FSA SL-K Carbon

Price Paid:  $250.00 at E-bay

Bike Setup:
Look KX Lite with Campy 10s.

Summary:
This thing sucks donkey balls. If the left crank isn't coming loose, the outboard bearings are.

Also, with Campy Record 10s the chain drops between two chain rings and doesn't engage the small ring. It has to be thrown over to get it work.

Strengths:
It's cool looking.

Weaknesses:
Everything comes loose. Within miles. And with loctite.

Similar Products Used:
Campy Record 10s.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
dura-ace drivetrain

Summary:
The FSA-SL Carbon crankset came on my new Cervelos RS (2008). I also had problems with the chain dropping from the large to small crank such that the chain would slip. It is amazing to me how any crankset could be built this terribly these days. I brought it back to the LBS and they swapped out the chainrings for ultegra and it works well now.

Strengths:
?

Weaknesses:
chain slip with downshifting - basically if you cannot downshift safely the product is worthless

Similar Products Used:
ultegra chainrings with FSA crank; 105 crankset

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Cervelo R3 - Ultegra.

Summary:
Had it on a Litespeed Tuscany and then a Cervelo R3. Had a lot of flex in the crankset and chainring, causing my chain to rub on my front derailleur - no matter how many times I adjusted it.

The chain would occasionally land on the chainring teeth, causing it to slip and then catch - UNSAFE.

Moved to FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue (octalink) and it's like night and day.

Strengths:
Looks nice.

Weaknesses:
Too much flex. Poor chainring design.

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra, FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue

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Price Paid:  $400.00 at beyond

Favorite Ride:
loop

Bike Setup:
Ultegra mostly

Summary:
Piece of crap! I've only had this crank on my new bike for about 8 months (about 5,000km).
The damn thing cracked from the pedal upwards!
No notice. Just got on the bike and notice the pedal was a bit loose. Look down and there is this massive crack!

Strengths:
none

Weaknesses:
crap carbon. No more carbon for me. Ti it will be from here on in.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Truvativ

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have had these cranks for about 3 years. Due to the number of miles I put on each year, I have been replacing them every year (luckily under warranty each time). I have broken these cranks yearly. With the amount of money being spent, you would expect a longer lifespan than what I was getting. I have had the metal sleeve for the pedal spindle crack on me a couple of times and I have had the carbon crack on me. If you are looking at this product don't buy it, either go more expensive and stay with carbon cranks or get aluminum cranks.

Strengths:
Cheap carbon cranks but you get what you pay .

Weaknesses:
Need Locktite to keep crank on. Short life span.