WHO IS ARKOZA?
Arkoza is the brainchild of Lee Blakley, an eBiker who works as Operations Supervisor at Canadian engineering and manufacturing company Argus. Argus has been an expert in precision manufacturing for over 65 years, providing the energy sector with a range of products and services.
Lee was frustrated by a lack of premium crank options for eBike systems, with the available offerings not quite cutting it for his high standards. With the precision manufacturing capability of Argus at his fingertips, Lee saw the opportunity to bring his eMTB crank visions to life. Arkoza is the brand that was created to bring the result to market, with the CØR Series Crank Arms now available following two years of development.
DEVELOPING THE ARKOZA CØR SERIES CRANK ARMS
Arkoza counts over 1,200 hours of engineering for the development and testing of their CØR Series Crank Arms. From the initial concept and engineering stages to the final version, over 90 design iterations were considered, before landing on the final product that’s now for sale.
By going through multiple stages of topology studies and finite element analysis (FEA), the structure of the Arkoza CØR Series Crank Arms was optimized for the machining manufacturing process. The excess material was removed to leave only the material required to provide the desired strength and stiffness for these cranks.
ARKOZA CØR SERIES CRANK ARMS DESIGN
The Arkoza cranks are made out of billet 7075 T651 aluminum, an aerospace-grade alloy that provides high strength with minimal weight thanks to their hollowed-out design. They are machined with a 5-axis CNC machine, delivering high levels of precision. This machining is conducted in-house in Canada, with the Argus engineering attention to detail. The tool marks from machining are left on the cranks on purpose, giving the unique high-tech aesthetic.
The machined design of the Arkoza CØR Series Crank Arms is unattainable through standard forging or casting manufacturing methods, removing material in undercut areas. Chamfered edges, diamond-cut surfaces, and a unique machined hollow section complete the crankarms’ sleek, angular design.
HOW STRONG?
The CØR Series Crank Arms were tested by Arkoza to meet enduro, freeride and downhill strength standards. With fatigue testing conducted to the ISO 4210-8 standard, 50,000 cycles of 405lbs of force were applied without failure.
To improve the endurance of the pedal threads, thread clipping is used to remove the first and last imperfect pedal threads. Not only does this help to avoid cross-threading of pedals, but it also reduces the likelihood of damage to the pedal threads under pedal strikes and harsh landings.
Arkoza stands by their CØR Series Crank Arms with a 5-year warranty for the original owner. And for those who change their mind, there’s a 30-day hassle-free returns policy.
LENGTH OPTIONS FROM SHORT TO SHORTER
Arkoza studied the effects of short cranks, and identified a range of benefits by reducing crank length on eMTBs. By fitting shorter cranks to an eBike, the rider benefits from increased clearance and easier maintenance of the high RPM that eBikes demand.
Arkoza offers their CØR Series Crank Arms in a length range from 155mm to 165mm, with a 160mm option in the middle.
These crank arms weigh in at 480g to 503g including mounting hardware for the ISIS drive unit fitment, which is compatible with Avinox M1, Bosch, and Specialized drive units. Arkoza is currently working to confirm compatibility with Avinox M2 and M2S, but on initial feedback it looks likely. For the ETOR fitment for Fazua RIDE 60, the weight is reduced to 453g to 476g depending on the length selected.
THE FINISHING DETAILS
Arkoza manufactures their cranks in small batches thanks to the adaptable nature of the CNC-machining process. This ensures high quality with no mass production.
The crankarms are all anodized to add further durability to their aesthetic, protecting against corrosion and scratches. At launch, a choice of “raw” aluminum with a clear anodizing finish, or a black anodized model will be available.
Limited runs of the cranks will be made with exclusive custom finishes and patterns, adding further flair to their design.
The CØR Series Crank Arms use self-extracting hardware, with the primary fastener using an 8mm hex key and the self-extracting captive hardware using either a 10mm hex or a cassette tool. This self-extracting hardware features a Teflon insert, allowing for easier removal thanks to the absence of binding when being extracted.
PURCHASING THE ARKOZA CØR SERIES CRANK ARMS
Arkoza is offering an initial pre-order price of $599 CAD (approx $430 USD) for their CØR Series Crank Arms. These are set to be shipped on June 1st, so be fast if you’re looking to save some money on these premium alloy crankarms.
LIMITED TIME GIVEAWAY – We also worked with Arkoza during the development of this feature for a limited edition anodized set to be given away. If you pre-order a set of cranks, you will be automatically entered in to win a set of truly special cranks.
Following the pre-order period, Arkoza aims to have the cranks in batch production from August, where the retail price will increase to $799 CAD or roughly $650 USD.
RIDE IMPRESSIONS WITH THE ARKOZA CØR SERIES CRANK ARMS
When it comes to cranks, there’s not a ton to talk about when it comes to performance. They need to be durable, reliable, easy to install, easy to remove and look good….well the last one may not be all that important but they Arkoza cranks certainly do that part well!
While cranks may not be life-changing components in terms of ride feel, I definitely noticed the increased ground clearance thanks to their low profile below the pedal threads. Every millimeter counts and these cranks give you just that little bit more. They also did a wonderful job holding my pedals in place and remained attached to the bottom bracket and drive unit of my Intense Tazer test bike. What else can we say, they look sweet, do the job and are real attention grabbers at the trailhead, and it feels like they’re built to stand the test of time.