Hope now offers the Evo crank in a shorter length

Hope has added a new shorter option to its existing Evo crankset, which is now available in 155mm. 

Shorter versions of the best mountain bike cranksets are becoming increasingly popular in gravity segments like enduro and downhill, where clearance is more valuable than leverage. Bike manufacturers are dropping bottom brackets for better handling, as there is an increasing risk of pedal strikes on climbs and through corners with longer cranksets.

Hope says that in the development of the new length cranks they tried a number of different sizes as far down to 140mm, before settling on 155mm. The difference between 155mm and 175mm might not seem like much but Hope is keen to focus on benefits such as increased stability (due to reduced hip rotation), and a lighter weight and stiffer feel (thanks to the shorter length).

Beyond the potential clearance issues, this is great news for shorter riders who prefer shorter cranks for a better bike fit, and are often not catered for by crank manufacturers.

If you are thinking of trying out shorter cranks, don't forget that it will affect your gear ratios. Hope recommends dropping your chainring size by two teeth for a 10mm reduction in crank length.

Aside from the length, the design of the crank stays the same as the other Evo cranks. They are machined from 7150 aluminum with 30mm axles, and available in axle length options to accommodate most XC, DH, and Fat bikes, including SuperBoost.

The cranksets are available to buy now and will retail for $365 (ex tax) / £290 / €360.00 with the Axle and Spider, or $320 (ex tax) / £255 / €320 without the spider.