Shimano Ultegra FC-6500

Price Paid:  $175.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Any road

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR2

Summary:
Replaced FSA's with this crank. I immediately noticed an increased stiffeness/positive response with this crank. Don't shift a lot here, but the shifting is really smooth. Installation very easy.

Strengths:
Stiff

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
FSA (can't remember type off-hand)

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Lemond Ti

Bike Setup:
Cannondale CAAD8
Ultegra

Summary:
Came with a 2002 Lemond Victoire. I have been riding these cranks for over 20,000 km in all kinds of weather conditions you would typically encounter in the Midwest without having any problem. I replaced the chain rings once and I'm still looking for an excuse to change the bottom bracket or to get rid of this beast altogether.

Strengths:
Stiff and durable.

Weaknesses:
New chain rings are almost as expensive as a complete new crank set.

Similar Products Used:
Dura Ace 7800, FSA

Price Paid:  $0.00 at traded

Favorite Ride:
BMB, or any other long distance ride

Bike Setup:
very high end. Dura ace, XTR, FSA, Brooks TI Swift... You name it I have used it!

Summary:
This is easily one of the most dependable cranksets for the money... I acquired these when a friend had me build her a bike. I bought these as part of a group, but she wanted a triple. (which she also paid for) I didn't exactly charge her for building the bike, since she was a friend, so she gave me the crankset in lieu of payment! Anyway, they are very solid, and so is the ultegra bottom bracket. the only thing that I would change, is the chain rings. The rings aren't exactly bad, but for some reason, the shifting felt more crisp? not exactly the word, but close enough...

Strengths:
durable.. these will last longer than your bike

Weaknesses:
matter of opinion regarding weight or chain rings.. Whatever.. these cranks are awesome..

Similar Products Used:
Dura ace, FSA Team Issue, SLK Mega Exo, Cannondale Coda

Price Paid:  $125.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Gently rolling century

Bike Setup:
1. Orbea Urkiola alum + Carbon
2. Trek 5900

Summary:
Flexy but acceptable.

Strengths:
Rock-solid reliable. Teeth wearing much better than lower end Shimano

Weaknesses:
Chain rub because of flex on hard acceleration

Similar Products Used:
Shimano 105, Shimano 600

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Rockhamton Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Mt Archer

Bike Setup:
Cervelo Soloist Team
Selle Italia Gel Flow

Summary:
After two weeks and three trips back to my LBS. We, me and the shop owner, could't work out the "Tick, Tick, Tick" that was coming for the FSA cranks that came on my Cervelo Soloist. We took the BB out and replaced it, the noise stopped, I rode over some rough road, it came back. We swapped wheels, forks, seat, everything, the noise was in the cranks everything was torqued up to recommended and there was the "Tick Tick Tick". He swapped out the cranks from the FSA to the Ultegra and bang, noise gone. Ride improved ten fold. The FSA Cranks that come stock on the Cervelo are junk compared to the Shimano Ultegra Cranks.

Strengths:
Look
Strength

Weaknesses:
None yet

Similar Products Used:
FSA
Shimano 105