Re: [CR] Sugino Maxy Cranks

(Example: Framebuilding)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:55:35 -0800
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: [CR] Sugino Maxy Cranks


After experiments with a 3-arm crank, sugino settled on the 5-arm 110 bcd standard. These 5-arm Maxy 110 bcd cranks established Sugino as the dominant maker of touring cranksets, usurping that title from TA. I think part of the reason is that the Maxy cranks are an imitation of the Stronglight 57/63/93/105 pattern, if you think about it.

The 1970's Maxy cranks have a semi-circular logo below the bolt threads and the word 'Maxy' engraved inside the logo, so the semicircle opposes the dustcap circle on the crank arm.

There were at least 3 levels of 'Maxy' 110 bcd 5-arm cranks :

1. Chainring (52T) swaged onto the right crank arm. With spacers and bolts, an inner chainring could be added. This was a REALLY affordable crankset, I think I got a full crankset for $29.95 retail in about 1976, including bottom bracket! At the time, Sugino Mighty Comp cranksets were about $55, Campagnolo, $75 ! These swaged cranks wiped out steel cranksets on bikes!

http://tinyurl.com/ykktcrh

2. Forged spider swaged onto the right crank arm.

http://www.mrmartinweb.com/images/bike/nishikiintdrive.jpg

This model could accept 2 or 3 110 bcd rings, although I think in practical terms Sugino offered chainrings from 34T - 54T :

http://tinyurl.com/yka4fa2

Both of the Maxy cranks used a long nutted solid-spindle bottom bracket, I think the width was roughly 122 mm for a double, with a 3-mm drive-side offset (today that would be 125mm symmetric.)

3. Forged Crank arms, the "Mighty Tour" crankset. These are the holy grail of vintage touring cranks! In good condition they often sell for prices comparable to Campagnolo Record crank arms.

Like all mighty products of the 1970's, these cranks had the Sugino 'Crown Logo' :

http://tinyurl.com/yhpnmkz

===================== early 1980's ======================

When BMX bikes took off in the early 80's, Sugino began writing the crankset name on the crank arm. At this time, I think they changed the name of both of the regular swaged cranks to 'Super Maxy'. The swaged spider (on cranks that had this) also changed to be slightly beefier, I think.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/museum/sugino_supermaxy.jpg

They also offered the chainrings and cranks in different colors, and they offered a particularly decorative crank called the 'Maxy Cross' which I think was just a color-anodized crank with differing decoration for the BMX market.

Here are a TON of 110 bcd sugino crank photos from a BMX museum :

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=1640233

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA