An era is defined as a long, distinguishable period in history surrounding notable events, often based on industrial advances, which suits the naming of Race Face’s latest carbon crank. The Era carbon cranks are intended for everything from cross-country to enduro based on their strength-to-weight ratio.
The combination of black fibers and metals used in the ERA crank make it Race Face's “strongest, stiffest and most durable design yet,” a statement that's backed up with a no questions asked lifetime warranty. That even covers you against stuffing the cranks into the ground during a crash or mis-judging gap distances. In their words, they, "designed the ERA to be the last carbon crank you need to buy."
Race Face Era Crank Details • Crank arm lengths: 165, 170, 175mm
• Spindle: 136mm length x 30 diameter
• Material: carbon arms, steel wear plate, 7050 aluminum spindle
• Lifetime warranty (original owner)
• Weight: 483g w/ 32T, spindle and hardware
• Price: $500 USD / $650 CAD / 489 EUR
•
Raceface.com At 483 grams, the Eras squeak in under the weight of Race Face’s current enduro-focused Next R cranks and feature a stainless steel plate that wraps around the arm in the high-friction footwear zone to eliminate wearing through the carbon layers.
There is no shortage of options available with the Era cranks either. You can choose between seven graphic colors on either side of the crank arms, but all of those use the shiny raw steel plate. The $500 USD price tag includes the spindle, spacers, and your choice from one of eight crank boot colors.
SpecificationsAside from picking your color matching crank boots, the arms themselves come in the three usual lengths; 165, 170 and 175mm. Race Face worked on narrowing the crank’s Q-factor, the width that the arm protrudes from the BB shell to the outside of the pedal thread, which should also help alleviate chafing that steel plate. The total Q-factor stands at 176mm, like the Next R.
Along with the release of the Era crank, there is also a new 55mm Direct Mount Wide (DMW) chainring, specifically for Shimano 12-speed chains, that mates to the future-proof Cinch system.
WarrantyCranks built to "outlast your bike" are strong words. Going forward, Race Face’s newly implemented lifetime warranty now covers the majority of their components, excluding dropper posts and other items that require servicing, against any failure induced by riding - crashes included. This only covers the original owner and omits poor mechanic skills or inattentive drivers, meaning, don’t cross-thread your pedals into the cranks or drive over your bike and hope to receive a replacement.
If you do horribly case a jump or tomahawk down the trail, Race Face will cover those broken components with that warranty policy and ship you a new set at no charge. You can also set up a claim yourself online or through a shop, no matter if it’s an aftermarket purchase or the Race Face component that came equipped on your bike.
We’ll be performing a lengthy, long-term review on the ERA cranks over the course of the winter and will be back with an update to see how they have fared through the soggy PNW conditions.
I went aluminum cranks after the above, but if raceface keeps up there speedy warranty support might try carbon from them again.
Someday they might be both made of carbon, but right now metal is the best solution. I've never had the threads come loose in any metal crankset no matter how old it was.
Warranty was super fast, received a new set in 10 days.
Cheers
Is it just the way the world spins now, as long as we keep the customer happy when the product breaks what have they got to complain about? Tell you what give us a product with a proven track record of no failures rather than premature warranty promises on a forum berating others who dont have anything to prove
Raceface offers lifetime warranty because there'll be a new crank standard each year so no one will use them for longer than 1 bike....
Pro tip: isis bb+unicycle cranks can have you down to 80mm...
Went ahead and slapped some carbon ones on the full suspension hoping for the same effect. I can tell zero difference to aluminum. Guessing the shock and maybe flex from the linkage obscuring any benefit from having stiffer cranks. Also they exploded and now I'm back on aluminum...
I know RF is all-in with Cinch and it is versatile, but if I'm at home in diy mode I find that lockring really annoying and much prefer the SRAM 3 (or 8 on road) bolt system. But still, a good set of cranks for me so far and lots of chainring choice (including 26t for my old, less-fit, slightly oversize self).
There’s no reason not to go SLX cranks, or if you prefer to have SRAM direct mount or DUB, then one of the Descendant or GX Eagle cranks, which cost just a little more than SLX.
Crank side pedal side.....all within a month or two use in rocky terrain.....I smash my pedals....we all do, it happens.
I admittedly do it more than most....as I ride XC style on very rocky terrain. 6C next R and next SL cranks...doesn't matter. I've loosened the inserts at both the pedal and the axle side of all these crank types.
Crank brothers pedals and cleats wont survive my riding but I've had only 1 shimano SPD repair in that time. and 9 race face crank arm repairs.
Why do I ride these still?
1 i don't wanna buy new bottom brackets for my bike.
2) spare crank arms are cheap and easy to find in mismatch sets. So I've always got a spare to swap out during repair time.
3) I repair them.....once they develop ANY detectable play I soak in isopropyl alcohol allowing that to flush and dry and sucking a low viscosity resih into the voids under vaccuum (resin infusion) the space in the loose insert can be filled. and it becomes tight. After this filling I have not had a single repeat failure after years of abuse
Although I love that these are canadian made. The fact that I haven't had a single repeat failure is of huge significance. this is consistent with flawed manufacturing creating poor bonding to the insert high voids or potentially the jagged insert chewing away the soft carbon on impacts. I hope this has been addressed. Past cranks have not been performing to design intent of the materials and most people are cynical to carbon cranks as a result.
Raceface if you want a test pilot....There probably isn't a more reliable crank smashing machine on the planet.
I'd gladly mount a G sensor and give you guys measured feedback on the beatings these things actually see in the wild.
Or if you're confident they are now solid. Send me a set of ERA cranks....I can mount a go pro on my bike and build a 3month highlight reel of all my pedal strikes on set of ERAs that you can use in your pro-mo material to prove that they are solid.
They now just have a $600 useless pile of carbon with no repair/replacement option. I'm sure hundreds of people are in the same boat if my experience in a small town shop was any indicator, we probably had about 1/3 of all we sold have an issue.
At the very least they should have a trade-in option for a discount. Ship them your defective Next cranks and get these things at a significant discount/free. Would do wonders to repair all the goodwill they've lost over the years.
In a related gripe, I realized the other day that XTR M9120 is 52mm chainline but XT M8120 is 55mm chainline. WTF Shimano, why would you do that? Make the numbers make sense. And then shop people, or website copy for online retailers will tell you that 8100/9100 are non boost and 8120/9120 are boost. Really, 9100 and 9120 are both boost but different Q factor. 8100 is boost. 8130 and 9130 are superboost. And 8120 and 9125 are this stupid in-between 55mm bullshit that gives us nothing we need and robs us of something we like. Fanatik doesn’t even sell the 8100 crankset because apparently they think that’s non-boost and no one buys non-boost anymore. They’re perpetuating disinformation!
2.6” tires and 425mm chainstays aren’t real. They’re a figment of lame c*nts’ imaginations. We don’t need to be designing bikes around these parameters.
148 spacing. 52mm chainlines. Chainstays 430-450mm depending on wheel size, rider size, and intention. Clearance for 2.4-2.5” rear tires. We’ve already got everything we need. Let’s stay here in the sweet spot.
MAKE. IT. MAKE. SENSE.
55mm, generally, supports Superboost, but also some different takes on best chain line. With the CINCH system it's just which chainring you chose (Direct Mount or Direct Mount Wide) so it's a simple choice, no spindle width changes necessary.
Again cheers for the response!
Corresponding 30mm BB bearings: guaranteed to fail in under 1 season.
Get a nice metal Shimano crankset, you can use Shimano 24mm BBs that will actually last!
I do have a 30mm crankset on one bike (eeWings) but have been running a Wheels MFG BB with it (after going through multiple RF BBs). That works great.
I'm in the PNW so water and mud are my enemies, not fine dust. I guess YMMV and there's no perfect solution!
Did it for the bearings, and the compatibility through cinch if I wanted to change drivetrains.
I do find it weird how pretty much all the high end cranks, seem to be 30mm spindles (eewings, 5dev, etc). But not sure why that is. Lighter, Stiffness?
Granted, since I've determined that the alignment isn't great, I'm buying cheaper BBs. So maybe I could squeeze more life out of a nicer BB.
Not saying that the problem you had is solved, just feedback that RF did not pump out the same garbage without improvement.
Nope - my old SixC cranks were the last carbon cranks that I’ll ever buy. Won’t touch carbon again when there are such great options from Shimano and Cane Creek (if you have the $$$$).
2x warranty jobs and 2x I was out of pocket
All times from metal parts debonding from the carbon.
Would never buy again without a lifetime warranty, so good job they’ve done this...
And if you have any questions about the lifetime warranty, you can check it out here: www.raceface.com/pages/lifetime-warranty
Good to hear, I appreciate the reply.
White M30 - 570g for arms, spindle, and hardware at 175mm - $320
5Dev Trail/Enduro - 525g - $350
Shimano XTR - arm, sprindle, hardware - 470g - $400
The Era Cranks are a fair bit lighter with a 85g 32t ring than competitors (making them about 400g for arms, spindle, hardware), but at $500 without the chainring, they are substantially more expensive ($578 with RF SHI 12 32t ring).
A good few years ago I assembled a steel DMR hardtail and I installed a 400x26.8mm seatpost of yours with a bit of setback. I think I was about 67kg at the time (and probably still below 75kg with clothes, Camelbak etc). When I rode it to the trails, I was riding seated over the road and had the post extended all the way to the minimum insertion mark. When I hit the trails, I slammed it all the way down and rode standing. I only jumped with the seat slammed. Soon enough the seatpost started to bend above the minimum insertion mark, so this prevented me from sliding the saddle down properly. I contacted your warranty dept and explained what happened. They said it wouldn't be covered under warranty as this was an XC post and not for jumping. I explained that it must have bent during the seated road pedaling as that's when the post was extended. But they repeated that the post was not for jumping so that's where I gave up on expecting anything from warranties. Since, I've ridden posts from the likes of Azonic and NC17 in that frame and they all bent. Except of one from Thomson. That one was so expensive that I never dared to extend it so I just quit seated pedaling and have been riding with a slammed saddle since .
Either way, under your current policy, would this seatpost be covered under warranty or do you consider the bending of a seatpost normal wear and tear?
Not saying I've only had bad experience with your gear. My 780mm low rise aluminium handlebar is well over ten years old, three rides a week on average and plenty of crashes and still going strong.
My daughter rides the DMR now. She's only 30kg so she won't bend anything (and she still rides with the saddle slammed when on the trails).
Still there and I’ve cased the sh*t out some bigger things lately and they still look brand new, no worries to report! Thanks raceface!
Thanks
Or maybe my biopace oval chainrings?... oh no, wait. Those ones are back.
I had the same stories, heard the same stories, and eventually saw the math. THE MATH DOESN'T LIE.
It’s 3. We’ll actually closer to 2.3….
And no more waiting on warranties from ANYBODY that makes carbon stuff.
ITS A PROACTIVE FINANCIAL DECISION as a life long mountain biker TO BUY METAL CRANKS.
I don’t love the CHONKEY LOOKS, but I hit shit and it’s usually a rock and not just “some shit.”
And when I do?
I keep riding.
Sometimes I congratulate my cranks. Out loud. While still smashing the trail
They’re little magical unicorns, these space metal pedal arms…
They like it when I smash their faces with rocks.
That’s what I call a RACE FACE…..
Same spindle as before? I wouldn't mind trying something new on my fat bike now that my Turbines are a bit beaten up and the color is out of place on the current bike.
@raceface could you make sure you add a proper sign on your parts?
The best they make is aeffect R. Have saw one broken already. I cant compare them to my current atlas fr. This os crankset - it has to hold up not only riding, but cases, crashes etc.
Lifetime guarantee on these from what I remember. Didn't stop my friend from bending them though.
In the meantime, I bit the bullet and made an aspirational investment - eewings are the shi*t! Absolutely amazing and with today’s low BB’s I smack them a lot with zero concerns.
Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of sh*t. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
-Tommy Callahan, Callahan Carbon Composites Components