Xtr m95x crank spiders - which is 'best'?

[ishaw]

I am a huge fan of the xtr m95x range. I say m95x as some parts like the hubs stayed m950, brakes I don't think made it past m951, and there was also the m953 front mech alongside the parts that moved from m950 8 speed to m952 9 speed.

On to the cranks.

We all know that they were available with either the spiderless outer ring (outer ring being the spider), and the 110bcd spider variation.

I'm trying to decide which is best, both interns of look, performance and also future proofing from a ring perspective.

I think the future proofing questions is possibly the simplest, as 110bcd rings are available now thanks to road compact, but I'm interested in understanding the integrated spider design

I'm lucky enough to have a few nice sets of these cranks, with spider and ring options, including a lovely Hershey racing 110bcd spider, and heaven forbid, a 104bcd TA Specialties spider and rings, as well as a nos set of the integrated spider rings.

Thing is, I don't need them all, but would like to hang on to a set that I can use on a build and not have to worry about rings too much. The BB is another topic, as while fairly bullet proof, getting scarce.

Which would you use/keep and why?

 

[joglo]

Hi,

we do have a thread in the German classic bike forum. That's especially addressing the question, please check to at least see the pictures.
https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/xtr-95x-kurbel-was-gab-es-alles-kompatibles.345098/post-17987405

In short, there are the following options:

- There are custom spiders already offered back in time, next to the mentioned ones from you, there had been some from Middleburn and Avitar Standapter, just very hard to find

- Meanwhile Improvepart also has Repro one too https://www.improvepart.com/products/shimano-xtr-m950-951-952-crank-spider-110-74bcd-104-64bcd

- The spider from the XT FC-M750 fits, also officially confirmed by Shimano (others like STX RC spider do not fit!)

with that, there is an option for a easy hack to run BCD104 4arm chain rings, e.g. the cheap ones with NarrowWide offered from China.

- And there are some chainrings in direct mount style which do work with the XTR 950 cranks too, without an extra spider.
Garbaruk https://garbaruk.com/shimano-xtr-m950-round.html?page=2&category=1
HPC, seem to be a BMX brand https://bikerecyclery.com/home-brewed-components-hbc-spiderless-chainring-for-fc-m952-34t-silver/
Bone, seem to have fitting titan chain rings, hard to get and typically only for a premium price.

I do run a full and original XTR 950 at one bike, but as I'm nowadays a big fan of an 1xX drive train, I do prefer using either a spider for 110 or 104mm standard BCD and just one chain ring ideally with NW (dependend on chain line, I may have to mount the chain ring in the middle position).

I'm looking also for a direct mount style solution too, just out of curiosity, but Garbaruk is limited to 36T, while I'm used to run 40 or 42T chain rings at my 26" bikes.

 

[Baulz]

I have a set with a 5 arm 94mm BCD spider. It was handy years ago but now impossible to get replacement rings for.

 

[joglo]

I have a set with a 5 arm 94mm BCD spider. It was handy years ago but now impossible to get replacement rings for.

TA Specialities have still BCD 94 5 arm chain rings in almost all sizes