Crank Finder

By Matt Appleman

Crank Finder

What Cranks do I need? Cranks have a lot of options and can be difficult to nail down exactly what you need. Please find the type of bike you have, then scroll to find component group you're using to help determine what Appleman Cranks you need for your bike :)

What type of bike do you have?

Road Bike Gravel Bike Mountain + DH + Fat Bike


Good Stuff to know...

Crankset = You need 4 parts to make an Appleman crankset: crank arms, spider (or chainring, spindle, and spindle bolts.

Bottom Bracket = The bottom bracket has 2 jobs. Firstly, to fit the frame (bsa, bb86, pf30, there are many standards...). Secondly, to fit the crank spindle (30mm, 29mm, 24mm). All Appleman cranks use the 30mm spindle and require the BB to have 30mm bearings... makes sense.

Spider and Chainrings BCD = Basically, the spider you choose, needs to match the chainrings you choose. If you've got 110x5 chainrings, then use the 110x5 spider.

Appleman DM Chainrings = DM is Direct Mount. Many cranks use a spider + chainring(s) + chainring bolts to attach the chainring. A Direct Mount chainring combines all these into a single piece so only the DM Chainring is required. The DM Chainring replaces the spider + chainring + chainring bolts.

What are 1X, 2X and 2XR? = So many terms, ahh! "1X" commonly refers to bikes with a single (1) chainring on the cranks. "2X" designates bikes with double (2) chainrings on the crank. "2XR" is the model of crank made by Appleman Bicycles and stands for "2 times radius"... which is the size of the circle the cranks make when pedaling :)


What type of bike do you have?

Road Bike Gravel Bike Mountain + DH + Fat Bike


Road Bikes

Shimano Road Groups

Dura Ace, Ultegra, 105, Sora etc...

*10* +11 + 12 speed

Spider = 110x4 Shimano Style + color

Spindle = road

Chainrings = you can reuse Shimano 4 bolt road chainrings that match the 110x4 Spider.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running a Shimano crank... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.

*some 10 speed cranks have 5 bolt spiders (use 110x5), some are 4 bolt (use 110x4).


Sram Road 2X Groups

Red, Force, Rival, AXS, Sram DUB

11 + 12 + *Wide*

Spider = 107x4 (12 speed)
Spider = 110x5 (11 speed)

Spindle = road

Chainrings = Sram makes this confusing as they have multiple ways to attach chainrings.
Force and Rival chainrings are available in a 107x4 arrangement to attach to... the 107x4 spider. The chainrings on your bike should say "107x4" or similar if that's what they are.
If you've got direct mount (8-bolt) chainrings or the weird screw on ones, then you'll need to buy new chainrings :/

Bottom Bracket = If you're running a Sram "DUB" crank... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.

*Sram makes a few "wide" cranksets with 2X chainrings. If you have this, please use the Adventure spindle for a wider chainline.



Sram Road/Gravel 1X Groups

XPLR: Red, Force, Rival, AXS, Sram DUB

11 + 12 + 13 *Wide*

Spider = 107x4 or  Appleman DM chainrings

Spindle = Road (or Adventure, but most folks opt for the Road as it provides a narrower Q factor)

Chainrings = As with all chainrings, as long as your chainring matches the spider (or bypass the spider by using an Appleman Direct Mount chainring) and the chainring matches your chain type... you're good to go.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running a Sram "DUB" crank... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.

*Sram makes a few "wide" cranksets with 2X chainrings. If you have this, please use the Adventure spindle for a wider chainline.


Campagnolo Road 2X Groups

Super Record, Record, Chorus etc...

10 + 11 + 12 speed
(13 speed, 2X, not compatible)

Spider = 110x5

Spindle = road

Chainrings = I don't offer any native Campy spiders, so you'll need non-campy chainrings that are compatible. I recommend Praxis chainrings and they're available in a 48/32t sub compact. Other brands will work as long as they will work with your drivetrain and matches the spider you choose.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running Campy cranks... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.




Gravel Bikes


Shimano Gravel Groups

GRX: 4XX, 6XX, 8XX series

10 +11 + 12 speed

Spider (for 2X chainrings) = GRX spider
Spindle (for 2X chainrings) = Adventure


Spider or chainring (for 1X chainrings) = GRX spider or Appleman Direct Mount chainring
Spindle (for 1X chainrings) = Road or Adventure (most folks opt for the Road and narrower q factor)



Chainrings = you can reuse all Shimano GRX 1x and 2x chainrings with the GRX spider.


Bottom Bracket = If you're running a Shimano crank... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.



Sram Road/Gravel 1X Groups

XPLR: Red, Force, Rival, AXS, Sram DUB

11 + 12 + 13 *Wide*

Spider = 107x4 or  Appleman DM chainrings

Spindle = Road (or Adventure, but most folks opt for the Road as it provides a narrower Q factor)

Chainrings = As with all chainrings, as long as your chainring matches the spider (or bypass the spider by using an Appleman Direct Mount chainring) and the chainring matches your chain type... you're good to go.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running a Sram "DUB" crank... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.

*Sram makes a few "wide" cranksets with 2X chainrings. If you have this, please use the Adventure spindle for a wider chainline.

Campagnolo Gravel 1X Groups

Ekar, Ekar GT

13 speed, 1X only

Spider = 104x4 or 110x5 (see chainrings note)

Spindle = road

Chainrings = Ekar GT introduced a 104x4 spider so you may be able to swap your chainring over if it's 104xr. Otherwise, other brands (Ratio) make an Ekar compatible chainring in a 110x5 spider configuration.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running Campy cranks... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.


Mountain Bikes


Mountain Bike 1X Groups

Sram: XX, XXsl, XO, GX, NX, Sram DUB etc...

Shimano: XTR, XT, SLX etc...

11 + 12 + 13 speed

Spider OR Chainring = 104x4 spider or 28t, 32t Appleman DM chainrings

Spindle = Mountain

Chainrings = As with all chainrings... you need to use one that matches your component group and the spider. Appleman DM chainrings work with all Sram and Shimano chains 11-13 speed.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running Sram DUB or Shimano cranks... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.


Mountain Bike Down Hill/Super Boost/Mid-Fat Groups

Sram: XX, XXsl, XO, GX, NX etc...

Shimano: XTR, XT, SLX etc...

11 + 12 + 13 speed

Bikes like Otso Voytek

For those bikes with "Super Boost" or Down Hill bikes with 157x12 rear ends things get a little wishy washy.

Some super boost bikes will fit the standard Mountain spindle, while others don't have clearance chainstay or spider+chainring bolt clearance.

When in doubt, go wider for more clearance and use the Downhill/Mid-Fat spindle with the 104x4 spider or DM Chainring. 



Spider OR Chainring = 104x4 spider or 28t, 32t Appleman DM chainrings

Spindle = Downhill/Mid-Fat (sometimes Mountain spindle if clearance and chainline can be narrow)

Chainrings = As with all chainrings... you need to use one that matches your component group and the spider. Appleman DM chainrings work with all Sram and Shimano chains 11-13 speed.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running Sram DUB or Shimano cranks... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.



Fat Bike 1X Groups

Sram: XX, XXsl, XO, GX, NX etc...

Shimano: XTR, XT, SLX etc...

11 + 12 + 13 speed

This will fit many fat bikes. Really fat bikes with clearance for ~5 inch tires may not fit and often use too wide of a bottom bracket.

Check that your bike has a 100 or 121mm wide bottom bracket shell. Then measure the width of the chainstays (where they'd hit the cranks). The chainstays should be 168mm maximum wide. If they're wider, the cranks will hit/not fit.


Spider OR Chainring = 104x4 spider or 28t, 32t Appleman DM chainrings

Spindle = Fat

Chainrings = As with all chainrings... you need to use one that matches your component group and the spider. Appleman DM chainrings work with all Sram and Shimano chains 11-13 speed.

Bottom Bracket = If you're running Sram DUB or Shimano cranks... you'll need a new bottom bracket that 1. fits your frame and 2. fits the 30mm spindle on the 2XR cranks.




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