Praxis Works Turn Zayante Crankset Review

Praxis Works Turn Zayante Crankset Review

Note: In this article, I will refer to the road based Praxis Works Turn Zayante crankset, but most everything applies equally to the mountain based Girder crank as well.

Praxis Works Turn Zayante Crankset

One Crank to Rule them All

The plethora of bottom bracket “standards” and cranks on the market has created a great deal of confusion and compatibility challenges. Thankfully, one company realized that a by-gone design from another company provided a great bridge, allowing a single crank design to not only be one of the stiffest on the market, but also fit bikes using older style threaded bottom brackets as well as the newest BB30/PressFit frames. Even more impressively, they managed to include some of the best shifting chainrings in the business and one of the most secure (thus least creak prone) bottom brackets into the package and do it all for around $400. Enter the Praxis Works Turn Zayante & Girder M30 crank/bottom bracket systems.

So what makes the Praxis Works Zayante crankset different from the wide variety of crankset on the market? The defining difference that the Praxis Works Turn Zayante crankset offers is actually the brilliance of the M30 system design that allows one crank to work well in a very wide array of frames (from threaded to BB86/92 and most things in-between). The M30 system not only simplifies a lot of the compatibility issues PressFit and BB30 based frames can have, but also allows owners of smaller threaded bottom bracket frames to reap the benefits of the bigger BB30 axle. Haven’t we seen this before? Why yes…Zipp Vuma Quad Crank

Back to the Future

A moderate number of years ago, Zipp manufactured their lamentably gone-but-not-forgotten Zipp Vuma Quad crankset, a truly exquisite piece of carbon and aluminum sculpted bicycling componentry if there ever was one. Zipp built the Vuma Quad with a big 30mm crank axle, but they built the axle longer than a standard BB30 design and they simply offered a few bottom brackets and associated spacers kit for it, including an ultra-thin threaded alloy cup that allowed the crank to work in any standard 68mm threaded bottom bracket. Thus eliminating many compatibility issues while bringing the benefits of BB30 stiffness to most any bike. The Praxis Works Turn Zayante crankset basically takes the same approach, while bridging many of the newest frame bottom bracket sizes and being substantially less money than the somewhat exotic Zipp.

Frame Compatibility for the Praxis Works Turn Zayante Crankset

Praxis Works Conversion Bottom BracketSo, what frames will the Praxis Works Turn Zayante work outside of a standard threaded frame? Praxis makes their excellent “creak proof” bottom brackets for use with the Zayante in bikes with BB30, PF30, Specialized OSBB, and BB86/92 bottom bracket shells. They also make a crank to fit a BB86 bottom bracket shell. This is what makes the Zayante different: it will fit all of these bikes, and a threaded bottom bracket shell, without having to resort to clunky spacers/adapters that can move and creak, or a different crankset altogether. Unfortunately, Praxis does not make a crank and bottom bracket combination to fit Cervelo’s BBright frames at this time.

Construction and Specs of the Praxis Works Turn ZayaPraxis Works Turn Zayante Cranknte Crankset

The Praxis Works Turn Zayante Crankset is hollow forged aluminum, with hollow forged crank arms. It is available in crank arm lengths of 165, 170, 172.5, 175, and 177.5, and comes in either 110 mm and 130 mm bolt patterns, meaning that these cranks will work with 50/34, 52/36, or 53/39 chainring combinations. The chainrings are, obviously, Praxis Works Cold Forged, so no problem there as these are some of the only rings on the market that can compete with Shimano in terms of shift quality.

The weight of the Praxis Works Turn Zayante crankset, with the threaded bottom bracket, is about 830 grams, or a little over 50 grams heavier than a Shimano Ultegra crankset and bottom bracket. The weight not being super light is one of the only knocks against the crank. However, the upside to the M30 design of crank and the M30 bottom bracket is that it is one of the stiffest available anywhere, regardless of price. Independent testing has demonstrated that the Praxis Works Turn Zayante M30 System was not only stiffer than the 6800 Ultegra, but also 9000 Dura Ace, Campagnolo Super Record, and host of other benchmark units. In fact, the only crank that came close to the Praxis was an ultra high-end, carbon unit from THM that costs $1,500. Pretty darn impressive for a $299 crank that includes some great chainrings.

An Alternative

We have always found it hard to fault how Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo construct their cranks compared to a number of aftermarket options. It is hard to deny that the most effective solution to balky shifting in the past was to throw a Shimano crank and chainrings on the bike… The Praxis Works Turn Zayante M30 crankset/bottom bracket combination is one of the first cranks that does not fall into the exotic category that is worth serious consideration as it equals Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo on the shift quality front while actually exceeding them on stiffness and overall frame compatibility options. It is hard to argue with industry-leading stiffness, improved shifting, and Praxis quality and the price makes the Praxis Works Turn Zayante an absolute bargain for what it does.

Contact us for more information or to order a Praxis Works Turn Zayante or Girder M30 crank and bottom bracket system.

http://www.praxiscycles.com/cranks/

About Jim

After almost thirty years as an attorney, Jim became the service manager at Fit Werx in Vermont. He held this post for almost ten years. Having retired in 2019, Jim still likes riding, working on and writing about bikes and bike equipment.

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14 Responses to Praxis Works Turn Zayante Crankset Review
  • Frederico Lins e Silva

    Hello. I’ve bought a Specialized Diverge Expert. It comes with a Praxis Zayante 40T Crankset. I’d like to know if it’s possible to buy a Stages powermeter or other to fit this Crank.
    Thanks.

    • Ian

      Hi,
      While Praxis makes a version of this crank that comes with a power meter (4iiii) from the factory, I’m not aware of a retrofit/add-on option. Technically, it would just require a new left crankarm with a power meter and/or having the 4iiii unit installed on your existing arm. We have not seen Praxis advertise either retrofit option for an existing crank though; you need to buy a whole new Praxis crank with a power meter.

  • Stephen Booth

    I have a 4iiii supplied Zayante crankset and it is extremely nice.
    One question, would the non drive crank with the 4iiii fit a 9100 DuraAce crankset? If it does it saves me the cost of a Stages or equivalent Vectors.

    • Ian

      The Zayante crankset uses a different spline interface and diameter than the Dura Ace. So, there is no way for that Zayante left arm to fit a Dura Ace 9100 crankset. Please email info@fitwerx.com or call us at 802-496-7570 if you want to discuss the best options from Stages and others. We’d be happy to help get you set-up on a great option.

  • John

    I have a 2017 specialized shiv elite and I noticed that my cranks seem to be loose. When I pull on the cranks (left to right) there is a little bit of play. I checked to make sure the crank bolt was adequately tight and it was. Not sure what is going on or how to fix this. I believe I have the M30. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

    • Ian

      Hi John,
      I’m not sure exactly which crank you have on your Shiv. This being said, it sounds like you might be missing a spacer or a preload spring/wave washer behind your crankarm. There is a chance that you have a broken wave washer as well. I would start by checking out the wave washer and replacing as needed.

  • Stephen

    Hi
    Thanks for the great review. I have the M30 BB with the Praxis Turn M30 crankset. I wish to change the bearings (yes I understand this will make the warranty invalid) but cannot find the correct replacement for the non-drive side (NDS) bearing. It is 28mm ID as opposed to the drive-side 30mm ID (30mmx42mmx7mm). do you know what bearing I should use or is there some kind of shim that reduces the 30mm ID to the required 28mm?
    Many thanks

    • Ian

      Hi Stephen,

      Unfortunately, we do not know exactly what bearing will fit the non-drive side of your unit. I don’t know this 100%, but I believe the dimensions are simply 28mmx42mmx7mm on this NDS bearing. As you know, this is not a size that is commonly found in the bike industry and appears to be proprietary to Praxis. The size is also not very common in any other applications/industries, so we don’t have a good source for a replacement bearing outside of just buying a new bottom bracket. I suppose you could get the standard 6806 (30x42x7) bearing and then have a shim machined for the application, but that seems like a lot of work compared to just getting a new bottom bracket. Sorry we can’t help more.

  • Jeepjp

    Jim, this is a great review and article you’ve posted. Based on your information, and the fact that Praxis makes this crank with a Power meter built in now (USA only, and very limited) I purchased the Zayante Crankset for the Colnago C60 I’m building. I was going to use a Dura Ace crank I already have on another bike, but I really wanted a power meter also. Having to buy a Stages for $600 plus added to the cost of the Shimano crank, I would be into it for about $1,000. Money isn’t really the issue (a C60, right?), but I’m about engineering, and not as concerned about weight, if I was- I wouldn’t be building a C60. I will post an updated comment about about the Zayante crank and 4iiii Power Meter as soon as I have some miles on it. Thank you for your great in depth articles and honest reviews, so much glorified info on the internet posing as honest reviews, and usually they are just someone posting on behalf of the manufacturer or distributor. Thanks for keeping it “real”, there’s so much new cycling tech product out there, it’s hard to keep up without articles like yours that illustrate the good, and the honest facts such as the crankset weight in this case. Keep up the great work!

    • Ian

      Hi,

      It sounds like you have built up a nice bike and I hope that you enjoy it. We’re glad that the review was found to be helpful. We look forward to seeing your posts and reviews on the crank and power meter once you ride them some. We depend on people working with us and buying product from us in order to keep writing reviews and highlighting new products, so please consider giving us a call the next time you need something. Enjoy!

  • Rob Hazelrigg Hazelrigg

    I’m getting a different outlook in regards to the reliability of the M30 conversion BB by Praxis Works. Last summer (2015) I bought a Specialized bike – Roubaix full carbon, with Ultegra components, hydraulic disc brakes. Nice bike – except that with less than 3000 miles on it I started having creaking noises from the BB (it has an M30 ). At first I thought it was something else, but wound up pulling the bracket and finding a bearing with some slightly rough feel. Instead of replacing the BB with a different style – like going to a S Works full carbon crank set, I thought I’d give the Praxis name a second chance. With the new BB installed, and following their instructions to the ‘T’ I haven’t gotten 50 miles on it and and am already having noises – the first 25 miles were good. I intend to double check my work, but I expect to find that in order to have a quiet ride I’m going to have to get rid of this product and upgrade my crank set. Based on my experience the statement “Creak-proof Bottom Bracket” is just a selling point and not the truth.

    • Ian

      Hi Rob,

      Thank you for sharing your experience. We have not had the same experience and I suspect that your issue may not actually be in your crank or bottom bracket, but could have to do with your frame. If you start with a frame that is not flush or that has a bottom bracket that has an asymmetry, no bottom bracket or crank will get rid of the creak. Based on the frequency of your issue and its recurrence, I would carefully look at that as we have seen this happen before. Hope this helps.

      • Ruben

        Hi Rob,

        Funny thing, I bought a full carbon Diverge in december 2015, after about 6000 km (~3500 miles) I started to have the exact same problem as you describe with the BB by Praxis Works. I am originally coming from MTB, where I always had the XTR BB, no creak even after a full winter in the mud. I was wondering, as your post is from march, how did you solve the problem in the end?

        • Ian

          I’m not sure what you are asking, but I’ll assume that you have not put a bottom bracket like the Praxis Works design into your Diverge. The solution we have found is using bottom bracket design that threads into itself like the Praxis or Enduro TorqTite. If the bottom bracket continues to creak after this, looking at the alignment of the bottom bracket cups in the frame itself is worth looking at.

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