QO cranks just got lighter with a new carbon road Race SL crankset weighing just 510g, including a 50/34T set of chainrings. The new cranks take much of the same hollow carbon, aero dimpled road crankarms that debuted earlier this year and bolt on a heavily machined set of chainrings and a 4-bolt spider. Lighter than top-tier Campagnolo, Shimano, or SRAM cranksets, the new QO Race SL cranks look like a great way to upgrade your bike, while still keeping full-size chainring options.

QO Race SL ultralight carbon road bike crankset

(Renderings/QO)

Earlier this year, new Spanish component company QO arose from the minds that founded Rotor many years ago. And bringing that same drivetrain experience, they debuted three lightweight Taiwanese carbon crankarm options – road, gravel & MTB – with alloy chainrings, spiders & hardware machined in Madrid, Spain. Now they add another new Race SL road crankset, optimized for more weight savings. Their goal was to create a lighter crankset than Campagnolo Super Record, Shimano Dura-Ace, or SRAM Red at competitive pricing, while keeping regular full-size chainrings to improve drivetrain efficiency vs. relying on tiny, inefficient cassette cogs to save weight.

The result is a claimed 510g complete crankset with 170mm arms and a 50/34T set of chainrings.

What’s new?

(Photos/Cory Benson)

Compared to the Race crankset which launched in early 2025, this new QO Race SL is said to weigh 112g less. A big part of that savings comes from a heavily machined 7075 alloy 4x110mm spider and matching chainrings compared to the aero spider and solid aero outer chainring of the original QO Race road cranks. The new Race SL chainrings stick with more conventional cutout chainring shaping, but still get some aero dimples, and then intricately machined-out pockets on the backside to save weight.

But the rings & spider aren’t the only thing new. It also looks like the carbon arms and alloy axles have been simplified a bit to save even more weight. The QO Race SL crankarms bolt onto a standard DUB compatible spindle, and now feature the more common Cinch interface for the spider, or potentially direct mount rings. That does mean that the SL crankarms do not feature the 45-tooth OCP spline that is on the other QO cranks (and Rotor cranks) to allow for locking of oval rings, so you will have to use this spider… or likely one of the many Cinch compatible spiders or direct mount 1x chainrings already available on the market.

Tech details

• hollow carbon road crankset with vibration-damping Mitsubishi pyrofil carbon fiber layup
• 510g claimed weight – 170mm carbon arms, 4-bolt alloy spider & 50/34T chainrings
• crank arms available in 160mm, 165mm, 170mm & 172.5mm
• Cinch crankarm/spider/direct mount chainring compatible
• 4x110mm chainring pairs available in: 50/34, 52/36 & 54/40 combinations
• 149mm Q-factor
• 44.5mm chainline
• CNC-machined 7075-T6 28.99mm DUB-compatible spindle
• 12-speed Shimano, SRAM Flattop & KMC chain compatible
• available in black only, with silver graphics

QO carbon cranksets – Pricing, options & availability

The new ultralight QO Race SL carbon road crankset sells for 900€ and will officially be available in fall 2025.

Rocks, Grava & Race cranks (l-r)

The three cranksets that we previewed earlier this year are available now. Race for road with aero dimples on both sides, Grava for gravel with aero dimples and kevlar impact protection & Rocks for mountain biking with “MaxStrength” slots & kevlar protection.

Carbon cranks without chainrings sell for 550-570€. And complete 1x & 2x cranksets go for 650-750€ depending on your preferred setup.

QObike.com

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