Just sorting my bike out for tomorrows club ride and the $%^%@$% cranks are super hard to turn, bottom bracket is stiff. I've sprayed some lube around the area but I think it's sealed anyway.

Its a RaceFace Evolve XC chainset and BB, I guess it's done around 1,500 miles.

Is it a case of needing a new BB? It's not looking like I'll be out tomorrow 🙁

It's a common problem on R/F bb's.

Only surprise is that you've managed to get 1500 miles out of it!! 😯

Really, are they not good then?

Really, are they not good then?

You've had 1500 miles out of it, and now it's not good? Bit harsh.

No,not very,
I had one on my h/t a couple of years ago,seized up on the r/h side after a couple of months.Removed it from the frame & opened it up,(prized out the plastic top hat very carefully,as it can easily break,then flick out the seal).
The bearings inside are what they call 'full complement'bearings..i.e.they are packed tightly in with no 'cage'separating each bearing.As a result,imho,there isn't much room for the all important grease.
I currently run Shimano b/b's on my bikes,& so far have been trouble free.
I know a few on here really rate the Hope b/b's,but haven't used them myself.
HTH.

1500 miles???????????….mine lasted 3.5 months and maybe half that mileage, if that!

You got a good one.

I replaced mine with a Hope Ceramic BB, should last ALOT longer although that won't be hard.

megastream – Member

Really, are they not good then?

No….

managed to get 5 through warranty, just got fed up and fitted XT. Instead of RF lasting months the XT last over a year.

Ah ya had same problem..

Seized that bad was turning the cranks on the inner of the bottom bracket rather than the bb turning..

lasted about a month… tried once.. never again ;-/

Ha! My RF one lasted 2 weeks!!! You must have got one of their 'friday afternoon' ones. XT's good but I've found the XTR ones are amazing. I opened mine up after almost a year of riding 4-6 days a week and the drive side was spotless, NDS was needing greased.

Ah….These are in the hall of shame on mbtr for a good reason…they are rubbish, mine did 6 weeks and was completely fubared, the bearings were totally destroyed. Get a hope one…all good.

I am on my 5th one in two years, all replaced under warranty but once this one goes I will be replacing it with a hope ceramic, seems to be much better longer term.

Yep, I've seen a few seized in pretty short times. XT or Hope according to budget and you'll have good service life. My XT's heading for two years which is twice the time i used to get out of square taper Xts!

I had a RF unit several years ago that did that mid ride, just seized up. Eventually with large amounts of brute force, swearing and horrible creaky cracking noises I got it moving again but the cranks were rocking alarmingly in the BB shell.

Stripped the bike dwon when I got home and the BB axle had seized inside it's own shell then eventually it had split the shell in order to turn again. RF were fine about it, replaced it under warranty.

I've had RF ISIS BB's on 2 bikes and had 3 BB's replaced under warranty. One bike is still running RF (and it's doing very well), the other one is now on an FSA.

Just go to Superfly (NOT Superstar) and get an Enduro ceramic BB.

Everything will run smoothly after that.

Try this – FSA version (there is a cheaper $109 one though)