Race Face Narrow/Wide Chainrings
(discontinued)

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Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$44.99
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$44.99
Tested: Race Face Narrow/Wide Chainring
Rating:
Vital Review

by Joel Harwood

Race Face started producing mountain bike components back in 1992. They originally gained notoriety for their Diabolus offering, which at that time was one of the few product lines that could withstand serious abuse. For nearly twenty years Race Face produced some of the highest quality components available. In 2011, the company faced bankruptcy and many thought Race Face products were about to become collectors' items. Nevertheless, the company made it through the rough patch and came back swinging with a number of new, refined and innovative components... with a variety of colors and graphics to boot. With the recent popularity of 1x drivetrains, component companies are all jumping on the 1x bandwagon. Race Face has entered the battle royale with their new Narrow/Wide chainring, designed to minimize dropped chains and maximize fun.

Narrow/Wide Chainring Highlights


  • Narrow wide tooth profiling ensures ultimate chain retention
  • 4mm plate thickness and I-beam construction transfers loads without flexing
  • 7075-T6 aluminum, aerospace grade strength
  • Reversible laser etched graphics
  • Compatible with 9, 10 and 11-speed
  • Available in 30 to 38-tooth options in two tooth increments
  • Available in 104 BCD (4 bolt) and direct mount configurations
  • Color options: Red, Green, Blue, Black
  • Weight: 37-57 grams depending on ring size (36T – 50g)
  • MSRP: $43.99 to $59.99 USD

Initial Impressions

Shortly after getting my hands on a new bike I also managed to acquire the 34-tooth Narrow/Wide chainring from Race Face. I mounted it to Shimano XT cranks and mated it with a slightly worn drivetrain without hassle. I had previous experience with a similar product from another brand and I had been running that one with a top guide. But I figured that it wasn't a true test unless I ran the Race Face Narrow/Wide chainring without any guide whatsoever, and I was also looking forward to hitting g-outs and rock gardens as aggressively as I could to give the test some validity.

During my parking lot test the first thing I noticed was how nude the chainring looked without at the very least a top guide. I had been running full DH guides on my XC bikes for the past number of seasons and I found myself questioning whether or not a little bit of fancy machining could suddenly render chain guides obsolete, at least from a trail bike perspective.

The laser etched graphics were understated, the green added a little bling and all in all, the product inspired confidence. As previously indicated, I ran a 34T for this test, but one of the unique and noteworthy aspects of the Narrow/Wide chainring is that you can get one as small as 30T. Previously, this was not possible on a standard 104 BCD crank spider using traditional chainring bolts, as reducing the diameter of the ring that much simply does not leave enough material between the teeth and the chainring bolt holes. By actually machining the female side of the chainring bolt thread into the ring itself (30T only), Race Face has come up with a clever way to circumvent the issue. If you do a lot of steep climbing on your single-ring 29er, this could well be exactly the solution you've been waiting for.

On The Trail

After the initial inspection and set-up were behind me, I was pumped to go looking for opportunities to cycle my rear suspension to see if all that clever stuff meant that I could donate my chainguide to the Smithsonian. Well, after approximately 600 miles of riding I managed to drop the chain exactly twice. Once when I picked up a hitchhiking tree root, and the other mid-crash when I must have loaded the bike in an awkward fashion that I dare not try to replicate on purpose. That's two dropped chains, when riding 3 or more times per week, in varied conditions, using a twisted rear derailleur.

Prior to discovering the Narrow/Wide chainring I would not have put much thought into the chainring I was running. Now that I have experienced the simplicity, reliability, and reduced drag of a guide-less Narrow/Wide chainring I'm pretty much sold on the idea of riding with just a ring up front. One less part to purchase, maintain, and potentially destroy is definitely a win.

Things That Could Be Improved

The Narrow/Wide chainring performed outstandingly throughout the entire test and I'm fairly certain that the tree root mentioned above would have jammed up a guide anyhow. The ring looked good and worked even better. I wish I had a suggestion or two for improvement, but with simple components it either works as advertised or it doesn't. The Race Face Narrow/Wide chainring works.

Long Term Durability

I had the opportunity to ride the Race Face chainring extensively and I smacked it off a few rocks along the way. Assuming that folks split their time equally between rings on 2x and 3x setups I suppose that a single ring should conceivably wear faster. I would like to have ridden the Narrow/Wide ring literally into the ground to compare lifespans with a conventional setup, for the sake of this review, but I plan on running it figuratively into the ground for the sake of my wallet. The current state of the chainring after 600 or more miles is about the same as any ring I've seen and the chain retention is still as good as the day I got it. I'm not 100% sure how a bent tooth would affect chain retention, but I would imagine that unless it was so severe that the chain couldn't grab the ring at all, it won't be an issue. The finish has held up and I have no reason to believe that reliability will suffer as time goes on.

I would also like to point out that the only reason I decided not to give this product five stars is because I haven't had the opportunity to ride it for an entire season. Assuming that chain retention remained as good as day one throughout, it is a no-brainer five star rating for me.

What’s The Bottom Line?

Now that I've had the opportunity to ride a guide-less chainring for a few months without any issues, the Race Face Narrow/Wide chainring is staying on my bike for the long haul. I rallied the ring to the best of my ability, through a variety of conditions, and my chain guide is now a paperweight. I would like to think it will still see use from time to time, but both out of sheer laziness and confidence in the chainring, it will likely sit on a shelf permanently. My drivetrain is now simpler, quieter and has less drag, and I have one less component to purchase and maintain. Though not every rider wants to push a single ring or ride without absolute 100% chain retention, as far as this tester is concerned, the front derailleur and chainguide are now obsolete on a trail bike.

Head over to www.raceface.com for more details.


About The Reviewer

Joel Harwood has been playing in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia for the last 8 years. He spends his summer months coaching DH race groms in the Whistler Bike Park, and guiding XC riders all over BC. He dabbles in all types of racing, but is happiest while blasting his trail bike down trails that include rock slabs, natural doubles, and west coast tech. On the big bike he tends to look for little transitions and manuals that allow him to keep things pointed downhill, rather than swapping from line to line. Attention to detail, time in the saddle, and an aggressive riding style make Joel a rider that demands the most from his products. Joel's ramblings can also be found at www.straightshotblog.com.

10 comments

Post a reply to: Tested: Race Face Narrow/Wide Chainring

In reply to by Triber66

In reply to by skelldify

10 member reviews

Solid Option
Rating:
The Good
Durability and color choices.
The Bad
Noisier than I like.
Overall Review:

Function

This is a nice part. It is specific to the Race Face cinch system. Race face has made it user friendly and fairly easy to install. I appreciate how they made the ring removable with an isis bottom bracket tool.  The trend is to make everything need its own tool which gets tedious.  Isis bb tools are pretty easy to come by.  Here is a video of how to install the chainring:


  Bicimecanica.net


The narrow wide teeth will keep your chain on and reduce those awful chain bunching moments for you.  I have ridden 1500 miles on varied terrain and have only had my chain slip off once.  That is less than when I used to run a chain guide.

Durability

Chain rings come in contact with all kinds of things on the trail.  This chainring has taken several big hits while riding and none of the teeth have been damaged.  They last a long time with proper chain maintenance.  Considering the longevity of this part, the money has been well spent.   

0 comments

Post a reply to: Solid Option

Quality N/W Ring
Rating:
The Good
Durable, available in various colors, stops dropped chains
The Bad
It isn't free
Overall Review:

The biggest endorsement I can give a component on my bike is if when it comes time to replace it I buy the same thing again. This will be my 3rd Race Face NW ring in 3 years. I did add a chain guide last year because I was dropping chains, but I was also racing enduros down very fast and rough trails and several other riders were dropping chains as well.

I like that it comes in a variety of colors and sizes and the cinch system is sweet too.

Overall, its a part of my bike I never worry about, something I can't say about many of the other parts I ride with.

0 comments

Post a reply to: Quality N/W Ring

Race Face Narrow/Wide Chainring
Rating:
The Good
Great retention, Good wear properties, Many color options
The Bad
None really
Overall Review:

I have used Raceface chain rings for several years and a little under a year ago I went to a new direct mount N/W chain ring. I have not looked back. Lets start with some highlights that it has to offer: Fits perfectly with Raceface cinch cranks, built from strong T6-7075 aluminum, works with 9-11 speed chains, and a 36t only weighs 82 grams.

It was really easy to install on the Raceface Cinch cranks while they are off of the bike, then install the cranks and you are good to go. I went with a 30t version as I do have some steep hills in this area and I am using a normal 10speed 11-36 cassette on the rear. With a clutch derailleur and this N/W ring, I have only managed to drop a chain once as the clutch was wearing out using no chain retention devices. I made an adjustment to the clutch and all has been good since. The tooth profile themselves hold up really good and does not wear abnormally even in wet conditions.

0 comments

Post a reply to: Race Face Narrow/Wide Chainring

Phenomenal
Rating:
The Good
Easy Installation
Looks Good
Works as advertised
The Bad
Finish wears away (as expected)
Overall Review:

Race face has changed the 1X game with the introduction of this chainring. The narrow-wide offers easy 1x configuration for virtually any crank configuration without the necessity of a chain guide. I have used this product for anything from cross country to freeride/DH and have dropped my chain only a few times, which wouldnt have happened if I were using a clutch rear deraileur. In addition to the product functionality, it also looks great and adds a little bit of flair to your ride. Naturally, the finish has worn away where the chain contacts the chainring teeth.

0 comments

Post a reply to: Phenomenal

Benchmark bolt-on
Rating:
The Good
The narrow/wide tooth profile is an absolute must-have on any 1x setup. Ditch your chain-guide and actually improve chain-retention, for less than $40. Absolute no-brainer.
The Bad
A bit louder than the Sram offering, but that's really splitting hairs.
Overall Review:

If you're one of the many people running a 1x setup, but still have yet to shell out for XO1 or XX1, this is the only way to go. Chain management has never been better, and the versatility of the 104 BCD is unmatched. Then you look at the price tag - there's probably no better way to improve your AM, FR or DH bike for $35.

0 comments

Post a reply to: Benchmark bolt-on

Great affordable upgrade
Rating:
The Good
light, lots of teeth options, cheap, it works!
The Bad
not really a bad, but I recommend using with clutch derailleur
Overall Review:

As others have said, get the number of links and chain tension correct and you'll be golden. I'm running a 30T and 11 x 32 on a 9speed setup with a clutch rear derailleur and haven't dropped a chain. I had a chain guide but have since removed it and haven't regretted my decision. Been on this setup for a year now and have no regrets. I ride in fairly rocky terrain and like to jump, hit drops, and pop off of natural trail features. The chain has miraculously stayed on when in the past I've always had to run a chain guide.

If you want to run 1x, for the price, it's hard to choose anything else.

0 comments

Post a reply to: Great affordable upgrade

Awesome Product not XX1 Priced!
Rating:
The Good
Not an expensive option to running a single ring, dont have to buy a whole xx1 or xx0 set up to run a single ring without a chain guide!
The Bad
Need to make sure that the chain is tensioned properly otherwise losing a chain will occur
Overall Review:

I was very impressed with my Raceface narrow wide chainring. I purchased a 32 with hopes to upgrade to a 34 once i started pedalling a bit more.  Stupidly I didn't re tension the chain after switching from a 2x setup,  I used a roller to keep the chain more tensioned and it held up well, I lost a chain twice without it properly tensioned.   Once realizing that I needed to take a few links out of the chain, I was never able to lose a chain.  Considering if you want to run a true 1x setup with no chainring you need to buy a sram xx1 or xx0 setup I was much happier paying the 40 bucks to get this, rather then the grand+ to get the sram setup!

0 comments

Post a reply to: Awesome Product not XX1 Priced!

Works well with proper chain tension
Rating:
The Good
- works
- light
- looks awesome
- way cheaper than a chainguide
The Bad
you'll lose chains if your tension is too low
Overall Review:

I installed a blue 34t narrow-wide on a relatively worn 9-speed SRAM drivetrain with an old X9 derailleur on my GT Distortion (short travel trail/jump/all around fun bike) and immediately went downhilling. The first day I dropped the chain three times in the same rock garden, and once or twice in other technical spots. I was mildly disappointed, but then realized that I was running my chain too long by a good few links. Removed the links and I've since dropped the chain four or five times total (15+ rides, including downhilling at the same and gnarlier spots), and every time I sort of saw it coming because I was hitting a long chundery section at speed on my short travel bike.

Basically, if you ride hard on technical terrain and have a non-clutch derailleur (I've never ridden a clutched derailleur, but I hear they help with retention even more) you will still very occasionally drop a chain. This doesn't bother me much—especially as I'm getting good at predicting when it might happen—but would be totally unacceptable if you're racing. I don't. The simplicity, weight-, and cost-savings of the narrow-wide sans guide more than make up for a dropped chain every third or fourth ride in my opinion. Just a bonus that it looks great and seems to handle impacts well.

2 comments

Post a reply to: Works well with proper chain tension

The days of hanging junk off your crank are over!
Rating:
The Good
Nicely machined, great color and size choices, even works with 9 speed. A stupidly cost effective way to lighten your ride.
The Bad
You might still need a lightweight guide for piece of mind if riding downhill and free-ride. Marginally noisier than a regular chain ring.
Overall Review:

I have a full suspension 150mm travel trail/AM bike running 9 speed with a SRAM X7 short cage derailleur. Been running the Raceface Narrow/wide for a few thousand miles on without issue, no chain drops at all. I was worried that I would need a clutch type derailleur, luckily with a short cage regular derailleur this has been fine, but my X7 does have quite a strong spring. I think the chain ring has slightly more rub than my nicely machined Renthal regular ring, but dumping a 250 gram guide has actually made the whole bike a bit lighter and easier to pedal.

0 comments

Post a reply to: The days of hanging junk off your crank are over!

Specifications

Product
Race Face Narrow/Wide Chainrings
Riding Type
Cross Country
Dirt Jump / Slopestyle
Downhill
Freeride / Bike Park
Trail
Chainring Type
Narrow/Wide
Speeds
1x
Tooth Count

BCD: 104/64 BCD and 104 BCD 30, 32, 34, 36, or 38 tooth

3 Bolt: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, or 36 tooth

Cinch: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, or 36 tooth

Hole Pattern

BCD: 4 bolt

3 Bolt: Compatible with SRAM cranksets with a removable Spider

Cinch: Compatible with Race Face cranks with Cinch system interface

Materials
7075-T6 aluminum
Colors
Red, orange, green, blue, purple, or black
Weight
3 Bolt - 26 tooth: 0 lb 1.3 oz (38 g)
3 Bolt - 36 tooth: 0 lb 2.7 oz (76 g)
Cinch - 24 tooth: 0 lb 1.2 oz (33 g)
Cinch - 42 tooth: 0 lb 4 oz (112 g)
Miscellaneous
Narrow Wide tooth profiling ensures ultimate chain retention
Stiff 4mm plate thickness to transfer loads without flexing
110 and 130 BCD rings available
9-, 10-, 11-, and 12-speed compatible
Price
$69.99
More Info
What do you think?
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$44.99
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$44.99
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