Hope Technology Carbon Crank

We’ve been running Hope cranks since they first started making them in 2015. The very first iteration sported a unique spindle interface which functioned as intended but was a bit faffy to work with, and Hope moved to a more traditional self-extracting bolt system for the release of the EVO version of the crank in 2019. We still have our first EVO test sample running on a bike in our fleet to this day, testament to the great reliability of the updated design. Fast-forward to 2024, and Hope has added a carbon crank to their drivetrain catalog – in typical Hope fashion, it’s ingeniously named the “Carbon Crank”. We’ve been testing it over the past five months to see if it lives up to the rest of the Hope standards as well.

Hope Carbon Crank Highlights

• Tuned stiffness characteristics for optimum ride feel
• Foam core helps to absorb impacts and damp vibrations
• 1K outer fabric for abrasion resistance and Hope carbon aesthetic
• Replaceable pedal thread inserts
• T700 fibers for optimum strength to weight, unique carbon construction method
• Proven self-extracting axle/arm interface from Hope EVO cranks
• 155, 165 & 170 mm length
• 30mm oversize 7075 aluminum alloy axle
• Configurable for 52 and 55 mm chain lines
• Weight: 428 grams, crank only, 170 mm (verified)
• Direct mount chainring only, Spiderless Retainer chainrings 28T to 36T
• Q‐Factor 168 mm Boost/176 mm 55 mm
• Recommended use Trail/All mountain
• MSRP: £550.00 GBP / €690.00 EUR / $695.00 USD (ex tax)

Initial Impressions

If you went ahead and purchased a $695 USD crank (add $70 for a chainring too), you’ll certainly be expecting a high-end product. Thankfully, the Hope Carbon Crank does not disappoint. The finish is lush and uniform, testament to the usual Hope quality and workmanship. The crank arms are made using a “unique construction method” and contain a foam core to help damp vibrations. The outer carbon layer uses a 1K fabric to help improve resistance to abrasion (and to give the crank that “Hope carbon look”). On the topic of the look, the aluminum inserts and bolt caps are available in the usual Hope colors to spice things up a bit.

The carbon crank inherits the 30mm axle system from the EVO alloy crank, which is based around a self-extracting, splined spindle interface that is tightened with a single, 10mm allen bolt. There is an alloy preload ring to help snug the crank up to the bearings. The spindle is available in two different lengths, allowing for chain lines from 49 to 55 mm when combined with regular or Boost chainrings. The pedal thread inserts are replaceable should they get cross-threaded or otherwise damaged.

Hope cranks are only compatible with Hope chainrings – we opted for a 32T Boost version to match the chainline requirements of our GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. The chainring is beautifully machined, featuring a narrow-wide tooth pattern that is compatible with 9/10/11/12-speed drivetrains including SRAM’s T-Type Transmission. The 32T version weighs a scant 64 grams.

On The Trail

Installing the Hope Carbon Crank is easy. You’ll need Hope’s proprietary tool to tighten down the lockring that holds the chainring in place, but one is included in the box so that’s not a problem. Hope also includes a set of transparent protective films that you should apply to the crank arms yourself, and there is also a pair of rubber boots for the crank arm ends. With all that done, it’s as easy as sliding the spindle through the BB and tightening down the main lock ring to spec, and then taking up any side-to-side slack with the aluminum preload ring. Done.

On the trail, the best we can usually hope for is that the crank holds us up and turns over when we pedal, other than that you’d expect it to make itself forgotten. This is pretty much the case with the Hope Carbon Crank too, it has been doing its job without drawing attention to itself for five months now. The chainring is smooth and we have not experienced any dropped chains, despite our tester regularly throwing his short-travel trail bike into the deep end of the pool. The crank is plenty stiff, which promotes great power transfer, but there is also a certain muted feeling under foot in the rough stuff thanks to the use of carbon. Perhaps the foam core and the layup are to thank as well here.

Regarding wear and tear, the crank seems well equipped to deal with abuse. Hope rates it for All Mountain and Enduro use for rider + bike combos up to 90 kgs, dropping down to “just” All Mountain above that. If it’s a proper DH crank you’re after, you should be looking at the EVO alloy crank. The surface finish is strong, and the crank has remain largely scuff-free despite the protective film getting torn up in a few areas. The chainring anodization seems to be resisting wear better than some others we've tested recently. Just like with the alloy EVO crank, you need to grease and tighten the chainring lockring every now and then, otherwise it can develop a bit of a creak when it gets dry, but it's a minor operation. The main self-extracting bolt is easy to open again even after many months of hard riding, unlike some other similar designs (looking at you, SRAM DUB...). Hope warranty terms cover the product against defects in materials and workmanship for 2 years after purchase – mis-use and abuse NOT included – which falls a little short of some competitors who now offer lifetime warranty including crash damage in this product category as well (the Race Face ERA crank comes to mind).

What’s The Bottom Line?

Why get a carbon crank? In the case of the Hope Carbon Crank, you save ~130 grams compared to the EVO alloy version, which is not negligible for those looking to build as light as possible. You also benefit from a certain ride feel, much like a carbon frame can feel a bit muted over trail chatter compared to the alloy equivalent. Not least, the Hope Carbon Crank is a premium product that adds a little extra bling factor to your ride, probably not a minor consideration for those looking to drop this kind of money on this part of the bike. Hope’s usual attention to detail and craftmanship ensure that the product is highly functional and well up for shenanigans too. It is certainly among the pricier carbon crank options available right now, and the warranty terms fall a bit short of the "lifetime no questions asked" that some competitors offer, which is what has kept our rating at 4 stars. In terms of function and finish, it could go higher.

More information at: www.hopetech.com.

About The Reviewers

Johan Hjord - Age: 51 // Years Riding MTB: 19 // Weight: 190-pounds (87 kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Nils Hjord – Age: 20 // Years Riding MTB: 12 // Height: 5’9” (1m80) // Weight: 185-pounds (84-kg)

Always committed to having fun on his bike, Nils likes to keep his wheels in the air almost as much as on the ground. Although he enjoys going fast and is no stranger to burping his tires off the rim, he has dedicated most of his riding time to mastering manuals and making his tabletops flatter – but that doesn’t mean he can’t put the hurt on his wheels through a high-speed rockgarden too, when needed. Good thing his dad is a full-time Vital staffer with access to lots of bike parts that need testing!

Photos by Johan Hjord