Jon, it's alway hard to say what a good price is. Stronglight 93 was the standard crank on high end French bikes, as well as many Raleighs, for a decade or more, so millions were made. They are probably about the easiest crank to find used, on eBay or otherwise. IMHO $90 isn't too bad a price if the crank and rings are in good condition, and the rings are the size you need. But not a steal either. Personally, I probably wouldn't pay more than $50 for arms alone, and I've more than once gotten arms and rings for $50, although not real recently.
Actually Stronglight 49 in recent years have normally gone on eBay for more than model 93, even though in the early 70's when mod 93 was the top crank, mod 49 was cheaper and relegated to mid-priced bikes. I attribute the higher price of mod 49 mostly to Japanese collectors, who fit them with TA rings for use on the French or French-style touring bikes of which the Japanese are so fond.
The mod 104 for a long time could be had pretty cheap, perhaps because, AFAIK, it was never the top of the line crank. IIRCC, the mantle of top model passed from mod 93 to mod 105 sometime in the mid to late 70's. The 104, AFAIK, was always second banana to 105, and later 106 and 107. Not a bad crank though, I have a Peugeot pantagraphed 104 on my 1986 PZ-10.
There were lots of 70's cranks with circles smaller than 144mm:
Original DuraAce 130 BCD, will take a 39T or a 38T if you can find one.
Nervar Star 128 BCD, smallest I've ever seen is 40T, although with a smaller circle than Dura Ace, it should take 38T or smaller.
Stronglight 93, 104 and 105 as noted 122 BCD.
Zeus Criterium and 2000, 120 BCD, will take a 36T.
A couple of SR (Japan) and maybe Takagi cranks at 118 BCD usually seen on mid-priced bikes.
A number of 3 arm cranks with 116 BCD, inlcuding TA Professional, Nervar, Stronglight, Campy Sport cotterless steel and the original version of the Campy Grand Sport alloy cotterless, later to appear as 5-arm 144 BCD alloy and finally 5-arm 116 BCD alloy.
Stronglight 99 at 86 BCD, small ring about as small as you'd ever need. Often configured as a triple.
This doesn't count the TA Cyclotourist or rarer TA Randonneur with the very small outer circle, or the Nervar Sport, Lambert, Zeus Competition and many others with that same small outer circle,
Nor does it count Campy NR or Ofmega/Avocet triples, which has 144 BCD outer and middle, but an inner ring with a smaller BCD.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, Texas, USA
Jon Spangler <hudsonspangler@earthlink.net> wrote: Dear CR folks,
I am beginning my search for components, and will be looking for a Stronglight 93 or 104 crank set with 170 mm arms, as I want to do lots of hills and do not have tough knees. Both have 122 mm BCD, and I will need chain rings, too. I will re-use my original 1975 Phil Wood TA/Stronglight BB and its 119 spindle. (That BB will probably outlast me and everything else on any bike I own... :-)
I used to ride SL 93s all the time, but would prefer to use the solid- arm 104s this time, if they're available.
I found one SL 93 crank set on ebay tonight for $90, rings included (no BB). Is this a fair price? What should I expect to pay for one of these? Where else am I likely to find one of these SL 104 or 93 crank sets?
Are there any smaller-than-144-BCD solid-spider crank sets from the 1970s that I could consider? (I have never liked the aesthetics of the TA Cyclotouriste, which I will not use.)
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Jon Spangler
Alameda, California USA