Hello all, What difference if any, other than weight and finish are there between ultegra and dura-ace 10spd cranks. Is DA that much stiffer? The chainrings on DA appear to be a stiffer design. There is a big price difference and I'm in the market for a new crankset, so I guess...is one really that superior the other.

Actually, at one point, Ultegra was stiffer than Dura Ace, although I don't know if that's still the case. At any rate, you won't be able to tell the difference in stiffness, and I doubt anyone can.

Some British cycling magazine a few years ago did a very well done stiffness test with most major cranksets on the market. The Ultegra took the cake, then Dura-Ace then the aluminum record crank. The FSA cranks were last.
Honestly the cranks are so stiff these days that it won't make an ounce of difference between high end crankset A and high end crankset B. Stiffness is just the latest marketing buzzword that has everyone hooked.
Back on topic, I think the best bang for the buck crankset wise is the Ultegra SL, which is an 6600 series ultegra crank arm with a Dura-Ace axle. Cheap and relatively light and as stiff as anything out there. A crankset that is every bit as good as everything else out there are the high end Sugino XD cranks. Light, well made and cheap with very nice rings. Pair it with a good square taper bottom bracket like a phil wood and you'll have a nice setup that weighs the same as many higher end cranks. Hard to find the double version of the XD series though.

Velonews did a more accurate test. DA is stiffer. The Ultegra is better looking though. Sleeker, not a big fat chunky butt.

I've got DA on my bike and Ultegra on my wife's bike. I don't ride hers often, but sometimes I'll take if for a test ride after working on it. When I do, it feels like her cranks are made out of celery stalks compared to Dura Ace. They're all twisting and soft, like warm salt water taffy. Sometimes one of her crank arms will flop over and ooze down the chain stay or sag down and drag on the ground. That's why you pay extra for DA, because it is much stiffer.



:-)

I've actually found that if you braid the ultegra crank arms, it will stiffen them up quite a bit. Adds a lot of style points to!!

:D

Adam-

Velonews did a more accurate test. DA is stiffer. The Ultegra is better looking though. Sleeker, not a big fat chunky butt.
The velonews test was done in 2003, the test I was referring to was done in 2005.

The velonews test was done in 2003, the test I was referring to was done in 2005.

But the Velonews test was better statistically than the suspect test in 2005. So, newer doesn't mean better. I'm sticking with the Velonews test. DA is stiffer than Ultegra.