Race Face

Next SL G4 Crankset

Rather than deciding to leave its top-of-the-line Next SL alone for a few years, Race Face returned to the drawing board quickly, setting ambitious, but unsurprising goals to eliminate weight and improve lateral stiffness. The result is the Next SL G4 Crankset. Succeeding a design few could find fault with, the G4 had the bar set high, but with a few changes, Race Face managed to shave 20 claimed grams compared to the Next SL. It also dreamt up redesigned chainrings that promise a stronger interface without a weight penalty.

Race Face began by slightly reshaping the G4's crank arms. The brand continues to use its effective hollow carbon construction but adapts the arms themselves to more cleanly integrate with its redesigned Next Direct Mount chainrings. In doing this, it manages to shave 6g from each of the svelte arms without compromising any of their strength.

Addressing lateral stiffness, Race Face was particularly concerned with the amount of tension at acute angles that the chain would experience when the G4 is set up to run one-by, so it reinforced the spindle with Super Alloy, a version of the metal that Race Face credits with a 20% gain in stiffness compared to 7050 aluminum. To offset the weight that this could've added to the setup, it then drilled out the end of the 30mm spindle, removing unnecessary material and saving four grams in the process.

Race Face also decided to revisit the chainrings themselves, adopting a design that includes a 3-D carbon composite spider fused to an aluminum outer chainring. This new chainring boasts around a 13% gain in stiffness compared to its predecessors. While that difference is probably not enough for you to feel on individual rides, you'll be reassured by the knowledge that the system as whole enjoys improved rigidity and strength out on the trails. As with the Next SL, the G4 continues to use Race Face's innovative Cinch system, allowing you to switch between one-by direct-mount chainrings or use a removable spider to run a double or triple setup if you swap bikes or change your mind.