Mountain Project Logo

Black diamond cyborgs

Original Post
TheBirdman Friedman · · Eldorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 65

Anyone use them? While I'd love some general feedback and reviews, I'm specifically interested in how easy (or not easy) it is easy to swap between the mono and dual front points. I've been reading and apparently you have to take a hacksaw to the anti-bot plates. Can anyone speak to this?

Martin le Roux · · Superior, CO · Joined Jul 2003 · Points: 401

Cutting through the anti-bot plates isn't difficult; they're fairly soft and they're scored where you need to cut them. But here's what Black Diamond doesn't tell you:

(i) You'll need some parts that aren't included with the crampons - a "Cyborg spacer kit" and a "Cyborg bolt kit". You can buy them from Black Diamond's web store (look under Spare Parts).

(ii) Removing and re-installing the bolt that holds the front-points is pretty easy if you have the right tools (an Allen key and a socket wrench, I don't recall the exact sizes) - but just about impossible otherwise. They don't include these tools with the crampons.

I learnt this the hard way.

AKM1878 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 50

The cyborgs DO come with the bolt and spacer kit to turn them into mono-points out of the box. They also include the allen wrench and open end wrench for the nut.

If you didn't get them in the box then you either misplaced them, or they forgot to put them in the box... it happens. If you get a set and they are missing parts call BD they should just send you the parts.

Once you cut the ABS, which isn't too hard, then it's not hard to swap them back and forth.

Dobson · · Butte, MT · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 215
AKM1878 wrote:The cyborgs DO come with the bolt and spacer kit to turn them into mono-points out of the box. They also include the allen wrench and open end wrench for the nut. If you didn't get them in the box then you either misplaced them, or they forgot to put them in the box...

There was a point in time when they didn't come with spacers. A friend of mine bought a pair (stainless clip) and was surprised to see that no mono kit came with the package. He called BD, and they said that's correct and he needed to order the spacer kit separately. A couple bucks at the hardware store and my friend had what he needed without giving an extra dime to BD. Hopefully Black Diamond has stopped this stupid practice.
Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

I have Cyborgs for when I need duals. I set my wife's Cyborgs up last season with a monopoint and it was a breeze. You don't need a hacksaw. I used sheet metal shears. I have heard the bolts will loosen if you keep swapping mono then dual and then back to mono. I think the BD Cyborgs are a good choice for a do it all crampon... especially for the money.

I still say check out the Cassin Bladerunner if you have the coin. You will notice a difference on grade 5 ice or thin ice.

The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460

The problem with hack-sawing the ABS is that if you switch back to dual points. Then you've got a hole for snow to bail up in. I got some of this stuff and the first thing I did with it was make a stopper for the hole in the ABS plates made from going mono, and it works like a dream

Chris W · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 15

Anyone have a photo of their monopoint cyborgs they can post? I'm looking at BD's basic directions and want to make sure I'm doing it right... seems like it shouldn't be that difficult but I wanna make sure I'm cutting the correct way.
thanks

Scott Bissi · · Cazenovia, New York · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 5

I know alot of people are liking the option to go from dual to mono and are complaining about the lack of hardware... well I hits got the petzl lynx which you can do dual or mono and come with all the tools and hardware to do so. Just food for thought

Noah Haber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 78
Chris Weber wrote:Anyone have a photo of their monopoint cyborgs they can post? I'm looking at BD's basic directions and want to make sure I'm doing it right... seems like it shouldn't be that difficult but I wanna make sure I'm cutting the correct way. thanks
No, but it would be pretty hard to mess up. Cut it where the tooth is going to go. That's it.
Chris W · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 15

Did you remove the anti-balling plate? if not, the black plastic sleeve that covers the dual point screw holder needs to come out to go mono, it seems. BD site doesn't show cutting that whole piece out, which is confusing.
blackdiamondequipment.com/o…
If I cut out that whole black plastic area (that protects the dual point screw), then I could use the screw and spacers. Like I saw the directions on the site just show 1 narrower cut that doesn't deal with that.

Noah Haber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 78
Chris Weber wrote:Did you remove the anti-balling plate? if not, the black plastic sleeve that covers the dual point screw holder needs to come out to go mono, it seems. BD site doesn't show cutting that whole piece out, which is confusing. blackdiamondequipment.com/o… If I cut out that whole black plastic area (that protects the dual point screw), then I could use the screw and spacers. Like I saw the directions on the site just show 1 narrower cut that doesn't deal with that.
I am so very confused as to what the problem is. You don't need to cut anything out, except the slot for the mono point. The plastic "slots" for the dual points have nothing to do with the spacers whatsoever. Just leave them and keep using the bot plate.
Max Forbes · · Colorado · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 108

Slightly off topic, and obviously more expensive, but I own the Lynx. They come with everything you need, and easily switch between dual and mono point. Worth checking out.

Chris W · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 15

Shoo (and more importantly anyone else who might need future help)-

I just got off the phone with BD. The obvious(?) steps I missed are:
1) take out center bar and fully detach front plate
2) remove ABS from front plate
3) push out the metal tube that is the insert for the longer dual point bolt (this is covered in black plastic and has to be pushed out to accommodate the mono point spacers) *This* is the key step I was trying to get help understanding.
4) cut, following scored lines, through both the black and orange ABS plastic (offset so mono ends up under each big toe)
5) Insert new, mono spacers into black plastic sleeve

These steps are more clear than what is on the BD website (the icons on the pamphlet that comes with the cramps)

dual points removed, ready for mono convert

Derek DeBruin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,039

Maybe they've stopped including them, but every pair of cyborgs I've purchased has come with the spacer kit for mono points. I typically convert them immediately, leaving an extra set of front points for future use.

Sean Burke · · Concord, CA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 75

Mono's rule. I have a pair of stingers and they are amazing.

Chris W · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 15

Derek--the ones I got come with the spacers...I still needed to take the steps above.

Derek DeBruin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,039

Glad you got it sorted out, Chris. That is indeed the standard procedure for switching over to mono point on the Cyborg.

@Sean Burke: I prefer the Cyborgs to the Stingers for mono point as stingers are less secure when descending low angle ice. You can see in the photo Chris posted that that rear down-spikes on the front plate of the Cyborg crampon are perpendicular to the front points, as are the rear down-spikes on the back plate. On the Stingers, there are perpendicular down-spikes on the back plate only. Consequently, when walking straight down slope, they are less secure.

This doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the Stingers, just that the user should be aware of this and take appropriate caution in low-angle terrain. Lots of downhill walking in low-angle terrain doesn't typically occur in the Stingers more cragging-oriented climbing environment, but I find that many users aren't aware of this potential limitation.

Jake wander · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 195

I just converted mine and took pictures along the way. If people are interested, here's a link. I will add more text tomorrow.

Cyborg conversion instructions

Mark O'Neal · · Nicholson, GA · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 3,323

I found on my recent experience today that I had to also remove the toe bail to be able to remove the plastic ABS plate

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Climbing Gear Discussion
Post a Reply to "Black diamond cyborgs"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.