is the Hope stainless worth the extra cost over the Shimano?

Yes.

XTR ones are good. No experience of XT though

Not to me.

I have some old shimano cups, do you want me to see if I can convert them to run standard INA bearings plus a set of nylon bushes ❓

Then you can simply recondition your existing shimano BB’s

I’d say Hope are worth it. They last maybe 4 or 5 times longer than Shimano for me.

Hope bb has outlasted XTR and XT by a significant margin (found little difference between XTR and XT in terms of ‘life’), my ‘experimenting is over’ – i will go for Hope from now on.

I run hope BB cups and the same kind of bearings but it costs me very little to replace them.

The set in my raceface cubs have lasted a good 12 months so far and are still in very good condition.

Shop around you’ll find something that will last.

The King one had a good report after a years use, in the STW mag.

my shimano one lasted a year, with a lot of use, my hope one lasted 2 months, though to be fair to hope, they did replace the bearing and cup for free, so i’ll see how long it lasts this time.

Just buy an Acros one, 2 year warranty and turns the BB into a fit and forget item.

Yes. They come in a full range of colours.

What more do you want?

BETD will give them a nice once over:

Here:

I got the tipoff from here – XTR for £16.95 plus carraige. Still a bargain after the £5.95 and you get a nice free bowl with your first order! Should have got one for spares.

Low stock right now, but they’ll be back:

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:274227

IMO, yes. I went through so many XT’s & deores and since then, hope has been fit and forget. No stiff bearings after a muddy ride, no ditching after 3-6 months. just keeps working!

The Hope also appears to me to be more free running – spin the cranks with no chain on the rings, and they just keep going and going!

oh, and they look very nice too 🙂

I thought SLX, XT and STR were identical bar the colour, with just the cheaper deore being mechanically different?

Buy a cheap BB and replace the bearings when they die with either same size and re-use the top caps, or the larger Enduro style ones that run direct onto the axle.