Paul Components has announced it is reviving its iconic 100% Pure Crank, with a square taper and self-extracting crank bolts.
The brand has assured us this isn’t an April Fool’s joke, opting for a square-taper design because it allows for fine-tuning of the Q-factor and chainstay clearance of the crankarms via the BB spindle length.
Most modern cranks use a fixed-spindle design, so seeing a brand using a square taper is quite unusual in 2025.
Paul Components says the design has enabled it to get the chainring close to the chainstay for a better chainline in the bigger rear cogs via chainring offset.
The brand has decided to use the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) square taper, which is more common than the ISO and is slightly bigger, with both sharing the same 2-degree taper.
Paul has opted for SRAM’s 3-bolt direct-mount chainring spline, meaning it should be easy to find compatible chainrings.
Self-extracting crank bolts also feature, essentially working as crank pullers on the crankset.
The cranks are made from American-milled 2024 aluminium using a CNC process that the brand says enables excess material to be removed for a lighter, stiffer and more elegant design.
You will need a square-taper bottom bracket to install the cranks, with this system offering impressive resilience to developing play over time when compared to threaded and press-fit bottom brackets.
While Paul has made cranksets in the past, this marks a return for a brand associated with bijoux bicycle componentry.
Paul’s 100% Pure Crank is priced at $308 and available in Black, Purple, Silver and Pewter colourways.
Sizes available are 155, 160, 165, 170, 175 and 180mm, with the longest cranks weighing in at 516g, including chainring bolts, crank bolts and extractor caps.
