5DEV AV3: Asa Vermette’s Race Cranks Reach Riders

By MTBSA contributor

5DEV’s AV3 signature crank brings Asa Vermette’s preferred downhill setup into a production component. The emphasis is on practical contact points: short arms, rounded edges and textured faces, rather than simply adding a rider’s name to an existing crank.

Developed through a race season

According to the launch announcement of 2 October 2026, Vermette first raced the prototype at Hardline Tasmania and continued using it during his debut Elite World Cup season. That included wins in South Korea and Whistler. Race use provides development context, although it is not a substitute for an independent long-term durability test.

The crank comes in a single 165 mm length. Its rounded profile is intended to make contact with the shoe and lower leg less harsh, while knurling gives the rider a textured surface when gripping the bike through rough sections.

Forging changes the manufacturing approach

Unlike 5DEV’s billet-machined R-Spec models, the AV3 starts with forged 7050 aluminium before CNC machining. The company says this reduces manufacturing cost while retaining the strength expected of its gravity components.

The published arm weight is 645 g. The interface is SRAM eight-bolt, finishes are black or raw, and the AV3 graphic was drawn by Vermette himself. A lifetime warranty is listed in the announcement, subject to the manufacturer’s terms.

Before ordering in South Africa

Check the complete crank specification against your bottom bracket, chainring and frame clearance, rather than relying on arm length alone. The supplied release does not establish a South African price or stock date. Local warranty handling and spare-part support are useful questions to settle before importing a set.

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