Truvativ Hammerschmidt

 

The Truvativ Hammerschmidt crank is by no means cheap, with a £649.99 rrp for the AM crank. However, used cranks in refurbished/unused condition are going for under £200, making it a serious contender in comparison to other double chainsets.
Personally, I have the 'AM' crank, although the only difference between the AM and FR cranksets is the gear ratio, with AM typically on 22t and the FR crank on 24. The system, on paper, is a stroke of genius; allowing you two potential gears up front without the possibility of dropping the chain. Instead of a front derailleur shifting over two cogs, the cranks are internally geared, making it a completely unique product. Admittedly, a weight penalty is paid. However, the crank does eliminate the need for expensive and weighty chainguides, the risk of dropping the chain, and problems with fettling a front derailleur in one (relatively simple) product.
Setting up the Hammerschmidt is a doddle, simply fix it up to the ISCG mounts and bottom bracket like you would with any crank/chainguide combination. Unbelievable though it seems, setting up the gears took virtually no adjustment; with two very obvious settings it's easy to see whether it is functioning correctly or not.
On the trails the cranks are perfect. The choice of only 175mm or 170mm arms may pose a problem for those of us who like a lot of clearance, but I never had an issue with striking rocks or other obstacles. The shifting is absolutely seamless, and I have yet to find another product which shifts this quickly and effectively with just a soft touch on the lever. It's worth noting that shifting could be left until the last moment when climbing, and it still shifted just as effectively under strain. This, in my experience, is not possible with traditional double chainsets. There is a minor amount of noise and resistance, although I found this negligible, particularly when the trail got rough and fast.
So, a verdict. On the one hand, I had two gears on a downhill/freeride bike, turning it into an all round product which couldn't have been achived without purchasing a whole new bike. The chain doesn't ever drop, and the crank is simple to fit and maintain. On the other hand, it's weighty, resistant and (on the four bolts) prone to breaking - a problem emphasised by the fact that (should only one of these bolts break) you are expected to spend £120 on a whole replacement section. And no, this is not the sort of bolt you can make up yourself, or that the local bike shop will have on the off-chance. Therefore, I'm torn. On my enduro/freeride build it's totally indispensable, and there isn't another product out there which could do the job. However, for the expense and weight conscious, a classic double with a tight chain (or single ring with chainguide) may well be the obvious alternative.

Truvativ Boobar

Used mainly for downhill, but I have a set on my dirt jumper - crazy right? The stability that the width provides is inspiring, although I won't be doing any barspins! Weighing in at a very respectable 290g with 20 or 30mm rise options, I'm impressed. They keep a low front end  without using a completely flat bar - something that seems to have gone out of fashion. I like the decals, and the finish is average. There are scuffs on the bars, as there have been scuff-worthy incidents. They haven't exceeded my expectations, yet haven't disappointed me either. The £68 rrp does heighten expectations which would be impossible for the bars to fulfil. The Boobars are great, but the pricing is a little steep compared to some other bars out there that do the same job. It's a solid handlebar from a reliable company.

 It won't let you down, but it won't blow you away either.

Truvativ Holzfeller Pedal

Wow, what a piece of kit! I was unable to fathom how someone could spend £80 on a set of pedals before I tried this, now I wonder why you wouldn't. Currently, they're reduced almost everywhere, making them a complete bargain! I had these on a second hand bike I bought, and have kept them ever since. They were initially used for hard downhill and freeride, but also used on a regular basis. This is enough to wear any pedal down, but not these. They still spin freely, despite running on standard (non-Ti) axels. The downside is you can't buy parts to fix the bearings, when they're broken that's it, although I think you'd run the bike they're on into the ground before these pedals show any weakness. There are a few snapped pins here and there, but they snapped off near the pedal body, so are easy to replace. I hadn't noticed until I inspected them before writing this - they really do grip that well. When I was rebuilding the downhill bike, I stuck them on my dirt jumper. They were an instant hit, that huge platform giving me massive amounts of support and confidence. They're an average weight, at 590g the pair. I had the raw pedals, not white, and found the finish was incredible. Rock gardens that have wrecked my saint cranks don't seem to have affected them, and throwing a jump bike across the tarmac hasn't left a mark.  They seem pretty faultless - although stiff competition from Superstar and DMR (with their vaults) means that a pedal of this price has to be exceptional to compete. The Truvativ's were good, but did lack the bling finish and range of colours on the vaults, or the replaceable titanium axels from Superstar.   Yes, it's only my experience, but they definitely prove that you get what you pay for.