Boone Technologies' Iconic Twist Cranks Now Come in a Titanium Version

Nov 28, 2022
by Matt Beer  
Boone Cranks
Boone Technologies TwistTi Cranks

Back in the 90’s, Boone Technologies created alloy cranks with an identifiable, twisted structure, aptly named the Twist!. Their iconic design has returned, but this time the unique-looking cranks are being manufactured from titanium.

Each TwistTi crank arm weighs just 140 grams and is made from four strips of 6al4v aerospace grade titanium. The manufacturing process has proved more difficult than the previous aluminum version because of titanium’s properties. It's easier to bend than steel, but it also likes to undo any twisting processes. To overcome that barrier, Boone Technologies uses a CNC driven roller to hold the shape before they are placed in a jig to first be tack welded. Braces are added to the inside to add stiffness and machined pedal and bottom bracket threaded components are all TIG welded into the twisted, box-section crank.


The crank arms ride on a 30mm spindle that comes in three popular widths and the price includes all fixing hardware, like the end caps and self-extracting crank bolts. For now, the cranks are only built in a 170mm length since changing that number requires a new parametric design, altering the shape that the four sheets are cut into.

If the direct-mount chainring pattern doesn’t look familiar to you, that’s because Boone uses their own standard, but there’s a good reason for that. The TwistTi cranks uses Boone’s Adapt’R chainring mount, which can be swapped to mate to three popular standards: SRAM, Race Face, Hope and FSA/HollowGram. That means you don’t need to buy new cranks if you need to switch between one of those three chainring mounting patterns. At just $18, the little Adapt’R is a clever and valuable piece of equipment.

All of Boone Technologies products are made in Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, including the ultra-boutique TwistTi cranks that cost $1,095 USD. Part of that reason is due to the manufacturing process which is said to take five times longer than the aluminum version of the cranks. However, they are offered in six finishes, including a polished version and three anodized colorways at an added cost.

Further information about torque values, chainring clearance and for those worried about hitting their heels on the Twist, shoe clearance is shown here.

Boone Cranks
Gold to purple anodized fade


Author Info:
mattbeer avatar

Member since Mar 16, 2001
355 articles

157 Comments
  • 80 8
 Ummm... why not make them not have the twist? They'd still be sexy and expensive.
  • 41 0
 Unless they can justify an actual benefit of having a twisted profile rather than a box shape. But I doubt there is such justification. Products like this are just made to standout so any way you can make them easy to identify is a justification by itself. Kinda like the Pagani quad exhaust, no point aside from being recognizible and look cool, takes a lot more man hours to manufacture.
  • 84 1
 If they didn't have a twist, what would you hit your ankle on?
  • 208 3
 You know how expensive it would be to untwist these?
  • 6 2
 I would be really cool if it was under internal tension, like a Prince Rupert Drop. IDK how the physics would work, but I wonder if it could be made stronger/stiffer/lighter that way. Once you're paying over a grand for cranks, why not?
  • 5 2
 @slovenian6474: Exactly, now sell a straight version $300 more.
  • 5 6
 They would be heavier because the twist reduces the cross-section. But that also means that they could be lighter, because the cross-section increases again between the twist and the pedal thread, and that's where the levers are subjected to the least leverage, and where the cross-section could be thinner.
  • 4 0
 That is what the ultra is in ultra-boutique
  • 6 0
 @DavidGuerra: I am so confused
  • 10 0
 @Balgaroth: he originally designed and machined aluminum cranks with a twist in them many years ago. This was a project to see if it could be done in Ti. Maybe not for everyone, but if you look into his story about how he made them, it’s an interesting engineering problem that he seems to have solved.
  • 39 0
 if they weren't twisted, the pedal wouldn't be pointing the right way.
  • 1 0
 @olrustybones: I see that at least four voters are confused. But what is the confusion? That the twist reduces the cross-section? That a crank arm cross-section needs to be thickest at the BB and thinnest at the pedal? Maybe you can clear it up.
  • 1 1
 @olrustybones: The only thing I wrote that is perhaps confusing is the cross-section being "thinner" or "thicker". I just meant with more or cross-section less area.
  • 5 0
 i like them but im old enough to remember this stuff first time round at trade shows
  • 3 3
 Well, there is a US brand selling to cranks under their name for the same price, selling quite a few from what I see out and about, and the arms are NOT made in house & if I'm not wrong, they're just made overseas and branded US.

I'm frequently slightly wrong though.
  • 1 1
 @blowmyfuse: cane creek if anyone was wondering
  • 1 1
 @blowmyfuse: Oh my what an unusual nhappening , if only this didnt happen in virtually every single industry practically out there !
  • 4 0
 @DavidGuerra: I'm confused because
A) I'm not that smart
B) it says they could be lighter and they could be heavier.
  • 2 0
 I'm checking down that path too. Potential to be tons simpler to make.
  • 3 5
 The stiffest torsional shape is a circle. Crank arms need torsional stiffness. This is beyond stupid, much like the helix downtubes on Titus or moots I don't remember. Those new Warren truss cranks that seem all the rage made by 5axis are also moronic, just like the people who buy them. Eewings are perfection.
  • 2 0
 @Bahh: the point of the helix downtubes was to provide regional strength; the optimal wall thickness for titanium tubing is too thin to handle buckling forces like rock strikes. The helix allows for thin sidewalls that better resist denting & buckling.
  • 4 2
 @EdSawyer: I didn't try to be very vague or misspell so very awfully.

Wasn't even trying to hit Submit, but here we are.

My point being Cane Creek sells Ti cranks, they're made elsewhere and people go crazy over them. I just assumed maybe Litespeed was resurrected when I first saw them.

If I had money to burn on high end cranks, I'd outfit my bikes with Profile Racing cranks, with Ti spindle & hardware.

Not light. Not Gucci. Just US made, raw sex!!! Beer
  • 1 0
 @willdavidson9595: mostest fanciest
  • 4 0
 Twist doesn't change the cross sectional area. Cranks are subject to a combination of torsion (around the crank arm axis) and bending (around the bb axis) so even though for torsion it the orientation of the cross section may not matter that much, for the bending part it does.

Tubular cranks make most sense as despite how impressive the hollow forged Shimano cranks are, I doubt they can beat the inertia over weight ratio (in short, getting most/all material to the far end of the cross section) of tubular cranks. Cane Creek is cool there because they make them out of titanium, but Profile is cool enough already making them out of steel.

This is one of those "just because you can doesn't mean you should" achievements in my book. Welding four plates together that'd like to spring back is impressive. But now you've got something with lots of internal stresses and multiple sharp corners in your cross section. Great because you can, but not something I'd be willing to replace my cheap Shimano Zee cranks for (which aren't even hollow forged).
  • 3 0
 has anyone dared to roll out the 3d printer argument yet?
  • 1 0
 @vinay: If the twist shape does not surpass the "envelope" of what would be the regular shape, as it seems to me in this case, then obviously it's causing a reduction of the cross-section. But there are many ways to make a twist. If just done through a regular "rotation" the edges would protrude and interfere with the shoe, hence the reason to not surpass the "envelope". I know I already scrape my shoes on a straight crankset. Either way, I was focusing on cross-section, not taking into account that this is hollow, so the amount of material is more related to perimeter and shell thickness.
  • 1 1
 @hamncheez: absolutely not true or marketed as such. They were marketing increased stiffness.

If you want dent resistance make it an oval.
  • 1 0
 @DavidGuerra: Ah, I get what you mean now. Yeah you're correct. If the available space is limited, the little material that makes it to the corners limits how large the cross section can be. That said, there is another way to look at this. There is no question the available room available for a crank arm is limited. Having to fit between foot, frame and often also shock and other suspension bits competing for space. Aluminium is a popular choice for areas where you can increase the moment of inertia (cross section/shape) and thereby increasing bending and compression/buckling strength and stiffness. But in this area, you just don't have that amount of room available. Yet still, we're happy with what can be achieved with aluminium. If you occupy that same space with steel or titanium, you're getting higher mentioned performances. You can obviously reduce wall thickness to meet the performance that's considered acceptable for aluminium but especially in this area (with all the impact, rubbing etc) you don't want to go too thin. So just like with frame tubes you can indeed get away with a smaller cross section. So yeah, even though the cross section of the cranks mentioned is smaller than what could be fitted in that limited space, it could still be adequate. But I still stick with my previous comment, that these internal stresses aren't pretty. And that the sharp corners or the cross section (being the most highly stressed parts of the cross section as they're already furthest from the center) can't expect approval of us armchair engineers. Actually having welds in said sections is provocative. I'm calling clickbait.
  • 1 0
 @Compositepro: I got a quote of $1800/pair MY cost.
  • 1 0
 @Btboone: I was being a bit glib just surprised one of the internet read and speaks hasn’t suggested it
  • 1 0
 @blowmyfuse: Well, there is a US brand selling to cranks under their name for the same price, selling quite a few from what I see out and about, and the arms are NOT made in house & if I'm not wrong, they're just made overseas and branded US.

Me: -clicks on AliExpress-
  • 1 0
 @chippps if you have to ask why it means your under 45 and have less than 25 years of mountain biking under your belt.
  • 1 0
 Thoughts on rolling the dice on these? Will I die if I hit a drop more than 18 inches? www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803512630361.html
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: Says they are Immortal
  • 2 0
 @blowmyfuse: Yes! All my worries have evaporated. Great find.
  • 57 0
 They scream to be in an insanely nonsense expensive gravel bike.
  • 30 0
 Ideally something like a moots or something cheap like an s-works diverge
  • 17 3
 I'm thinking ebike and the rider is full Rapha kit and mesh shoes.
  • 1 4
 @bikewriter: ever undertood what „gloria ex duris“ means?
  • 11 0
 @Sethimus: Too much duris on the wallet for the amount of gloria you would receive.
  • 13 0
 @tgr9: "cheap like an s-works diverge" hahahaha that only works in a sentence if its following Moots
  • 1 1
 @bikewriter: don't forget smelling of far too much cologne for activities in the outdoors.
  • 12 0
 I've asked Santa for a pair this year! Be safe be well, Incognito Robin
  • 5 0
 @notoutsideceo: oh how I've missed your inspirational anecdotes
  • 36 1
 these will go great with my twisty lynskey frame that is also very ugly.
  • 9 3
 Hey, hey ! I have a twisty lynskey frame and I think it's beautiful !
  • 41 0
 @Smashmouth: Name checks out as the true arbiter of quality taste in both music and the visual medium. Cheers to you, All Star!
  • 6 0
 @Thebravetoasterlives: brutally solid
  • 1 0
 wishful thinking
  • 2 0
 @Thebravetoasterlives:

That better not be sarcasm, smashmouth is still one of my top 5s.
  • 24 0
 Dang... eeWings are so popular everyone is jumping on the Ti Crank wagon. Hey Pinkbike!... when are we seeing the Ti Crank Roundup Review???
  • 17 0
 Only IncognitoRobin gets those for evaluation.
  • 8 0
 Can't wait for Seb to go in to excruciating detail about how each crank 'feels' when pedaling.
  • 5 2
 @Almazing: how dare he do his job Wink
  • 5 0
 I just want to see them hucked to flat. : -)
  • 1 0
 @delarscuevas: Having had their aluminum twist cranks catastrophically fail - on a road bike on a climb - I think I'll take a hard pass on that one, and suggest whoever does pad up.

I did learn that day that nausea is a symptom of concussion that day...did not know that prior.

#themoreyouknow
  • 17 0
 I love when bike parts are expensive because they're difficult to produce (okay), but nothing is mentioned about any tangible benefits.
  • 20 0
 #1 tangible benefit = parking lot humble brag.
  • 30 2
 Let's be honest, when it comes to crank arms anything more expensive than Shimano SLX can't justify it's cost through tangible benefits. They hold your pedals off the ground, spin round, doing it no better than cheap Shimano. But also being honest with ourselves, we don't buy bike parts purely on a cost benefit basis. I can't justify a set of these, but I still want them, they look weird.
  • 10 5
 @Fix-the-Spade: Cranks are a great place to shave weight, if you can get away with it and not break the arms. That's why eeWings are so bad ass - you simply cannot break them and they are very light. There are some very good and practically indestructible carbon options as well, all of which weigh considerably less than your cheap Shimano.

With that in mind, I wonder how much these weigh comparatively, and if they are as indestructible as eeWings.
  • 9 5
 Ironically enough, the center of the bike and at its lowest point is the one place where a smidge of extra weight is welcomed.
  • 11 2
 @DBone95: No thanks, I'll keep my bikes as light as possible as long as I'm not breaking anything. I have a set of eeWings with over 5k miles of abuse on them. They outlasted my last bike and I'm sure will outlast my Enduro.
  • 1 1
 @Lokirides: Yup, 2 sets, going on 5 seasons with one. I polish them up each winter with a mild abrasive and they look new each year. Have been between several bikes. I bet these actually pencil after a few more seasons and then they will still be worth 1K each.
  • 3 0
 The only tangible benefit I can think of is it being an easy after- or pre-ride conversation starter. A pack of IPAs is a lot cheaper though.
  • 12 2
 @Lokirides: Here in the UK you can get 10 sets of SLX for the price of eewings. That's what I mean about buying on a cost/benefit basis. Just under 200g in weight savings isn't worth ten times the price, but this is a heart over head kind of sport. I'm not exactly imune to this since my bikes have XTR cranks, which clearly wasn't the sensible decision.
  • 6 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: I got around that problem by purchasing slightly used XTR cranks with some rock rash, dabbed it with silver and black Sharpies, good enough.
  • 4 13
flag forkbrayker (Nov 28, 2022 at 23:43) (Below Threshold)
 @Lokirides: 5000miles ? Is that a typo? Hate to break it to you but that's only about 18-24 months use in my world, I don't start crowing about longevity until 3 yrs of use gets reached .
  • 1 0
 @Lokirides: additional ride quality, found some cranks transmit more ‘feedback’ than others. That said 1k USD for cranks is crazy…but still might do eewings bc wow
  • 6 0
 They can change from MTB to Road bike with a different spindle. They also handle different chainrings or spiders. They can work for tandems, as the left and right spindle inserts both handle the preloader or retainer ring for a drive side. They are very light as well.
  • 19 3
 "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
  • 12 0
 I rally against the ultra bougie stuff, mostly, but there is room in my heart for novel and/or highly crafted stuff... This is both, it's not a stupid 1000$ pulley wheel.

I still wish CC did a steel version of the eewing.
  • 5 0
 Profile cranks. VERY similar look to the CC's, steel (can get a ti spindle if you want) and pretty much indestructible. I have a set damn near 30 years old on and old BMX bike that's seen plenty of abuse. Super solid
  • 2 0
 @bman33: profile column cranks with a ti axel.
  • 2 0
 @bman33: have a set that’s 10 yrs still going strong despite, jumps, grinds and all
  • 1 0
 @thenotoriousmic: My ankles hurt just thinking of this. Big Grin
  • 9 0
 These are an incredible feat of the imagination and ingenuity, I see loads of you missing that point. You don’t have to want them on your bike to appreciate them for what they are. The supposed “benefit” of things with jaw dropping price tags get gobbled up all the time in the bike industry, these are a statement piece pure and simple.
  • 9 0
 They look like an MC Esher drawing, and I have a very irrational need to buy them. I almost bought the aluminum ones back in the 90's when I worked in the biz and was spending my whole paychecks on employee purchase discounted parts.
  • 11 0
 Titanium is a hell of a drug.
  • 6 0
 Never grow tired of beautiful bike jewelery. My first thought. Meh China is totally new to hi end titanium. These are hand welded locally. Sweet. First pic blew my mind. Showing g difficulty in fabrication gives these extra boutique value . Well done !
  • 9 0
 Would be a nice pedal to do a crank arm grind in the next redbull rampage.
  • 1 0
 *crank
  • 24 0
 @onetrykid: 2 tries kid.
  • 3 0
 So first off I can appreciate the design and engineering here, these cranks look pretty cool. But thats about it. And that is 100% ok. Some people like flashy stuff and thats great. But functionally, outside of a little weigh savings a mid-level SRAM or Shimano crank will likely do the job just the same.

Second I found this line a bit curious. "That means you don’t need to buy new cranks if you need to switch between one of those three chainring mounting patterns".

Who is buying and entirely new crankset to change chainring brands? Why would that ever really be an issue when almost all aftermarket chainrings can be purchased to fit any of the major mounting patterns? What chainring would be that special that you'd buy a whole new crankset just to have it?
  • 2 0
 Steel 28t NW DM rings. I just bought a RaceFace Aeffect R crankset because it uses a direct mount chainring system, and the steel 28t rings were $13. The cranks look great and are kinda future proof as well. Trying to mount 26t or 28t rings on regular 4 bolt cranks doesn't look great, they are expensive, and steel should last forever.
But I do get what you're saying.
  • 2 0
 @woofer2609: My comment was based on the assumption that direct mount cranks were already being used. I could understand getting some updated cranks to switch to direct mount chainrings (which offers more options).
  • 3 0
 @sino428: Absolutely nobody who can afford to spend over $1000 on a set of cranks will give a single shit about saving the cost of buying a new chainring for $50 and using some old chainring instead.

Like you say, it offers almost zero benefit to anyone what so ever and is a very odd choice on a crank of this value, just pick SRAM 3 bolt and be done with it.
  • 1 0
 Funny you should mention....that would be me. A new Raceface crank was cheaper than replacing the SI chainring on my Cannondale... so I went that route, and also to avoid having multiple chainring mount standards. I know it's not what you meant, but I used the statement as an excuse to broadcast the absurdity of my situation.
  • 1 0
 @maestroman21: There is always a random outlier in every situation. You are it this time.
  • 2 0
 @justanotherusername: Yea I wasn't even considering the fact that these are $1000 cranks. But even if your running some mid level $150 cranks, its not going to make sense to change your cranks.

I mean there is nothing wrong with the adapter, its actually kind of a cool feature. Just the way they worded that was weird. Could have just said you won't need to buy a new chainring if you buy our cranks.
  • 7 1
 That oilslick is looking pretty ali-expressy
  • 6 1
 Damn, I've always wanted my cranks to look like expensive cutlery
  • 5 4
 I think it's fascinating and foreboding that at the end of our current economically stable period, at least in some western nations, we are seeing more and more luxury bike items. There is so much inequality in the world, so many who are barely able to survive, it's hard to enjoy our relatively elitist sport already. Harder still when bikes and components are beginning to seem ever more superfluous and out of reach for even the affluent in affluent nations. My own garage is a testament against my supposed Christian belief system, I need to change my ways and be more focused on the wellbeing of my fellow human beings than my bike. We're lucky or blessed or what have you to ride bikes for fun.
  • 3 0
 Sorry for the misplaced disrespect to the maker of these, they are beautiful and you sir an engineer and an artist. Respect to you!!
  • 2 0
 @psyfi: Thank you.
  • 1 0
 @Btboone: My first comment was better off an "inside thought" lol. Your work is awesome!
  • 9 5
 These are clearly the ti cranks to beat, makes eewings look like crude unfinished and overpriced junk.
  • 2 3
 Come again? eeWings are indestructible, look amazing even after years of abuse, and are competitively light when compared to carbon. Will these cranks be as durable or as light? I doubt it. But they are very beautiful!
  • 8 1
 You are confusing engineering and function and your personal opinion of aesthetics.
  • 1 0
 @justanotherusername: read the article and his website and you may yet learn something…
  • 1 0
 @Lokirides: these look to be lighter than eewings (which are 400g). 140 per arm and 65-100g or so for a spindle.
  • 2 0
 @Lokirides: Pretty sure you missed the sarcasm
  • 1 0
 I wish someone would invent a crank with a tougher coating that I can't rub through with my heel in a few months. (Ceracoat, maybe?) Or better yet, invent a replaceable knee/ankle system that I can use so that I don't rub cranks with my heels.
  • 1 0
 Appleman does Cerakote cranks. No clue about the coating durability in that application…
  • 1 0
 Coat them with 5-10 canvas. That coating is way tougher than any crank.
  • 1 0
 a strip of Xpel does wonders for me and is cheap and easy to remove/reapply if necessary.
  • 3 0
 How come every one hates these but loves the we are one rims with the exact same design
  • 6 2
 Hawt dang'r. The eeWings are dead. Long live the TwisTi's.
  • 2 0
 I would feel so bad hitting a rock with this, I'd never ride that bike again on any serious trail... That's the reason and the only reason I'll stick with my Shimano cranks!
  • 1 0
 the ones that make sense Ti cranks are beautiful but superflouos
  • 1 0
 @vhdh666: Not only that, they’re unnecessary
  • 2 2
 I feel spendy for buying a set of wheels for $1000, but cranks, yeah, I don't see the need.

But if I see "you" in the parking lot with a set of these cranks, I'll call you out for sure!

I mean, why else would someone spend $1000 on cranks unless they wanted the attention?
  • 3 0
 I love that we're going full circle to the 90's and early 2k's.
  • 2 0
 Get wrecked Santa Cruz and Yeti cuz all the bikers gonna drool at my oil slick twisted Ti crank arms.
  • 3 0
 For when you want people to know that you had a thousand bucks.
  • 1 0
 WHOA WHOA WHOA.

Let’s not forget Boone makes titanium wedding rings and other rings. I have 2 rings from him. His website last I checked was pretty cool.
  • 1 0
 Seems like the perfect thing for a Win It Wednesday, something I would never (be able to) buy myself or really need.
  • 1 0
 So why make them out of titanium? It seems like the cons outweigh the pros for this design, no?
  • 6 1
 I believe Boone Tech is a titanium specialist... so that is why. If you want steel, aluminum, or carbon there are a jillion other companies you could turn to.
  • 2 0
 He made a twist crank just like this out of machined aluminum in the late 90's.... Most broke but....
  • 2 0
 Polished version is very nice! Cool!
  • 2 0
 Looks like someone lost one on the trail
  • 1 0
 The iconic mountain bike cranks from the 90s that hardly anyone has ever heard of. Not very iconic then are they.
  • 1 0
 Is this a sign that we are about to enter the Surrealism period of MTB design?
  • 1 1
 Beautiful work and would be a happy tester on my NukeProof Scout 27.5 with 160mm fork.
  • 1 0
 Boutique Cranks are the new black
  • 2 0
 Twisted Sister
  • 1 0
 This technology is giving me a major booner!
  • 1 0
 Tyler mccomb needs to take another dump
  • 3 0
 Hi Stephen Ferguson how you doing buddy
  • 1 0
 @Tmackstab: knew you’d be cruising the comment section on this one haha!
  • 1 0
 @steveobelieveo: Someone actually sent me a screen shot lol
  • 1 0
 Per the website, 165 and 175 look to be available.
  • 2 0
 Sweet, can fit the kids bikes out with them as well as the parents...
  • 1 0
 @Muzled: the Real Men and Women of MTB ride 165.
  • 2 0
 Great! I'll order both and see which one I like best! Keep the other one for the winter bike.
  • 2 1
 Being factor dentist model now available
  • 1 0
 Nice....but not my cuppa tea. I prefer mine.
  • 1 2
 Just make them round and slightly less than eewings. How much time and money has been spent fixing a problem that didn't need to exist...
  • 2 0
 Hard pass
  • 2 0
 Pretty pretty.
  • 1 0
 better than carbon fiber,finish
  • 1 0
 Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Looks neat though.
  • 1 0
 Twist cranks, but not the ankles.
  • 1 0
 Don't forget RNC titanium cranks & Eastern Bikes titanium cranks.
  • 1 0
 We need twist stems and droppers
  • 1 0
 Ah, good ole formula jig right there.
  • 2 0
 double twist or nothing
  • 1 0
 I remember this from the 90s,never liked the look.
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike. Where no one can enjoy anything
  • 1 0
 I wonder if these can fit a 68/73mm bb?
  • 1 0
 The Jig is up!!!
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