hi bike industry.....you bored?
  • 2 0
 do you mean hi medical / aeroplane industry are you bored again or do your owners ride bikes this week
  • 2 1
 @Compositepro: Thats exactly how the 5dev owner comes across - the shop is successful enough and he is bored enough to make useless bike shit - the cranks look ace though.

Have you seen the amount of kit they have bought into too- not sure if its just for bike parts but the instagram post had 5-6 robot loaded doosans and a few Hermle's being added.

Side note, 5th axis vices have too much jaw lift........
  • 1 0
 @justanotherusername: not seen it buddy but I will try and have a look
  • 2 1
 Ti chainrings weren't great when Action Tec made them, they aren't great now. It's like 5Dev is on a MISSION to replicate the worst designs of the 3d violet anodized junk era (type in AC crankset in Google and you get the 5Devs too-ick!!). Just waiting for the worthless, weird and purple brakes.......

Like-what's the engineering MO here? We design very serious stuff all day-so lets hit that bong and make some weird $h!t?!
  • 3 0
 Let's be honest...all you're buying for $200 is the ability to look down your nose at everyone on the trail while they laugh at you behind your back.
  • 2 0
 is it just me, but I dont actually like the look. straight "spokes" from the centre to the outside teeth would have looked better..
  • 2 0
 ShiftUp chainrings look awesome, check them out.
  • 3 0
 Everything becomes jewelry at a certain point. These are sweet. Spend it up folks.
  • 1 1
 I had an old titanium profile sprocket on my bmx when they made them. Thing lasted forever until I broke the drive bolt hole. After 5 years of heavy riding the teeth still look brand new. I think I might be getting one of these.
  • 1 0
 Currently has nearly 21k miles on a Niner Ti SS cog....the damn thing just won't wear out. I get about 4-5k miles out of Wolftooth Al ring. The thought of getting 12-15k miles out of chainring is appealing.
  • 2 0
 Why is there no more 0 offset or positive offset? I dont have enough space for bigger chainrings if its 3 or 6... its absolutely sucks
  • 1 0
 Three times longer life than (something that already lasts for 3 years) = 9 years = I can move the Ti ring over to the 240mm travel bike with a 45 degree head tube that I will be riding in 2032.
  • 2 0
 Ok, longevity is a great direction but I don't know if this is the type of execution we all need
  • 2 1
 Titanium chain rings....not a new idea, generally not a good idea even with x or y coating to help with the main wear mechanisms.......
  • 1 0
 Compatible with Shimano 12 speed chains...ish. My alloy ring from them only works with Hyperglide+ if you use a SRAM master link.
  • 3 0
 And the 5Dev grift keeps marching on.
  • 3 0
 Did 5div just go absolute blonk¿
  • 2 1
 Their prices really are just laughable. Happy for anyone who has 5dev parts as they looks sweet. I don’t ride enough wear out an aluminum or steel chainring.
  • 1 0
 Still waiting for adamantium chainrings "on the same machines that produce weapons for x-mens, and accessories for Thermomix"
  • 2 0
 Imagine buying one of these instead of a lifetime supply of steel chainrings. It's literally the same price
  • 1 0
 Does a bicycle really need a $200 chainring to save some weight? I you want to pinch that much weight just run down the trail with a feather between your legs.
  • 2 0
 How long does it take to wear out a chainring? I've been riding for years and never wore one out.
  • 1 0
 I'm on the 5th year with a wolftooth aluminum nw that looks completely fine. Other than anno rubbing off its in great condition.

I ride with a guy who puts in less miles than me and replaces $8 Amazon rings at least once a season. His turn to saw blades after a couple hundred miles.

So to answer your question...I dunno, but mine isn't wearing out so I dont worry about it.
  • 2 0
 I dont care if this chainring spews money every crank, im NOT paying 200$ for a chainring
  • 1 0
 I've got 2700kms on my 36t Sram Sync2 chainring, It's one of the only original parts left on my bike. It holds the chain and runs quietly.
  • 1 0
 Weight gain is not certain. Density for aluminium is 2.7 while it is 4.5 for titanium (and 8 for steel).
  • 2 0
 Density has very little bearing on the resulting weight of the chainring, you can use less steel and much less titainium to make an equally strong chainring, strength to weight Ti wins so should be lighter, just look how thin the "spokes" are.
  • 12 9
 Suck my tits!!
  • 3 0
 Thats 100 up votes from me (licks lips)
  • 1 0
 This needs more upvotes.
  • 2 0
 I like how dear editor is subtly shitting on them
  • 1 0
 Because editors can’t afford nice things.
  • 1 0
 It needs to say titanium everywhere on it. If I am spending that kind of money I want everyone to know they are titanium.
  • 3 0
 Maybe include a tshirt at that price. At least a sticker for the Tacoma mallcrawler.
  • 2 0
 "NASA and SpaceX" just a Hollywood tv series...........
  • 1 0
 One size does not fit all. 30-34t and offset options would be a great addition.
  • 1 0
 I would seriously consider one if they had a Race Face mount, and oval.
  • 1 0
 Only sram fans will buy these.....¿
  • 2 0
 LOL
  • 1 0
 tell me you're a weight weenie without telling me...
  • 1 0
 Please make them for RaceFace cinch cranks! Always wanted a ti chainring!
  • 1 0
 How about tungsten, light and incredibly strong.
  • 1 0
 Is 5dev the same guys that run LuxonMX?
  • 1 0
 Race face dm steel ring was $18 on Black Friday. Hard to argue that...
  • 1 0
 I'm coming to the front of the line.... move aside please.
  • 1 0
 I want a stainless version.
  • 2 3
 SRAM mount but not narrow wide?? They almost had me. Bet you $200 the 5dev big boss runs a SRAMano setup.
  • 2 4
 Didn’t look at the pictures eh?
  • 1 3
 I would like a lot more chainring for that kind of money. Surely nobody is spinning 30t/52t?!
  • 1 1
 In my area? You will see plenty of 28tx52, and still walking. SoCal is steep.
  • 1 1
 @JSTootell: Sounds miserable. I get frustrated at less than 1:1 but an almost 2:1 ratio sounds awful
  • 6 1
 The entire American West would like to have a word
  • 2 4
 @JSTootell: why? I’ve got a 32t and even then is faster and easier pushing than it is spinning in the biggest gears. With a 28t you’re just going to be spinning out on the climbs at a slower than walking pace and running out of gears on the descents.
  • 3 1
 Try a 5 hour ride at 9,000 feet sometime, 30/52 will feel great.
  • 3 0
 @thenotoriousmic: Different riders, different styles. I'm a big fan of a 26t on my hardtail; allows me to run an 11-42t rear, which is lighter and cheaper than an 10 or 11-52. What's not to like? Can't ride 40km/h on the road, but 29x2.6 tires at 20psi kinda preclude that anyway.
  • 3 0
 @woofer2609: still with a large 10-51t cassette your three biggest gears are going to be next to unusable with 28t chainring and you’ll be spinning out on the way back down.
  • 2 0
 @JSTootell: Wow!
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