Crank Arm Shortening

Crank Arm Shortening
$50/pr. October through March.
$55/pr. April through September
(I like to ride too. :-)
$35 for shortening 1 arm
Add $5 if you send your arms without removing the chainrings.
Add $25 if you send them in any sort of packing peanuts or shredded paper. (I'm not kidding.)
Ordering, Payment, Shipping and Contact info.

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New holes are drilled, usually 22mm from the original holes
175mm becomes 153mm 170mm becomes 148mm
165mm becomes 143mm

The New End - Shimano 105 Shown

Can My Cranks Be Shortened?

YES
Shimano
Ultegra 6500-6503
105 FC-5501-5502-5504 or 5505
Please read Shortening Shimano Hollowtech Cranks
Sora & Tiagra Square taper
Sora & Tiagra Octalink
Older MTB FC-M450, FC-M452 (Mountain LX),
FC-MT60 MT450 (Exage Mountain),
FC-M-440, M-440-C & M-440-8

SunTour
XC Comp 175mm
XC LTD 175mm
BontragerSelect ISIS Sport,
Select 4 bolt MTB 175 > 153 only
Select ISIS Race
Truvative IsoFlow & Touro
Dotek Pro 6
Easy Racers branded Sugino
Dimension Cyclocross (175mm only)
Sugino (VP & GP 175mm only)
RPM Power Pro 201
Andel 110/74 BCD triples (Add $5 for spot facing)

NO
Shimano
105 FC-5500 or 5503
Square taper 105s or Ultegras
Hollowtech MTB cranks
Any Dura Ace or XTR
FC-6206, FC-M730

Any 2 piece cranks except those mentioned in column at right.
Campagnolo Any
Dimension Cyclocross 170mm
FSA CK600
Sugino 170mmVP & GP
Impel, XD, Fuse 500
Truvative Elita, Blaze
SunTour RD7000
XC Compe MD (MicroDrive)
Tracer cranks on EZ-1 etc

Pedal extenders such as Knee Savers should not be used with most shortened cranks. They give increased leverage and may overstress the arms.

2 Piece, External Bearing Cranks I am now able to shorten these using a new fixture.

But, it is time consuming to install & accurately locate the special fixture for the right arm, then replace the original one. So the price is higher, $70-$100 depending on the cranks.

So far the only two piece cranks that I know can be shortened are;
Shimano pre 2010 Sora, Tiagra & R600a. (175mm only, shortened to 154mm)
FSA Moto-X
FSA Gossamer GXP Road, Compact and Road Triple
(175mm only, shortened to 154mm)

SRAM Apex 175 & 180mm only

SRAM Omnium 175>154 only ($100 Labor, These are very nice but a {bleep}load of extra work

Cranks with steel reinforcements around the pedal eyes have to be shortened by at least 24mm and these reinfocements cause extra labor. Add $10 to the cost for these.

How Safe Are Shortened Cranks?
"Safely" is a relative term. Modern cranks hopefully have a margin of safety to allow for the occasional 280 lb mountain biker. Shortening will usually reduce this safety margin, as in most cases there will be less aluminum around the pedal hole than before. So, I only recommend using most shortened cranks on recumbents.
Back in the '70s and early '80s road cranks were often smaller around the pedal eye than is common today. Failures were rare, but not unheard of.
Click HERE for examples.
I will shorten a good quality, cold forged crank if it will have at least as much material around the new pedal eye as those older cranks.
If the crank is the cheaper, so called "Melt Forged" type, then I need to be able to leave at least 25% more metal around the pedal.

Maybe
Ultegra 6500-6503 172.5 or 165mm - 105 165mm FC-5501-5502-5504-5505
Please read Shortening Shimano Hollowtech Cranks
Truvative Roleur Eye shouldn't snap off but hole might distort over time. Not for strong riders.
SunTour 170mm XC Comp & XC LTD Marginal strength - OK for smaller riders on trikes.
Gearing
If you are getting spun out in high gear with long cranks, using the same rings with short cranks will likely solve that problem. Most of us will be better off with something like 24-36-46 or 22-32-44 with 26" drive wheels. Most people do well with 30-42-52 on a bike with a 20" drive wheel.
I have installed 24 or 26t Salsa & 39-48 FSA ramped and pinned chainrings on over 1/3 of the105s & Ultegras I've shortened. Cost is $99. I've gotten quite a bit of positive feedback about the shifting and appearance of this setup.

What if my cranks aren't on your list?
CLICK HERE to help me add your cranks to either the Yes or No column.

Ordering, Payment, Shipping and Contact info.

Return to Bikesmith Design Return to Short Cranks Home Page

New holes are drilled, usually 22mm from the original holes 175mm becomes 153mm 170mm becomes 148mm 165mm becomes 143mm		The New End - Shimano 105 Shown
Can My Cranks Be Shortened?
YES Shimano Ultegra 6500-6503 105 FC-5501-5502-5504 or 5505 Please read Shortening Shimano Hollowtech Cranks Sora & Tiagra Square taper Sora & Tiagra Octalink Older MTB FC-M450, FC-M452 (Mountain LX), FC-MT60 MT450 (Exage Mountain), FC-M-440, M-440-C & M-440-8 SunTour XC Comp 175mm XC LTD 175mm BontragerSelect ISIS Sport, Select 4 bolt MTB 175 > 153 only Select ISIS Race Truvative IsoFlow & Touro Dotek Pro 6 Easy Racers branded Sugino Dimension Cyclocross (175mm only) Sugino (VP & GP 175mm only) RPM Power Pro 201 Andel 110/74 BCD triples (Add $5 for spot facing)	NO Shimano 105 FC-5500 or 5503 Square taper 105s or Ultegras Hollowtech MTB cranks Any Dura Ace or XTR FC-6206, FC-M730 Any 2 piece cranks except those mentioned in column at right. Campagnolo Any Dimension Cyclocross 170mm FSA CK600 Sugino 170mmVP & GP Impel, XD, Fuse 500 Truvative Elita, Blaze SunTour RD7000 XC Compe MD (MicroDrive) Tracer cranks on EZ-1 etc Pedal extenders such as Knee Savers should not be used with most shortened cranks. They give increased leverage and may overstress the arms.	2 Piece, External Bearing Cranks I am now able to shorten these using a new fixture. But, it is time consuming to install & accurately locate the special fixture for the right arm, then replace the original one. So the price is higher, $70-$100 depending on the cranks. So far the only two piece cranks that I know can be shortened are; Shimano pre 2010 Sora, Tiagra & R600a. (175mm only, shortened to 154mm) FSA Moto-X FSA Gossamer GXP Road, Compact and Road Triple (175mm only, shortened to 154mm) SRAM Apex 175 & 180mm only SRAM Omnium 175>154 only ($100 Labor, These are very nice but a {bleep}load of extra work
		Cranks with steel reinforcements around the pedal eyes have to be shortened by at least 24mm and these reinfocements cause extra labor. Add $10 to the cost for these.
		How Safe Are Shortened Cranks? "Safely" is a relative term. Modern cranks hopefully have a margin of safety to allow for the occasional 280 lb mountain biker. Shortening will usually reduce this safety margin, as in most cases there will be less aluminum around the pedal hole than before. So, I only recommend using most shortened cranks on recumbents. Back in the '70s and early '80s road cranks were often smaller around the pedal eye than is common today. Failures were rare, but not unheard of. Click HERE for examples. I will shorten a good quality, cold forged crank if it will have at least as much material around the new pedal eye as those older cranks. If the crank is the cheaper, so called "Melt Forged" type, then I need to be able to leave at least 25% more metal around the pedal.
Maybe Ultegra 6500-6503 172.5 or 165mm - 105 165mm FC-5501-5502-5504-5505 Please read Shortening Shimano Hollowtech Cranks Truvative Roleur Eye shouldn't snap off but hole might distort over time. Not for strong riders. SunTour 170mm XC Comp & XC LTD Marginal strength - OK for smaller riders on trikes.		Gearing If you are getting spun out in high gear with long cranks, using the same rings with short cranks will likely solve that problem. Most of us will be better off with something like 24-36-46 or 22-32-44 with 26" drive wheels. Most people do well with 30-42-52 on a bike with a 20" drive wheel. I have installed 24 or 26t Salsa & 39-48 FSA ramped and pinned chainrings on over 1/3 of the105s & Ultegras I've shortened. Cost is $99. I've gotten quite a bit of positive feedback about the shifting and appearance of this setup.
What if my cranks aren't on your list? CLICK HERE to help me add your cranks to either the Yes or No column.
Ordering, Payment, Shipping and Contact info. Return to Bikesmith Design Return to Short Cranks Home Page