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Before building the Winspace SLC5, I was thinking about where I could save some grams. Finally, I decided to try carbon cranks. After all, the ones from Elilee should save around 200g compared to Ultegra cranks. So, what was the result?
KEY TAKEAWAY
The Elilee X310 are one of the top carbon cranks on the market. They are high quality, and even some World Tour teams are experimenting with them. Personally, I don’t notice any greater stiffness compared to Ultegra cranks. The main difference is their lower weight compared to both Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranks, as well as their nicer appearance. However, it is important to note that these cranks are actually more expensive because you need to buy a spider, a tool for tightening the nut, and possibly bolts for the chainrings if you don’t already have them. Keep reading for more information and to avoid the mistakes I made during installation.
NOTE: This review was made possible thanks to Elilee, who provided the cranks. They had zero influence on the content of this review, and all opinions are my own.
Elilee X310 Cranks Summary
Below is the summary of the main features, benefits, drawbacks, and technical specifications of the Elilee X310 cranks.
Main Features
- Beautiful appearance
- Premium packaging
- High stiffness-to-weight ratio
- Wide compatibility with chainrings and power meters
- Available in multiple lengths, ranging from 145mm to 172.5mm
- Multiple spacers are included
- Pricy (double the price of Dura-Ace cranks)
- Spider is not included
- Bolts for chainrings are not included
- Not all the necessary tools for installation are included
Technical Specification
- Weight
- Cranks only: 305g, 165mm cranks without spider or spacers
- Cranks with EK01 power meter: 401g
- Cranks with Shimano Ultegra 50ร34T chainrings and power meter: 554g
- Shimano Ultegra 50ร34T cranks (without power meter): ~713g
- Length: 165mm
- Spindle: 24mm (available for SRAM DUB)
- Material: Carbon (cranks), spindle (titanium)
- Q-factor: 151.5mm
Elilee X310 Installation
I used X310 cranks when building the Winspace SLC5. It was the first time I had used cranks other than Shimano or SRAM. I decided to combine them with Ultegra chainrings, as the Dura-Ace ones are only a few grams lighter but twice as expensive.
You also need to buy a “spider” to hold the chainrings and attach them to the cranks. I didn’t need it because Elilee also sent me an EK-01 power meter, which supplements the spider’s function. To attach it to the crank, you need to tighten a proprietary nut using a Park Tool BBT-22, or you can buy a cheaper Super B TB-1455. Of course, I didn’t have either of these tools because I didn’t know I would need them. That’s one of the things I would criticize Elilee for. They could mention their necessity in the product details.
One of the most important steps after lubrication was to choose suitable spacers so that the cranks were precisely in the middle. I used a gauge to measure the distance from the outside of the crank to the outside of the down tube. This may not have been the best approach, as some down tubes may not be symmetrical. An alternative would be to mark the center of the bottom bracket on the down tube.
Then I tightened the cranks using the main bolt. Once I was done, I couldn’t wait to test ride the bike. Unfortunately, the main bolt became loose after a few kilometers, resulting in poor shifting performance. So, after I returned home, I tightened it again, hoping all would be good next time. Unfortunately, it became loose again! I double-checked the recommended torque (40-50 Nm) and realized I hadn’t applied enough force. So, I tightened it more, and now it’s all good.
Conclusion
Since Iโm a relatively weak rider who hardly ever surpasses 1000W peak power, I didnโt notice much difference in stiffness compared to Shimano Ultegra cranks. I use the 165mm version, which leaves less room for flex than longer cranks. On paper, though, the Elilee should be one of the stiffest cranks on the market.
It seems I set the chainline correctly, since I havenโt had any chain drops and the shifting is flawless. Thatโs a big plus. Overall, Iโm happy with the weight savings and the look. I saved around 159g compared to the Shimano Ultegra 50ร34T crankset without a power meter. Considering that I would have to use a pedal power meter like the Favero Assioma RS-2, which weighs 249g, instead of the LOOK KEO Blade Carbon Ceramic pedals, which weigh 230g, the savings would be 178g. The savings would be even more noticeable when using a different power meter pedal because this is the lightest one on the market.
Iโd buy them again if I were building a lightweight bike or looking for a weight-reduction upgrade. The dollar-to-weight-savings ratio is solid, but I probably wouldnโt choose them for a standard build with a tight budget.
They arenโt cheap, and Elilee doesn’t communicate the additional costs for the spider and tools too well. But if you want real weight savings and something that stands out from the usual Shimano and SRAM options, theyโre worth considering.
Anyway, I hope you find this review helpful. You can buy the cranks at Elilee.com.
The product for this review was kindly provided by the manufacturer. This did not influence my overall verdict or my opinion about the product. You can learn more about how I approach reviews here.
