Hope is renowned for its colourful, machined alloy components and the Evo Crankset is another outstanding addition to the brand’s impressive repertoire. Offering exceptional stiffness and competitive weight, it comes in a wide range of sizes to suit even the most awkward bikes or riders.
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Hope Evo Crankset – Technical details
The Evo Crankset is a modular component, with arms made from 7150 series aluminium. The latest version boasts a 15% reduction in weight compared to its predecessor. The crank arms are available in six colours: silver, black, blue, orange, red and purple.
With ongoing discussions about crank lengths and the potential benefits of shorter arms, it’s refreshing to see Hope leading the way as one of the few companies offering a premium crankset in shorter lengths. The Evo is available in 135mm, 155mm, 165mm, 170mm and 175mm, catering to virtually all preferences.
Axle length is another critical area where multiple sizes are beneficial. Hope offers a range of lengths suitable for various disciplines, from cross-country to downhill, including non-boost, boost, and super-boost standards. The axle comes only in a 30mm diameter, but compatible bottom brackets allow it to fit nearly any bike. While the number of options might seem overwhelming, Hope provides a compatibility and sizing chart to simplify the selection process.
The Evo Crankset under test features 155mm arms, weighing 539g (306g non-drive side, including the axle, and 233g drive side). It can be purchased with a 104 BCD spider, a 64/104 spider for double chainrings or a spiderless chainring (pictured here). The 34T spiderless chainring weighs 75g, bringing the total crankset weight to 614g. For comparison, SRAM’s GX Eagle with a 32-tooth chainring weighs 621g (175mm length), so the Evo isn’t aimed at those prioritising significant weight savings.
Hope Evo Crankset – Performance
Installing and removing the Evo Crankset is straightforward. The spindle comes pre-attached to the crank arm, with a self-extracting bolt that secures the arms together using a common 10mm Allen key. A tool is provided to lock the spider or spiderless chainring in place, which is great to see and means no surprise purchases will be needed. Once the spider is locked and crank arms tightened together, a bearing preload nut can be adjusted by hand and locked with a 2.5mm Allen key.
During installation, the precise tolerances were immediately apparent, with zero play and a perfect fit between components. When paired with a Hope bottom bracket, the spindle rotated smoothly without any tight spots.
Assessing crank stiffness is tricky unless there is noticeable flex or audible differences in the chainring connection during pedalling. However, the Evo Crankset exhibited no discernible flex, even under maximum effort during sprints or climbs. Even when standing off the bike and attempting to flex the crank arms, which isn’t representative of real-world riding, there was no visible movement.
Hope Evo Crankset – Verdict
The Hope Evo Crankset sets a high standard for alloy cranksets with superb machining and flawless tolerances that justify the price for riders seeking performance or a striking aesthetic, thanks to its wide colour range.
While it may seem costly compared to Shimano Deore or SRAM’s GX offerings, it holds its own against X0 and XT in both weight and price. Crucially, it provides shorter arm lengths starting from 135mm, an option absent from many competitors. Fellow British brand Unite offers an alternative with the Enduro V2 crankset, which starts at 155mm, weighs 560g (170mm length), and costs £220, including a chainring, with several colour choices.
The Hope Evo might appear heavier and pricier than some rivals, however, it excels in quality, precision and ease of assembly, with every thread perfectly matched and the axle spinning smoothly when paired with a Hope bottom bracket. Combined with excellent customer service, the Evo Crankset is a compelling choice for those valuing craftsmanship, performance, and a wide array of customisation options.
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Product purpose:
Continued development of our popular crankset has led to the EVO Edition, a benchmark for aluminium MTB cranks. The latest FEA analysis tools, rigorous lab testing and extensive field testing mean the EVO crankset is both lighter and stiffer than the previous model. Now featuring a self-extracting axle/arm interface, simplifying fitting and removal. And all proudly designed, tested and manufactured in Barnoldswick, UK.
Build extra:
// Updated for 2019, 15% lighter and stiffer than previous model
// Self-extracting axle/arm interface for ease of fittingVersatile Spline mount for chainring or spiderless chainrings
// 135, 155, 165, 170 and 175mm length
// 30mm oversize 7075 aluminium alloy axle
// Arms available in black, silver, blue, red, purple and orange
// Range of axle length options available to accommodate most bikes from XC, DH and FAT bikes, including a new SuperBoost version
// Weight from: 560g, (170mm Inc axle)
// Forged and CNC machined 7150 series aluminium alloy crank arms
// Chainring mounting: 9, 10, 11 and 12 speed compatible
// Spiderless Retainer chainrings 28T to 36T
// Spider Single 104BCD and Double 64/104BCD (with provisional room for a bash guard on all spiders)
// Several spindle length options available to accommodate most bikes (from XC to DH, including FAT bikes)
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