Bottom brackets : are the expensive ones worth the money ?

[RhythMick]

Chris King are around £90 or £150 ish for ceramic. Hope are about the same I think. Standard BB seem to be about £30.

Do they genuinely last longer? Are they more weather-proof? When I did the TPT coast to coast we invented white-water-cycling and to be honest if the above made it less susceptible to water ingress and more durable as a result then I'd think it was worth it.

 

[Zakalwe]

What's your groupset? Ceramic beads would be theoretically rounder, lighter and stronger but wether that's worth it or not is down to you.

 

[fossyant]

Ceramic is probably not worth it - but a quality BB is fit and forget.

Had a XTR/Dura Ace BB on my best bike for about 15 years - not touched it !

 

[ianrauk]

They are more Bling rather then practical (He says having a nice Blue Hope BB on his Spesh )
An Ultegra BB @ about £20 will do the job just as well.

 

[RhythMick]

Currently on SRAM APEX.

I think I read that the Hope had better protection from the elements (than standard), that work out in reality ?

 

[ianrauk]

Currently on SRAM APEX.

I think I read that the Hope had better protection from the elements (than standard), that work out in reality ?

The Hope has lasted about 8,000 miles so far with no problems.
On the other cheaper side of the coin
I did about 14,000 commuting miles on a 105BB with no problems either. (I sold the bike)

 

[oldgreyandslow]

If its a SRAM GXP then I thoroughly recommend the Angletech one at £49.99
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/index.php?cPath=23

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If its a SRAM GXP then I thoroughly recommend the Angletech one at £49.99
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/index.php?cPath=23

The customer reviews are a little underwhelming. I've just ordered a Hope, with converters, as a replacement for a GXP. I guess the GXP BB is regarded as much of a consumable as tyres and chains and brake pads. So much for progress, remind me what was wrong with square taper?

 

[RhythMick]

The customer reviews are a little underwhelming. I've just ordered a Hope, with converters, as a replacement for a GXP. I guess the GXP BB is regarded as much of a consumable as tyres and chains and brake pads. So much for progress, remind me what was wrong with square taper?

Let me know how you get on with the Hope.

The Chris King (if I read it right) can be used with either Shimano or GXP because it has a removable washer which forms the step. I think the Hope is specifically made for GXP so you can't later covert to Shimano cranks - but it may reduce wear because it doesn't have any spacers or washers.

Or I could have it wrong ...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Let me know how you get on with the Hope.

The Chris King (if I read it right) can be used with either Shimano or GXP because it has a removable washer which forms the step. I think the Hope is specifically made for GXP so you can't later covert to Shimano cranks - but it may reduce wear because it doesn't have any spacers or washers.

Or I could have it wrong ...

Speaking from an mtb perspective....

To use a Hope with GXP crankset you need to buy two little steel adapters that sit in the NDS bearing, out of the box a Hope won't work with GXP. I understood CK was the same. The Chris King website says

"COMPATIBILITY
We offer our bottom bracket cups in combination with a plastic center sleeve and three anodized 2.5mm chainline spacers for 24mm crank axle systems such as Shimano Hollowtech II. Only 108 grams.
Also available is the SRAM-compatible 24mm stepped axle configuration. The stepped axle Chris King bottom bracket makes use of a fit kit to match the crank axle to our standard cups and bearings but without use of chainline spacers. 125 grams."

 

[RhythMick]

Well after another disappointingly short time on gxp bb before play in the bearings I've decided to go with the Chris King. What persuaded me was a video showing the injector making it super easy to push new grease in, displacing the old. Will feedback after I've fitted.

Will get the LBS to chase and face before fitting it.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I have run the chris king bb before, they are reasonable but by no means superior to anything else available, they are no more waterproof and in fact because they run smoother than normal bearings the slightest bit of grit is noticeable. Im currently running ceramic speed bb which I like as much

 

[accountantpete]

Well worth the money.

When mounting the bike you only have to give the pedal a very very slight tap and the crank spins right round into position ready to clip in.

It looks really professional to onlookers and girls will swoon at your feet.

Otherwise I can't honestly feel any difference from normal bearings.

 

[RhythMick]

Well, it's on. I'm not expecting to otice any difference. However I AM looking forward to giving it a quick squeeze of fresh grease every few months, rather than the painful replacement bearings or cups.

 

[Norry1]

Well, it's on. I'm not expecting to otice any difference. However I AM looking forward to giving it a quick squeeze of fresh grease every few months, rather than the painful replacement bearings or cups.

Is that what you are meant to do? I've never touched a BB