SRAM has patented an all-new chainset featuring radical new machining to shave weight while increasing strength. The newly designed SRAM chainset was spotted in U.S patent USD0974240S1, with wording that links it to the GX family.
The arms appear to use SRAM’s current direct mount system for chainrings and DUB axle standard, but the arms themselves feature additional machining when compared to current SRAM GX crank arms with a central section completely removed to reveal a ‘window’ through the arm.
This should not only save a healthy portion of the weight from the arms but also help to improve stiffness while also improving the overall premium look and finish of the arms.
As SRAM X0 and X01 arms are carbon fibre, we expect this radical new SRAM crank arm design to first appear on GX-level bikes, but it may trickle down to NX and further in later years.
Our sources in the industry tell us that certain brands have already obtained these arms so we should expect these new SRAM GX crank arms to launch later in 2023.
If however, you cannot wait for lightweight cranks that feature a GX style, then you could look at U.S brand 5 Dev, whose machined arms take on the appearance of the current GX chainset if they had been completely machined to reveal the rear webbing. While beautiful and functional, the 5 Dev cranks are also vastly more expensive than anything we would expect from the SRAM GX family, with an RRP of $349.99.
Edit MTB.