This page contains our crank arm power meters for MTB bikes. Next to spider-based power meters like the power2max, crank arm-based power meters are one of the most popular power meter types for MTB. They are affordable, easy to install and cost less than most power-equipped MTB cranksets.
Additional Crank Arm Power Meters for MTB Info:
Brands
We carry crank-arm based power meters from 4iiii Innovations and Stages Cycling.
Check Frame Compatibility
Before purchasing, you should confirm compatibly with your bike frame. These power meters attach a sensor to the inside of the left crank arm. On some bikes, there is not enough room between the left crank arm and the chainstay for the sensor to clear the frame. Therefore, you should make sure you have at least 10 mm of clearance for Stages and 4iiii PRECISION 2 power meters and 8 mm of clearance for 4iiii PRECISION 3 power meters. Please refer to the image below.
Quick Product Comparison:
Price
It is difficult to compare price as these companies make different models (more on that below). However, the 4iiii PRECISION 3 XT crank arm is a few dollars more expensive than the Stages, while the 4iiii PRECISION 3 XTR is cheaper than the Stages. Please note that 4iiii also offers the PRECISION 2, which is an older, more affordable version.
Models
4iiii makes version for Shimano MTB cranksets (XT and XTR). You can sometimes use these power meters on other Shimano cranksets such as SLX. Stages however, in addition to Shimano, makes MTB power meter crank arms for SRAM, Race Face and Cannondale cranks.
Installation
All of these MTB crank-arm based power meters install the same way. You simply remove your current, left-side crank arm and replace it with your new, power-equipped version. Therefore, installation typically takes about 5-10 minutes for most models.
The one exception to this is the Stages Carbon for SRAM BB30 Power Meter, which also requires that you replace the spindle. Note that for Shimano models, you will also need a Shimano Crankarm Cap Tool (sold by us separately).
Power Measurement
All of these left side crank arm MTB power meters measure power from the left leg and double the value in order to calculate total power. Please note, we have some drive side Stages crank arms on this page too. Those measure right leg power.
ANT+/Bluetooth SMART
All of these power meters are dual ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART compatible.
Batteries
All of these power meter run off of CR2032 batteries. The Stages power meters get about 200 hours of battery life. The 4iiii PRECISION 2 gets 100 hours while the 4iiii PRECISION 3 gets 800 hours.
Weight
Crank arm-based power meters are one of the lightest power meters you can buy. The 4iiii adds a mere 7.5-9 grams (based on the model) to your bike. The Stages adds 20 grams which is also very light.