Micro-Review: GoodSpeed Saturn Chainring
Last summer, I received something quite interesting in the mail from Goodspeed Components.
The Saturn chainring is CNC machined with extra-fine 0.1 mm drill bits, exceeding standard precision. Its original tooth profile and design emulate the intricate composition of Saturn's rings. This chainring encapsulates the essence of the cosmos in design.
All that, is what the website tells you. But what about in real life?
Let me start with this: There isn't much to say about a track chainring. It's either nice or it's not. It's smooth, or it isn't, so I'll keep it short and give you my point of view after a few hundred kilometers of riding.
The Saturn is an overall beautifully designed chainring with a lot of attention to detail, and will come to you all the way from Hong Kong in a pretty envelope. The finish is, again, very meticulous on the “front” of the ring, but the rear is very “flat.” It isn't a big deal, but it gave some people “job half done” vibes the first time they had it in hands. Even if you never see the back, I’d be happy to see some machining on a $200 chainring.
What about actual use? Well, machined out of 7075-T6 aluminum, the ring has held up perfectly since I installed it. And the “original tooth profile” showed no signs of premature wear, nor did it damage my chain more than usual. I personally put a 49T on my 3Rensho, and gave the other one to a friend to get his impressions. Coming up on a year of on and off riding, our reviews are very much alike: it spins smoothly, doesn't flex, and is overall a well-balanced chainring. For some reason, the chain slack variations that you almost always have on a track bike are very minimal with the Saturn. And for that reason alone, it's a big yes!
Is the Saturn chainring staying on our bikes? Yes! Although the “flat back” design may have been an oversight for me, there isn't any real issue with how the ring functions. It’s very smooth, and I have a lot of respect for those who designed and machined these. They semi-recently also introduced the "Titan", a more aerodynamic focus chainring, which, from what I can see, pays more attention to detail at the back.
Learn more here -> www.goodspeedcomponents.com
Or follow Good Speed Components on Instagram -> @goodspeedhk
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