Gravity Gradient MegaEvo Carbon Crank

Vital Rating:
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Tested: Gravity MegaEvo Carbon Cranks
Rating:
Vital Review

Gravity have jumped in and joined a small, but growing niche of manufacturers willing to put carbon cranks on the line, and not just in a cross country package either. No, they've gone all in and produced a full carbon, hollow crank aimed at gravity riders - although not so much downhillers (unless your DH bike runs a 73mm bottom bracket). Did they do a good job, and how will the cranks stand up to on-the-trail abuse? We've been beating on a set for some time in an effort to answer these questions and more.

Gravity Gradient MegaEvo Carbon Cranks Highlights


  • Hollow carbon composite arms with UD finish
  • Low speed extruded AL7050 30mm spindle
  • Removable inner chainring spacer
  • Alloy chainring bolts
  • Optional lightweight polycarbonate bash ring
  • Protective Spider Tab (s.t.c.) for use when running as a double
  • Removable crank arm end cap protective covers
  • Fits 68mm or 73mm BB shells (plus BB30, PF30 and PF92 with optional adapter)
  • Length: 165mm, 170mm, 175mm
  • BCD: 104/64mm
  • PC/32/22, PC/36/24, 44/32/22 and single versions
  • Optional 32T, 34T, 36T, 38T, 40T, 42T FSA MegaTooth chainring options
  • Weight: 598-grams
  • MSRP: $499 USD

Initial Impressions

The finish on the Gravity MegaEvo carbon cranks is primo, complete with visuals of the composite layup thanks to a clear coat, rather than sanding and masking up the construction. Some enjoy this look, others not so much, but personally, we think they look tight. The spider is also constructed of carbon and is moulded together with the drive side crank arm to form a single, large, uniform piece.

The spindle is of the 30mm variety, which attaches to the non-drive-side crank arm via a single large retainer bolt. This results in a crank that is relatively painless to set up with regards to alignment with guides and so on. The use of the sometimes dreaded wave washer on the non-drive side helps take any play out of the system to secure the cranks in place and prevent them from moving side to side or coming loose while riding.

Gravity's "MegaEvo" BB392 spindle allows the use of 68mm or 73mm BB shells, plus BB30, PF30 and PF92 with an optional $20 adapter. Pretty rad.

Setting the cranks up was very straightforward and everything went together smoothly. A 10mm allen key tightens everything down and the use of caps over the arms of the spider result in a very clean looking interface for the chainring bolts. Also included are a set of crank arm boots, to help avoid beating the ends of the cranks to death on rocks or any other obstacles while hacking up a storm.

On The Trail

Hitting the trail the stiff construction of the cranks was noticeable, with great response through the rear wheel when putting the hammer down or pushing into the bike while attempting to snap out of corners. We tested them in the 170-mm length, single ring configuration and despite having little interest in dual ring setups, we were impressed with the compatibility on offer.

Within the first couple of rides the lack of a narrow/wide chainring rang clear, the first resulting incident leaving us with the dreaded jam up between the upper guide and crank/chainring interface. After a little cussing and getting our hands dirty, we were back on the trail, though it wasn't long before we dropped another. Lesson learned - traditional full guide for a regular chainring, no matter how well you think your drivetrain is running.

Once we swapped out the supplied standard chainring with a OneUp Narrow Wide there were zero issues for the rest of the test. Note that Gravity will add a FSA Megatooth narrow/wide chainring for an additional cost. The cranks show little sign of wear, despite some serious abuse including non-stop days in the Whistler Bike Park. The supplied crank boots did a killer job, taking the brunt of a number of miss-timed pedal strokes resulting in horrible meetings between the bike and terra-firma. At one such point we almost lost a boot, with the upper portion stretched around the pedal insert, but hanging on for dear life as the ground attempted to rip the rest of it from the crank, with little success.

The shape of the crank worked well for us, remaining out of the way of the shoe, no matter how crossed up on the pedals we got while contorting to dodge trees and get back on line. We've had issues with the outboard surface starting to wear away on many a crank in little time, and despite using no clear tape to preserve the Gravity MegaEvo they display little signs of wear to the crank arms after months of abuse.

Things That Could Be Improved

While the Gravity MegaEvo carbon has been a sturdy performer, there are a couple of things that we would like to see amended. Supplying an all-mountain crank in a single ring configuration with a narrow/wide chainring should be a no brainer in today's market, though for this crankset it comes at an additional fee. The set we received came with a regular chainring which resulted in our swapping it out early on due to lack of reliability without a full chainguide.

We also think that despite our appreciation of the craftsmanship that went into the carbon construction of the spider, it creates limitations in a rapidly progressing 1-by world. A smaller BCD (which may not be feasible within the construction constraints of this system), or a direct mount ring similar to that of other manufacturers, would be a great call and would open up the use of this crank to a wider range of people including those who run a smaller front chainring.

Long Term Durability

As far as the construction of the cranks goes, we've seen little in the way of problems during our test period. We've given them a good couple of hits into the ground, at angles similar to those that were issues for other carbon cranks in their early days. For the beating we've given these, they actually still look pretty baller and minus some dirt and scuffs to the crank boots, which is what they're for, really look like they've just been thrown on the bike.

We were a little concerned that the additional parts for the chainring bolts would just wind up being a purely aesthetic contribution at best, or actually another area for noise to begin to generate from at worst. Fortunately we've experienced no such problems in this department, despite lots of moist, followed by bone dry riding conditions and plenty of grit - conditions that commonly result in us experiencing all sorts of noises from the bike.

What's The Bottom Line?

Gravity have arrived in the carbon crank game in style. They've produced a tidy package and one that has run trouble free for the duration of this test. No creaks, squeaks or issues of any sort to report. The pricing is in line with competition at the top end of the market, although we feel the MegaEvo would offer greater value if it included a narrow/wide chainring for those not keen on running a full guide on their trail bikes. If you are looking for a lightweight crankset that includes some unique features and construction, while getting on with the job at hand, then the MegaEvo Carbon is definitely worth a look.

For more on the Gravity MegaEvo carbon cranks, visit www.ridegravity.com.


About The Reviewer

AJ Barlas started riding as most do, bashing about dirt mounds and popping off street curbs. Not much has changed, really. These days the dirt mounds have become mountains and the street curbs, while still getting sessioned, are more often features on the trail. He began as a shop monkey racing downhill since day zero, only to go 'backwards' and start riding and racing BMX later on. He then came full circle once moving to Whistler. AJ loves riding everything from eight hour mountain pass epics (bonking) to lap after lap in the park and 20 minute pumptrack sessions at sunset. Driven by his passion for biking and exposing people to the great equipment we ride, AJ started and maintains the Straightshot MTB blog. So long as wheels are involved, and preferably dirt (the drier and dustier the better), life is good.

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Specifications

Product
Gravity Gradient MegaEvo Carbon Crank
Riding Type
Trail
Freeride / Bike Park
Downhill
Arm Material
Carbon
Arm Material Details
Hollow Carbon Composite Arms with UD Finish
Arm Lengths
165mm, 170mm, 175mm
Bolt Pattern
4 Alloy Chainring Bolts
Ring Options
44/32/22, PC/32/22, PC/36/24, and Single Versions (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, or 42 Tooth)
BB Shell Widths
68mm or 73mm
Spindle Interface
Low Speed Extruded AL7050 30mm
Colors
Matte UD Carbon Finish
Weight
1 lb 5.1 oz (598 g)
Miscellaneous
Removable Inner Chainring Spacer // Optional Light Weight Polycarbonate Bash Ring // Protective Spider Tab (s.t.c.) for Use When Running as a Double // Removable Crank Arm Endcap Protective Covers
Price
$499.00
More Info
What do you think?
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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