In this article I will chare my thoughts on the Works Components Geo Chainring for Shimano Direct Mount. Beautifully designed “honey-comb-like” structure, that looks awesome on a Shimano Deore XT M8100 Hollowtech II crankset. The Shimano TL-FC41 Tool can be used to install this Direct Mount Chainring.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key features Works Components Geo Chainring for Shimano Direct Mount
On the product page of the Geo Chainring for Shimano 12-speed Direct Mount you can read:
Our Shimano chainrings offer a number of innovations that set them apart from the competition. Learning from years of experience the tooth pattern has been optimized for increased longevity and performance even in poor conditions, using the same tried and tested tooth pattern of all our standard Narrow/Wide chainrings which have been reviewed 10/10 by MBR. As well as this, all of our Round and Oval chainrings are CNC machined in-house in the UK from 7075 T6 aluminium, ensuring a light and stiff construction. We pride ourselves on the high quality of all of the chainrings we produce and our manufacturing processes.
- Fits Shimano M7100, M8100, M9100 and other cranksets sharing the Shimano mount spline.
- Tooth pattern designed specifically to work with the Shimano 12 speed hyperglide chain.
- 3 mm Offset (which so good to go with Boost set-up)
- 12% Ovality is only applicable for the oval chainrings (hopefully also an oval version of the GEO Chainring will come available)
- Clocking of crank arm positions major diameter in the optimum position of your power stroke (116 degrees)
- CNC machined in-house in the UK from 7075 T6 aluminum, anodized locally.
The key feature that is hard to overlook is the beautiful design of the Works Components Geo Chainring. It features a honey-comb-like structure, with both closed and open sections. It provides mechanical strength but also looks great.
Given the range of 10 (!!!) available colors this is a perfect bike part to customize your mountain bike (it could be in combination with the great Hope Tech products, which is also a UK based company).
An Oval Chainring Intermezzo
If I’m well informed the ovality of the well known Rotor Q-Rings is 12,5% (also Rotor offers a Direct Mount version compatible with Shimano 12 speed), where the Works Components Oval Chainrings offer 12% ovality. Almost the same ovality but at a significantly lower price point (and without compromise on quality). So if you go oval, than consider the Works Components oval chainrings. Unfortunately there is no oval version of the GEO.
Installation Works Components Geo Chainring for Shimano Direct Mount
Installation is as easy as removing a Shimano Hollowtech II mountain bike crankset. In order to install the Works Components Geo Chainring you need to remove the Shimano Deore XT M8100 Hollowtech II crankset. There is a good work instruction from Park Tool for this: Crank Removal and Installation: Two-Piece Compression Slotted.
Removing the Hollowtech II crankset
- Loosen the M5 bolts on the non-drive side crank arm
- Loosen the Kogel Bearings Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt with
- Remove the Protection Plate with product# Y1GE98050
- Remove the non-drive side Hollowtech II crank arm from the 24 mm hollow Shimano axle
- Gently remove the Shimano Hyperglide chain from the chainring, and slide the drive-side Hollowtech II crank arm through the CEMA Bearing Interlock BB86-BB92 Bottom Bracket
- Slide the Shimano TL-FC41 Tool for Direct Mount Chainring over the axle and onto the Direct Mount lockring.
- Use a Bahco 9033 adjustable wrench to loosen the lockring and remove the lockring
- Remove the Shimano SLX M7100 Direct Mount Chain Ring
Installation Works Components Geo Chainring and placing Hollowtech II crankset
- Place the Works Components Geo Chainring over the 24 mm hollow Shimano axle
- Adjust the Works Components Geo Chainring so it locks into the correct position
- Place the lockring (you might even want to put some Morgan Blue Aquaproof Paste or Weldtite TF2 Lithium Grease on the lockring thread.
- Slide the Shimano TL-FC41 Tool for Direct Mount Chainring over the axle and onto the Direct Mount lockring.
- Use a Bahco 9033 adjustable wrench to tighten the lockring
- Gently place the Shimano Hyperglide chain on the Geo Chainring, and slide the drive-side Hollowtech II crank arm with the 24 mm axle through the CEMA Bearing Interlock BB86-BB92 Bottom Bracket
- Gently place the non-drive side Hollowtech II crank arm onto the 24 mm hollow Shimano axle
- Place Protection Plate with product# Y1GE98050
- Place M5 bolts and Kogel Bearings Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt and hand tighten these;
- Adjust the preload with the Park Tool Adjusting Cap Tool BBT-10.2;
- Torque M5 bolts to specification 12-14 Nm with Stahlwille Manoskop 730N/2 Mechanical Torque Wrench 2-20 Nm
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The price point of the Geo Chainring for Shimano Direct Mount is around € 51,00 and during the Black Friday period the price point was as low as € 40,00 which is an absolute bargain if you ask me. Tough to beat value for money, even compared to other aftermarket chainring brands like Wolf Tooth or Alugear.
Same comparison for the oval Works Components chainrings where the Rotor Q-Rings are in the € 75,00 – 90,00 range and the Works Components even in the € 30,00 – € 40,00 range. An absolute killer compete for about the same ovality % !
However the GEO is just available in a round version. Installation is easy and doable for a home mechanic. While the installation steps look extensive, it is nothing more than removing and installing the Shimano Deore XT M8100 crankset and the Direct Mount lockring.
- Are you using aftermarket chainrings of your mountain bike, gravel bike or road bike ?
- If so which aftermarket brand and models are you using ?
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