WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE PINND ANALOG CRANKS
The PINND Analog cranks are Made-in-Scotland from 7075 T651 anodised aluminium. Built tough – but not overbuilt – they are certified for Enduro (Cat 4) use, with weights ranging from 603g to 636g making them competitive. They are offered in 155mm to 170mm lengths in 5mm increments, allowing the rider to choose their perfect fit.
They feature a different design and look from the eBike-specific cranks, however they carry over PINNDs signature CNC-machined finish. There are with decorative tool paths galore, customisable captive nut colours, and a choice of two beautiful anodized crank colorways: black or natural (tested).
PINND opted to go with the DUB axle system for their cranks, which is a SRAM axle standard that has one of the widest compatibility of any crank axle system on the market. PINND offers five axle widths: DUB STD, DUB wide, DUB SB+, DUB DH, and DUB FAT. This should ensure this crank set will fit most bikes, provided it is paired with an appropriate DUB bottom bracket.
The crank set also utilises the SRAM 3-bolt chainring interface, which allows for simple installation and an enormous range of chainrings to choose from. While some other brands opt to use their own proprietary system, it’s nice to see a more universal approach taken here.
For this review, we opted to run the 155mm natural color crank arms with a DUB STD axle, which weighed in at 603 grams. The PINND Analog Crank comes in at £245 / $282 / €287.95.
THE DIRT
SETUP | Installing the PINND Analog Cranks was straightforward, requiring only Allen keys and Torx keys. The installation process is identical to typical SRAM DUB cranksets, however PINND provides their own compatibility and installation guide to help clarify exactly what you need to order for the bike you have.
I’ve been running the Analog Cranks on my V1 Forbidden Druid, which has a 52mm chain line. Using their compatibility chart, I quickly determined that I required a DUB STD axle combined with a 3mm offset chainring to achieve the desired chain line of 52mm.
Coming from my standard crank arm length of 170mm and stepping down to 155mm meant I had to raise my seat post by approximately 15mm. I reduced my gearing slightly up front, going from a 32-tooth chainring to a 30-tooth chainring to keep the pedaling feel consistent with what I’ve become accustomed to.
Compared with standard DUB cranksets that use a plastic preload ring, PINND has opted to manufacture their preload ring from aluminum, which feels significantly more durable. They’ve also opted to use a very small T8 torx screw to secure this preload ring, which isn’t all bad; however, I can’t think of a single trail multitool that has a T8 on it. So if this comes undone on the trail (which it did for me), you might become a bit stuck.
CLIMBING | Climbing with the short 155mm PINND Analog cranks had a learning curve that took a few rides to get used to. The reduced overall length of the crankarm theoretically has an 8-9% reduction in torque produced, however, reducing the gearing more or less counteracts this effect.
By shortening the cranks, you have a smaller effective pedaling circle, which means a higher cadence spin is easier to sustain. This can reduce the high-force, low-cadence grinding that can often causes knee pain, provided suitable gearing is available.
On technical ascents, the reduced length was a game changer when things get rocky and janky. Since installing the 155mm PINND cranks, I’ve experienced little to no rock strikes, and found myself taking some more adventurous lines on climbs for the fun of it. Knowing the chances of rock strikes are reduced means you can take full advantage of the additional clearance to pedal through the chunk.
DESCENDING | Whilst descending, I found the PINND Analog cranks to have a stout and stiff feel, which translated in a more direct connection between my leg inputs and the trail than the outgoing Shimano SLX cranks. Granted, this was only marginal, but in my opinion it’s a noticeable net gain. Much of this will be from the arms, however the use of the thicker DUB axle will also contribute to this effect. There was an accompanying 74g weight gain, but this did not produce a considerable handling penalty.
The reduction in length from the 170mm cranks fitted previously also helped to push my feet closer together, giving a more stable, natural, and upright stance, which kept me that bit more centered on the bike.
FINISH AND VALUE | The quality and finish of PINNDs analog cranks is excellent, with a high level of attention to detail. Their no-nonsense design and durable finish ensured they still look great after 6 months of abuse, with no signs of that changing over the long haul. For a product made in the UK, I think the asking price is fair given their quality.
HOW DO THEY COMPARE?
There are 2 main rivals to consider who offer similar products to the PINND Analog cranks: Hope and 5DEV.
Hope’s EVO crankset is also made in the UK, comes in 7 colours, costs slightly more at £285 and weighs slightly less at 570g in 170mm length. They do, however, use a proprietary chainring mount, so you’ll be tied into what chainrings Hope offers.
5DEV’s R-spec enduro cranks have a lot of similarities to the PINND cranks, with a DUB compatible axle system, 3-bolt mount for the chainring interface, and comparable weights. However, they are made in the USA, and come in at a significantly higher price point of £449, with more design flair.
I feel PINND have been able to strike a nice balance of quality finish, features such as the DUB system and price point with their analog crankset. It delivers performance for an acceptable price, and looks just as good as the competition.
The Wolf’s Last Word
If you’re in the market for a new pair of cranks or are short crank curious, I would recommend considering the PINND Analog cranks. With a quality construction, durable finish, and wide ranging compatibility, PINND’s offering in this space is a solid choice for the pricepoint, with my only minor complaint being around its T8 preload collar screw. 
Price: £245 / $282 / €287.95
Website: Pinnd.co.uk
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Based in the North-East of Scotland, Michael’s day job is an engineer in the Oil and Gas sector. He also runs the mountain bike components brand Obsidian Components, who make beautiful machined and anodized mountain bike parts. When he’s not at the office desk, you’ll find him sampling the best local coffee, or ripping his Forbidden Druid V1 and Specialized Levo on the trails.
Rank: Contributor
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 161lbs / 73kg
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