Shimano offering's looks a good design (SRAM AKA keeps braking chainrings)
So which Shimano crankset for a single 30T chainring
The SLX looks a very sturdy design tome
It's just a question of how much money you want to spend. You can't go wrong really. I got a bargain slx boost crank from ribble which does the job nicely. Came with a 32 but fitted an uberbike 30.
At least a few months ago 30t at 104bcd was easy to find but the new 96/94bcd seems much scarcer and correspondingly pricey.
oneup for rings. Keep in mind XT and above isn't 96bcd.
Shimano make good long lasting 30T rings for 96BCD pattern used in recent chainsets M6000 upwards.
So, this Saint one would work for 30T?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-saint-m820-hollowtech-ii-crank-arms/
I think so. You'll need one of these if it's 104bcd, which I think that set is.
EDIT - says 104 pcd here (assume pcd is same as bcd?) - https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/saint-m820/FC-M820.html
Saint is 104 BCD, SLX M7000, and XT M8000 use the offset 96mm BCD (older SLX and XT use 104mm).
You can get 30T 104BCD rings, but they offset the ring inboard to give chain/spider clearance as the 104BCD was intended for 32T minimum. Not generally a problem, but worth checking you have chainstay clearance for it.
The 96mm BCD 30T rings don’t alter chainline as there’s no need due to the smaller BCD.
Saint cranks are pretty burly - do you need that much strength? SLX/XT much lighter but plenty strong enough for most (with the exception of one paranoid poster whose name I forget....).
SRAM AKA keeps braking chainrings
Another option worth looking at might be steel chainrings for the SRAM.
The main reason I like fancy X01 cranks is the ability to run a steel chainring that costs peanuts and lasts well.
Every alloy chainring I've had seems to last about 2 chains (maybe 3 at best).
I run a 104 30t blackspire snaggletooth. The offset is about 3mm. Never had an issue on any of the bikes ive run them on (on one 456/pivot Mach 5.7 /ibis mojo hd )
All Shimano 96bcd cranksets take Shimano 30t rings
SLX and XT 96mm BCD rings are steel too, so good and durable.
Great, thanks for all the help - really appreciated
Gone for an XT 96 BCD (M8000) with 30T boost Shimano chainring 🙂