ACTOFIVE SIGNATURE X CRANKSET REVIEW
CHUNKY AND CHARMING CNC’D CRANKS
Words by Robert Johnston | Photos by Finlay Anderson
The Signature X puts German CNC machine specialists ACTOFIVE’s hat into the ring of aftermarket mountain bike cranksets. With stunning looks and the reassuring Downhill Cat 5 rating, we were excited to find out if life with these €399 cranks would be as sweet as we imagined. Read on to find out the verdict after half a year of punishment.
QUICK HITS
• Made In Germany
• One-piece, CNC construction
• 570g
• 165mm or 170mm lengths (or limited 145mm)
• DH rated
WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE ACTOFIVE SIGNATURE X CRANKSET
CNC-machined from a piece of 7075-T6 aluminum in Dresden, Germany, the Signature X cranks weigh in at 570g and have passed category-5 ISO certification. This Cat-5 rating qualifies them as suitable for downhill and gravity use. Despite this high rating, ACTOFIVE recommends the crankset for all riding applications, from XC to DH.
A gravel version with a shorter 161.5mm Q-Factor is available on request, with 168mm being standard. The Signature X cranks use SRAM’s 3-bolt direct mount spindle interface, making chainring swaps easy and ensuring a wide range of options are available. Using SRAM’s DUB fitment with the 28.99mm spindle, ACTOFIVE hopes to make it easy to source bottom bracket replacements when the time comes. There’s a 3-piece design, with two self-extracting 8mm bolts. A threaded preload adjuster lets you dial in the bottom bracket to spin perfectly without play.
You can choose from raw, silver, black, blue or grey finishes, and 165mm or 170mm lengths. There’s also a limited edition 145mm length, for the ultra-short crank curious. The ACTOFIVE Signature X Crankset will set you back €399, with optional rubber crank boots available to keep them looking fresh.
THE DIRT
Sitting in the heart of my long-term Starling MegaMurmur test rig, the ACTOFIVE Signature X crankset has been subjected to everything from Scottish pedal fests to lapping some of the French Alps and Pyrenees steepest and wildest trails.
Getting the Signature X crankset installed highlighted some quirks, mainly surrounding the fitment of chainrings. It seems as if the tolerances to which the ACTOFIVE crank 3-bolt interface area are machined are on the big end of the range. This led to an extremely tight fitment with another brand’s chainring, and the complete inability to fit the Rimpact Chain Damper. Rimpact admitted that they had experienced issues with another crankset in the past, so it seems as if this was an unfortunate clashing of tolerances. ACTOFIVE’s chainring was unsurprisingly a perfect fit.
The second quirk was in getting the perfect spacer setup to get everything lined up perfectly on the Starling. With the crank boots installed, the clearance was not massive with these chunky crank arms and the chainstays. The ACTOFIVE crank has around 5mm extra material inboard on each side compared with many. As such, I was occasionally able to generate enough flex from the frame under hard pedaling efforts to create contact with the chainstay protector. This was remedied by removing the crank boot, which of course resulted in some scarring to the bottom of the crank, but was otherwise an easy remedy.
Once installed, the ACTOFIVE Signature X cranks went about their business as you would hope. Offering a reassuringly stiff and direct feel, there was never a concern for their durability. With months of use without service, they continued to offer a rigid transfer of power without producing so much of a peep. When it came time to pull them off, the self-extracting system performed as you’d hope, popping each side off from the axle with minimal fuss – provided sufficient torque was applied.
The raw finish was undoubtedly an eye catcher. As pre-warned, it did suffer from some dulling after a few months of service, with the effects of oxidation taking place to the un-anodized aluminum. A couple of minutes with some scotch brite had them looking nearly as good as new, so be prepared to spend this time every once in a while if you want them to stay looking fresh.
I’d love to see more short length options for ACTOFIVE’s burly mountain bike crank, to satisfy the desires of the short crank curious. Additionally, it’s worth pointing out that they are a burly crank at 570g. So, perhaps not the best choice for a typical xc or trail mountain bike, but certainly worth considering for harder hitting rigs.
The Wolf’s Last Word
The ACTOFIVE Signature X cranks aren’t going to revolutionize your bicycle’s performance. However, if you’re in the market for a no-fuss solution for your aggressive mountain bike, and want something high quality with premium CNC-machined looks, the Signature X crank is worth considering.
Price: €399
Website: Actofive.com
SHARE THIS REVIEW
SUPPORT AND JOIN THE LOAM WOLF PACK
Did you find this review helpful? Would you like the chance to review (and keep) products? Are you interested in saving big bucks by getting exclusive Members Only discounts from industry brands all while helping support a small, rider-owned media crew? We have big plans for our members beyond big discounts and product giveaways! To learn more and help support small, independent media, visit our Member’s Page.