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Do you need 135mm cranks? Hope EVO thinks even shorter crank arms are better!

Hope EVO 135mm ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks, mock-up
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Hope calls their machined alloy EVO crankset the “Everything Crank”, because with arm lengths now as short as 135mm all the way up to 175s, and 4 modular spindle lengths, you really could put a set of these on almost any off-road bike. But wait, Hope EVO135mm… who needs crank arms that short?

Hope thinks a number of mountain bikers who loved their already short cranks, might just want to go even shorter!

Hope EVO 135mm, ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks

Hope EVO 135mm ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks, orange
(Photos/Hope)

Almost 5 years ago, Hope stepped up their CNC-machined alloy crankset game with the EVO, making them 19% lighter AND stiffer than the previous generation with a more refined, easier-to-install design. Then, 2 years ago they machined the EVOs down even further to just 155mm long. The idea started with shorter cranks for eMTBs to improve clearance riding technical trails, but soon even some DH & Enduro racers were sold on the increase in rider stability, quicker acceleration, improved stiffness, and even lighter weight that came as a by-product.

Hope’s R&D team then said they had tested down to 140mm. But apparently, they didn’t stop there.

Now, the EVO cranks get a 135mm option too!

So why shorter again?

Hope EVO 135mm ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks, up close

Shorter 135mm EVO cranks get all of the same benefits that Hope hyped with the 155mm version, just taken to the next level. Improved stability, quicker spin-up, improved ground clearance, bigger effective gearing drive ratio, lighter weight, stiffer connection between pedal & bike.

[M]aybe you are a downhiller for whom the existing 155mm just isn’t short enough. Maybe you want a tougher option for your child’s bike.

Whatever your reason, a new Hope EVO 135mm crankarm simply means more options to better suit the individual needs or desires of more riders. And of course, you still get spindle lengths to fit all mountain bikes, and the full rainbow of Hope anodized aluminum colors to bring the matchy-matchy bling.

Tech details

Hope EVO 135mm ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks, exploded view
  • crankarms forged and then CNC-machined from 7150 alloy
  • 30mm machined 7075 modular axles, available in 4 lengths for all BBs from 68-120mm wide
Hope EVO 135mm ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks, size options
  • 135, 155, 165, 170 & 175mm lengths now available
  • available in black, silver, blue, red, purple & orange ano
  • proprietary splined interface for direct-mount 1x chainrings or spiders
  • add a spiderless 1x ring (28-32T) for 9-12sp drivetrains, or 4-arm spiders
  • NOTE: shorter arms necessitate smaller rings. Hope recommends decreasing 2-teeth for each 10mm reduction in crank length, which means they probably need to start making smaller chainrings than a 28T!
  • self-extracting axle-to-arm interface
  • weights less than 560g, because that’s for the long 170mm arms including an axle
  • 100% UK designed & manufactured, in-house in Barnoldswick, England

Hope EVO 135mm cranks – Pricing, options & availability

Hope EVO 135mm ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks, color options

The UK-made CNC-machined Hope EVO cranks are now available in 135mm, plus the still short 155mm and more conventional 165, 170 & 175mm lengths. They sell for £270 / $342 / 340€ for a set of arms in the color and length of your choice, and your desired spindle, but without a chainring or spider. A spider will add £30 / $38 / 35€ or a spiderless chainring will add £55 / $70 / 65€ extra.

Get them all now through your local Hope dealer in your favorite color combinations!

HopeTech.com

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21 Comments
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Roger
Roger
19 days ago

With 135mm cranks on a 29er, you’d probably want a 24t chain ring. Hopefully they do make something smaller than 28t ASAP.

Eric
Eric
19 days ago

When in this bs gonna stop?

Pete
Pete
19 days ago
Reply to  Eric

This is actually progress for a DH bike with infrequent pedalling.
Much better balance and control when your feet are closer.
Think mx or enduro motorcycles and how the bikes are managed in difficult terrain.

Eric
Eric
19 days ago
Reply to  Pete

That would be the only place I could see using that

Bob
Bob
16 days ago
Reply to  Pete

I’m not sure you necessarily have better control from closer feet on an MTB. A boxer stance has fore-aft leverage from a reasonably wide stance but that is from solid ground, still, I think some of that applies here. Perhaps correct spacing is key rather than as close as possible? On an MX bike the bike is so much heavier and peg symmetry is most natural if there is no pedalling.

syborg
syborg
18 days ago
Reply to  Eric

You need to read Dr. Jim Martin’s studies on crank length before making ignorant comments.

Jim
Jim
17 days ago
Reply to  syborg

Thank you.

Raul D
Raul D
16 days ago
Reply to  syborg

A search for Doc Martin’s Studies on Crank Length is NSFW.

Antoine Martin
Antoine Martin
17 days ago
Reply to  Eric

The optimal lenght for average rider has been lab measure around 155. And you don’t lose much by goind slightly longer or shorter. So 135 should definitely work with a small penalty, if you need that clearance it makes sense. I had my worst mtbs crash clipping pedals. You’ll have to go very high in cadence obviously.

Daniel
Daniel
15 days ago
Reply to  Eric

They eventually go full Moto (probably for ebikes) and then progress to negative numbers until they reach -175mm.

Butte Hed
Butte Hed
19 days ago

Now all the Rad Dad’s kids will have even cooler bits on their bikes, and most of them have cooler bikes than me already.

Staffan Jerkeman
Staffan Jerkeman
18 days ago
Reply to  Butte Hed

And the shorter lenghts are really good for kids.

Chris
Chris
18 days ago

Also handy for people with knee range of motion issues or dwarfism. Always was tough to find nice options when fitting folks who needed stuff like this.

tasos
tasos
18 days ago

Why not 160mm?

Adam
Adam
18 days ago

This is great news! : I often struggle to find cranks short enough for my 5foot wife.
(I’m 6’2″ , and I use 165’s)

Jasper
Jasper
16 days ago
Reply to  Adam

I’m in the same position, what length cranks does your wife like?

MTB Biz
MTB Biz
12 days ago
Reply to  Adam

There’s plenty (around a dozen in then165 and less range)
Prowheel dmj
Praxis Zane
Canfield
North shore billets
And if you google kids MTB cranks, you’ll end with with more brands like Heir and others

P M
P M
17 days ago

Maybe these clowns should raise BBs a little bit?

Bob
Bob
16 days ago
Reply to  P M

Tall bikes will save the world

Daniel
Daniel
15 days ago

I’d rather have their RX cranks in 165mm for my gravel bike or the Evo cranks with a narrower q-factor.

MTB Biz
MTB Biz
12 days ago

They neglected to mention the Q-Factor
Will they all be 170+mm for adults
Or will be be 130-145ish mm for kids?

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