Cranks arms have historically been a part that is only switched when the original needs replacing, but modern mountain bike riders are demanding aftermarket alternatives to the status quo – options that are shorter, easier to maintain and with a premium finish that matches the rest of their bike.
Big groupset manufacturers are yet to meet this need, forcing riders to put up with it or bodge and bespoke their way to perfection.
But a new Canadian eMTB crank brand, Arkoza, shows what’s possible when riders are given access to serious engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Intricately detailed with a durable, premium, machined design, the crank arms are compatible with a variety of motors and available in three lengths.
But the Arkoza is more than another run-of-the-mill, aftermarket eMTB crank arm, and shows what is possible when you think outside the box.
Rider-driven innovation
Arkoza’s story started at Argus – a 100% employee-owned Canadian manufacturer based in Edmonton, Alberta. An energy sector specialist, Argus is renowned for its high-precision machining, premium manufacturing standards and threading expertise, while all of its engineering, manufacturing and testing is done in Canada.
The company runs an internal innovation program called ThinkTank, where employees can submit ideas for new business ventures.
One such idea was submitted by Lee Blakley, a plant supervisor and an avid mountain biker in his spare time.
Blakley had seen a gap in the market for a premium, aftermarket eMTB crank arm having struggled to find a solution that fitted his needs, and he believed Argus had the manufacturing expertise to build something better than what was available.
The innovation programme agreed with Blakley’s idea, and a business case was developed, kickstarting the Arkoza project in earnest.
Years of development
Argus set itself the objective of combining real rider experience with its in-house precision manufacturing capabilities – the aim to create a premium crank arm designed specifically for the demands of eMTB riding.
Its team of engineers led the product-development process, and with many of them eMTB enthusiasts, there were multiple layers of expertise and experience throughout.
Two years, 1,200 engineering hours and 90 design iterations were poured into the project to craft Arkoza’s final form; the engineers used tools such as topology optimisation and FEA analysis to strategically remove materials where they provided no significant support, while reinforcing other areas to create an elegant and unique balance of strength, weight, durability and performance unlike anything else on the market.
The result is a premium crank arm CN-machined in Canada from 7075-T651 billet aluminium, with performance to match its looks.
Smart features
The near-100 design iterations weren’t only about refining the crank arms' structure and it's clear real riders have been at the heart of their user-friendly features.
The threads for the pedal spindles have had the first and last imperfect threads removed, minimising the risk of cross-threading during installation that one time you forget about the left-hand crank arm’s reverse threading (we’ve all been there).
The length of the crank arm beyond the pedal thread has also been minimised, improving ground clearance and reducing the likelihood of pedal strikes to boost overall ride feel on climbs and descents.
A self-extracting cap also makes maintenance and removal easier, with no special tools required and reduced chances of bolt binding.
Finished in an anodised layer, they have some extra protection against corrosion and general trail rash wear and tear, keeping them looking fresh season after season.
Broad compatibility
All of this would count for nothing if the Arkoza crank arms were compatible only with a small selection of setups, but the eMTB-only aftermarket arms are available in COR-ET (Etor spline interface) and COR-IS (ISIS spline interface) builds.
That means they will work with the Fazua Ride 60, Bosch CX Gen 4 and 5, and Specialized’s latest 3.1 Turbo drive unit, as well as the groundbreaking Avinox M1 and M2S motors. More are being tested and validated all the time.
If that wasn’t enough, the crank arms come in three different lengths – from the clearance-boosting 155mm through to the standard 160mm and 165mm – while the anodised finish can be black or you can show off the raw aluminium in all its glory with a clear coat.
Ultimately, the Arkoza crank is a piece of art that will complete your eMTB, and shows what’s possible when a rider-driven design meets industry-leading engineering and manufacturing nous.
