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Crank Brothers 2012

Crank Brothers debuted a lot of new products at Sea Otter this year. Refined wheels, pedals and bars, but also new products like gear bags and hydration packs. We've selected the products that might interest you all-mountain and downhill types, so get your napkins ready, you'll be drooling in no time.

2012 Crank Brothers Pedal Features Overview
- All pedals are fully rebuildable
• 3 and 11 level pedals use needle bearings instead of bushings
• New construction eliminates leak paths and greatly improves sealing
• Consistency in parts across pedal models: all spindles fit all pedals
• Clarity in naming across pedal families: level 1 is brand entry, level 11 is elite
• 50% increase in spindle strength
• Slimmer two-piece platform design for the mallet and 5050 reduces weight

5050 Series Pedals
The photos had been leaked and pro riders have been using them in testing. Finally the new 5050 flat pedal is here. Aside from aesthetics, the use of both polycarbonate and aluminum in the body construction is what stands out with these new pedals. Weight comes down and durability goes up according to Crank Brothers with the both models hovering right around the 430 gram mark, using 10mm pins. The 5050 3 ($100) uses a needle inner bearing while the 5050 2 ($80) use an inner bushing and both models have a 5-year warranty.
2012 Crank Brothers 5050 2 and 3 flat pedals.
2012 Mallet Series Pedals
Clip-using downhillers should take an interest in the 2012 Crank Brothers Mallet which uses a combination of aluminum and polycarbonate for the body construction, just like the new 5050's. The high-level Mallet 3 ($120, 435grams) uses needle bearings and investment cast steel on the 'wings' of the pedal, while the Mallet 1 ($60) and 2 ($90) models use bushings and stamped steel. The Mallet 1 has a 2 year warranty while the 2 and 3 have a 6-year warranty. A variety of colors are available.

2012 Crank Brothers Mallet 2 and 3 clipless pedals with supporting platform. DH / race pedal with adjustable 8mm pins for custom traction control. Completely redesigned with more durable internals and a slimmer profile to reduce weight.
2012 Crank Brothers Handlebars
The Opium and Sage bars get a width increase and angle update. Both bars are offered in 780mm widths and a 9-degree backsweep, with a rise option of 15mm or 30mm. The iron-colored Opium 3 bar ($90) is made from 7050 aluminum, weighing 290 grams, while the Sage 2 ($60) uses 2014 aluminum with a final weight of 325 grams. Both bars come with a 2-year warranty.
2012 Crank Brothers Opium 3 handlebar2012 Crank Brothers Sage handlebar2012 Crank Brothers Bags
A well-thought out gear bag is something that can make or break a biking trip. Crank Brothers introduces their Baseline gear bag with some features that will make a DHer stoked. At $150, the Baseline features 2 external mesh pockets, 7 separate storage pockets, full face-compatible padded helmet pocket (AWESOME!), brushed tricot goggle pocket and ballistic nylon base. The 5-year warranty and 118 liter capacity comes in handy, too.
2012 Crank Brothers Wheels
The entire CB wheel line was worked over, but we're going to focus on the Iodine 3 and Opium 3 wheels which have received refinements that include reduced weight, more durable and stronger freehub and color changes.
     The budget-minded Iodine 2 wheelset retails for $650, but we're going to checkout the $950 Iodine 3 all-mountain wheelset which breaks down like this:
Weight per pair 1765g (138g less than current iodine)
Rims: 6061-t6 aluminum, internal width 21mm, valve hole dia. 6.5mm, disc-only
Spokes: 24 Stainless steel, butting 2.0 / 1.8 / 2.0, Nipples 7075-t6 aluminum
Hubs: Front hub shell: 4 sealed cartridge bearings. Front axle length qr15 or 20mm. Rear hub shell: 4 sealed cartridge bearings. Rear axle length 142x12mm or 135x10mm
Tire Compatibility: Tubeless compatible. Tire size 2.3-2.5-inch
Quick release front/rear split qr included
Warranty: 2 years
The 2012 Iodines come in a couple different color options but they all feature black rims and hubs.
The $950 Opium 3 DH wheelset loses some weight and gains some strength...
Weight per pair 1935g (127g less than current iodine)
Rims: 6061-t6 aluminum, internal width 24mm, valve hole dia. 6.5mm, disc-only
Spokes: 24 Stainless steel, 2.0 straight-gauge, Nipples 7075-t6 aluminum
Hubs: Front hub shell, 4 sealed cartridge bearings, 20mm axle. Rear hub shell, 4 sealed cartridge bearings, 12x150mm axle.
Tire Compatibility: Tubeless compatible, Tire size 2.4-2.8-inch
Warranty: 2 years
The DH-ready 2012 Crank Brothers Opium wheelset.

Visit www.crankbrothers.com for more information about their product range. You can also leave your reviews on Crank Brothers products in the Vital MTB product guide, too!
What do you think? +3 -3

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