E Thirteen LG1 Crank Review

 FEATURES

• P3 Connect polygon 3 lobe connection spindle interface
• Forged and then machined Exalite Aluminum arms 
• 30mm Aluminum spindle 
• 14mm pedal thread engagement 
• Gold anodize spindle/hardware
• Available in "Blackout" black 
• Forged and then machined 7050 Aluminum arms.
• 7050 is 40% stronger than most common hollow forged alloys.
• 30mm heat-treated cromoly spindle.
• It is 200%+ stiffer than 24mm steel spindles commonly used in external bearing cranksets.
• German DIN 32711-P3 Polygon interface provides 100% surface contact between spindle and crankarm.
• Eliminates fretting corrosion – the prime cause of dreaded crankset creaking and loosening.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 870 Grams w/BB 
• BB Shell: 68, 68E, 73, 73E, 83
• Spindle Length: 113, 123 
• Arm Lengths: 165,170,175 
• Bolt Pattern: 4x104 BCD 

E13 Crank Installation Instructions

The LG-1 cranks by E Thirteen came out with very high expectations from the downhill community as a whole. This in large part was due to E Thirteen's chainguides that have been one of the best on the market for close to a decade. They aimed to produce a super stiff crank that was both durable and lightweight.

They achieved the stiffness by using a 30mm axle with a German DIN 32711-P3 Polygon Interface. Instead of using teeth or ribbed contact points for the arm/axle interface they used a 3 sided axle that is tapered. It is claimed to be better at distributing the load that other systems currently on the market. 

The arms are forged out of 7050 series aluminum which helps greatly with their overall stiffness. The pedal threads are 14mm deep to give a greater bite on the pedal axle and lower the risk of ripping pedals from crank arms in rocky terrain.

Overall the build quality of the cranks is as good as anything I have seen on Shimano, SRAM mountain bike components. They include all the tools needed to install and service the cranks. They have pretty detailed installation instructions follow them and intallation of the E13 LG1 cranks should be a snap.

This particular set of cranks is about one and a half years old now. They have been installed onto our Banshee Legend and have not been touched. They have been haggle free the whole time and have held up well to rock strikes and harsh landings. E Thirteen nailed the reliability side of the equation with these cranks for sure.

I am about 210 pounds and am fairly strong. The cranks are very stiff. I did not detect any flex in them and feel comfortable saying they are every bit as stiff as Shimano Saints. The aluminum chosen for the arms combined with the massive axle and interface used in the LG1 crank do what they should. Produce a stiff lightweight package that is very reliable.

The crankset as a whole is pretty light. E Thirteen now offers 3 versions The LG1, LG1+ and LG1r they vary in price and weight the LG1r weighs in at 760 Grams including BB which is about 300 grams lighter than Saint! E thirteen managed to make a lightweight Downhill crank that was also durable. Mission accomplished and I would have no problem recommending these cranks to those in the market.

Answer Negative One Stem Review

Answer has been producing Handlebars for a long time. We have been running their Dorado fork for well over a year now and it has been brilliant. Getting the chance to test their -One Direct Mount Stem was something we were looking forward to.

• Weight: 160gm
• Stack Height: -20mm
• Length: 50-55mm
• Material: 7075 Series Alloy
• Colors: Black, White
• Hardware: A2 Stainless
• Note: Will Not fit Dorado Flat crown in 50mm Setting
• Faceplate: 62mm Wide

Answer -One DM Stem

The Negative One stem showed up and proved to be a good piece. It has clean lines and the finish on it is better then some and not quite as nice as some high end options out there. We weighed the stem and our scale read 158GM so their claimed weight seems spot on. 

Having your weight more over the front wheel is all the rage these days. With slacked out head angles and LSC loaded forks body english is more important than ever. This stem is light weight with a simple design and does as it claims. 

The stem has been mounted on a bike for about 6 months now. I am used to it and have no problem jumping back and forth between the negative rise set-up and a standard stem on another bike. The pricing on this stem is very good and can be found for around $60. 

We would recommend this stem to our friends. It's light weight, stiffness and low rise are features that many riders are looking for when searching for their next stem. Answer has delivered a good product and if you cannot corner like Gwinn, Hart or Vouilloz with this on your bike then it has nothing to do with bar height.