IN BRIEF
5DEV is selling the AV3, a mountain bike crank bearing the name of downhill racer Asa Vermette. It is CNC machined from forged 7050 aluminium, a choice the brand justifies on cost compared with its R-Spec range, machined from billet. The arm faces are knurled to grip the shoes when the rider pinches them. Offered in 165 mm, in black or raw, it weighs 645 g for the arms and is listed at $299.99 on the brand’s website.
| Price | $299.99 (5DEV website, listed in dollars) |
| Weight | 645 g (arms) |
| Material | forged 7050 aluminium, CNC machined |
| Length | 165 mm |
| Compatibility | SRAM 8-bolt interface |
| Colours | black or raw |
| Warranty | lifetime |
Asa Vermette now has his own crank. 5DEV has released the AV3 Asa Vermette Signature Crank, a mountain bike crank whose product page echoes the racer’s path: it “debuts just like Asa on the Elite World Cup circuit”, with maximum strength.
A 5DEV AV3 crank forged rather than machined from billet
At 5DEV, the R-Spec range is machined from billet. The AV3 takes a different route: it is CNC machined from forged 7050 aluminium. The official product page states that this choice cuts cost compared with the R-Spec range, to reach a price affordable for Asa’s fans.
Knurling designed for Asa Vermette’s riding style
The detail 5DEV highlights is visible on the faces of the arms: a knurled area. 5DEV links it to Asa Vermette’s way of riding, pinching the cranks with his feet to keep grip through rough sections, without damaging his shoes. The AV3 logo on the crank was drawn by the rider himself, 5DEV adds.
165 mm, two finishes and a price in dollars
The crank comes in a single length, 165 mm, in black or raw aluminium. The product page lists 645 g for the arms, compatibility with the SRAM 8-bolt chainring interface and a lifetime warranty. The 5DEV website lists it at $299.99; as of 2 October, the page viewed from France showed no price in euros.
