Carbon fiber crank arms look sharp until the first rock garden leaves its mark. The outer face of your crankset sits directly in the firing line for trail debris, rock strikes, and the inevitable pedal strike that comes with pushing technical terrain. SRAM's Eagle Crankarm Guards wrap the pedal-end of your XX1 and X01 carbon cranks in injection-molded plastic armor, absorbing impacts that would otherwise chip, scratch, or crack the carbon layup underneath.

The guards slip over the crank arm tips and stay put during riding. A cutout on the backside provides clearance for your hex wrench to reach the pedal spindle, so you can install and remove pedals without pulling the guards off first. The fit is specific to the XX1 and X01 carbon crank arm profiles, which differ slightly from other SRAM and TruVativ cranks. If you have GX carbon cranks, GX alloy cranks, or TruVativ Stylo or Descendant cranks, you need the other SRAM guard version instead of this one.

The practical case for running guards comes down to resale value and long-term durability. Carbon crank arms on XX1 and X01 setups run several hundred dollars, and visible damage tanks their resale price even if the structural integrity remains intact. Guards cost less than a touch-up and look cleaner than a crank covered in rock rash. For riders who sell components when upgrading or building new bikes, the small investment in protection pays back when it comes time to list parts.... Read More