Shimano SLX FC-M665 Mountain Bike Crankset Review
keRadar verdict
"Bombproof double-and-bash bargain let down by lack of a 10-speed option"
Bikeradar Review Manufacturers description User reviews Sun 18 Dec 2011, 12:00 pm GMTBy Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UKThis beefed-up version of the SLX M660 trail crank is a bombproof double-chainring-and-bash-guard bargain. Nine-speed-only rings mean it’s starting to show its age in compatibility terms though.
The arms are the same as standard SLX so you get hollow limb stiffness and a rub-proof bare metal outer face. They’re mounted onto a thicker steel axle than conventional SLX though and there are steel pedal inserts plugged into the tips.
Add the big fat polycarbonate bashguard around the outside, and you’ve got a seriously tough set of cranks that still come in under a kilo. The 36/22-tooth chainring pairing is good for spinning up and sprinting down and the steel inner will handle several seasons of winching before wearing out. The only big issue is lack of a 10-speed version