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I've tried a few cheap carbon cranksets from AliExpress over the years, and results have honestly been mixed. They can be nice and lightweight, but often they have some slight issues that need to be worked around.
In addition, one thing that has always made me slightly hesitant to fully recommend them is the fact most use aluminium axles. Not so much of a problem on DUB standard cranksets, but 24mm Shimano standard axles made of aluminium have had issues. While I’ve personally never had one fail, there have been reports of aluminium spindles shearing under high loads. NOT ideal!
So when I found a crankset from a brand called WUZEI, that uses a 24mm axle made of titanium alloy, I was really interested to give it a try. In theory it should solve that issue. Titanium is stronger and much more fatigue resistant than aluminium, while still keeping the weight extremely low.
On paper it looked fantastic. Lightweight, well machined, and under £150. But once I installed it… there was a really strange issue, I’ve honestly never seen anything like it.
So in this video I take a closer look at this WUZEI titanium crankset from AliExpress, explain the design, and show the unusual problem I ran into when trying to get it shifting properly.
Links to stuff discussed below:
(Bear in mind these are affiliate links. It won’t cost you any extra, but I get a small amount of commission, which really helps out 😊)
WUZEI Crankset:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3h6MZqj
Riro Direct Mount Chainring:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3D3xEqJ
Goldix Direct Mount Chainring (another solid option):
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4tStTYJ
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:27 – Why titanium is important
01:30 – WUZEI crankset
02:33 – Cost & weight
03:06 – Spacers
04:07 – Shifting issue
05:36 – Shifting issue explanation
07:38 – Direct mount chainring fix
08:48 – Wrap up and suggestions
10:09 – Bonus clip & FD check
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tracevelo/
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
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Bike part mentions in this video
CrankWUZEI Road Bike Carbon Crank 165 170mm Bicycle Sprocket 24mm Titanium Axle 3 Bolts Direct Mount Bicycle Crank Arm for Shimano
Created: March 15, 2026The reviewer discusses the WUZEI Road Bike Carbon Crank (referred to as a 'fancy titanium crank set') in the context of testing cheap carbon cranksets. They highlight its titanium axle as a key improvement for strength and fatigue resistance, but detail significant installation and shifting issues encountered.
AI-Summary
Pros
- Uses a titanium alloy axle, which is stronger and more fatigue-resistant than comparable aluminum axles.
- Very lightweight at 525g, significantly lighter than a Shimano 105 crankset (763g).
- Seemed well-made and held a lot of promise initially.
- Not very expensive (cost just under £150).
Cons
- The axle is unusually wide, requiring the use of large spacers (totaling ~4mm) not typical for Shimano-standard cranks, potentially widening Q-factor and stressing bottom bracket bearings.
- The distance between the big chainring and the back of the crank arm is very small (~6.5-7mm vs. ~12mm on other cranks).
- This small clearance causes dreadful front shifting, with the derailleur cage extremely close to or touching the crank arm, making shifts onto the big ring unreliable.
Key Points
- Brand/model: WUZEI Road Bike Carbon Crank with 24mm Titanium Axle.
- Construction: Carbon crank arms with a one-piece aluminum chainring.
- Key feature: Titanium axle for improved strength and fatigue resistance over aluminum.
- Weight: 525g.
- Compatibility: Shimano standard (24mm axle).
- Issue: Requires significant spacers due to wide axle design.
- Major flaw: Insufficient chainring-to-crank-arm clearance causes poor front derailleur shifting.