I was looking at the M980 to save a bit of weight (add some bling 😉 ) to my 1 x 10 but I’ve found some very tempting M970’s that are a very good price, brand new.
Anything I need to be aware of running a triple as a single? Outer holes are 104mm, same as the ring I’ll be using so no probs there..

Nope, just the same as XT, SLX etc. I have M970 on my bike and its perfect 1×10

Yep, the only quirk with M970s is that you need some 2mm washers on the inner ring if you don’t use the OEM one. Irrelevant with single ring as you’ll use the middle ring position.

Make sure they come with the removal tool, it’s not cheap if they don’t, and they aren’t coming off without one..

Does the chainring go on the inside or outside of the tabs on a triple? I’m thinking inside..
If that’s the case I guess I’ll have to machine some nice caps to fit where the outer chainring arms go.

Inside. You don’t have to do anything, but it may look neater with caps.

Yep inside, I’ve got 2 sets both with N/W rings on, lovely chainsets, light and strong but not cheap when new. Removal tool is essential, normally sell for about £20ish if you don’t get one.

If you do get some caps machined up I might be interested in a couple of sets (price dependent)

I’ve used a set of these for a 1X chainset with no problems, the chainring needs to go on the inside where the middle ring would have been on the triple.

Yep, currently running m970 cranks with a single ring in the middle ring position

great, thanks chaps.

I’ll have a look when they arrive to see if I can come up with some nice caps to machine, if they need it 🙂