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Just deciding which bottom bracket replace an old worn race face external type. The options are:
Hope stainless £55
Hope ceramic £80ish
Chris King £80 (aspire velotech)
To complicate matters I am thinking that soonish I'll need a 2nd for another bike which might make buying the $50 CK grease tool an option to prolong bearing life and avoid replacing the hope bearings (£20 for stainless)Riding/ racing in peak grit and winter weather.
What are peoples opinions/ experiences so far?
Cheers,
Gareth
CK has been in mine since Easter regreased once*
So far its outlasted
Superstar (Bag of complete shite BB) 1 ride
Raceface 12 weeks
Shimano 8 weeks although my M970XTR is still going after 18 months.
Phil Wood 2 @ 4 months 1 @ 18months.
* To see how the tool worked as I was bored
Don't you love it when you ask "should I buy A or B?" and someone comes along and recommends C?
I've got a Token Tiramic BB from Wiggle: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Token_Tiramic_Bottom_Bracket/5360039115/
I've only had it since March so I can't comment on longevity, though it [i]is[/i] on my most ridden bike and I [i]have[/i] been all over the gritty Dark Peak on it. What I can comment on is how it spins (and spins and spins). I bunged it on the bike and gave the cranks a flick and they just went on and on. Like an old-style BB before HT2. And they still spin like that. Next time I need a set of cups on another bike I'll go for these again.
The only downside is the gold colour - doesn't go with any of my bikes. Sad, I know.
The trouble with the hope and ck is that they've only been around a short time so its difficult to see how they last for a year +. Being able to purge the grease in the CK must extend the lifespan of the bearings beyond 1-2 years?
My hope lasted 9 months.
My archos is still running after 2 years. Cheaper and with a far superior warranty too.
Acros stainless for me too. No problems as of yet.
I've two Hopes that were fitted over a year ago. Both still smooth.
CK - no brainer for me next time, after fitting shonky Hope headsets in the past which didn't last THAT long, and were getting close to CK prices. CK headset, 10 years still smooth. I would buy cheap Shimano or CK if I was thinking of upgrading - wouldn't consider Hope.
I have a hope that has been on way over a year. Still A1. No jet washing is the key. Much better sealed than the acros one I had.
All Acros BB's feature the same sealing regardless of bearing quality.
Unsponsored - i would be interested to know what your issues/thoughs are so we can pass them back to Acros.
After 3 years & 1500ish Acros BB's sold, we've had back approx 30 under warranty. All that were replaced. Still only seen 1 headset back in the same time & with roughly the same number sold!!
J
been using Hope stainless on 2 bikes for over a year... dead easy to re-lube the bearings, no need for special overpriced tool to pump grease in.. just prise off the plastic outer cover, then gently remove the bearing seal, before pumping in new grease, and refitting the covers.... couldn't be simpler. I ride all year round in the gritstone filled grinding paste producing peak district.. and no other BB has stood the test of time for me.
another vote here for the king.
Get the grease tool with it aswell though.
Much better than trying to pump grease into the bearing from the front and just pushing more shit in with it.
It's so easy to just drop the crank out and a couple of pums on the grease gun and your set to go again.
Have had a Hope steel one for 1 year and its just started to squeal...
my shimano lasted 18 months.
CK next for me i think
Just for the hell of it here's a pic.
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are the bearings easily replacable on the kings stu do you know
Mick, the bearings are press fit into the shell in the same way the headset bearings do. Back to CK to replace, but that shouldn't happen.
Very happy with my CK BB. Grease tool works very well. When i did regrease i did use rock 'n roll super web grease as the CK stuff seemed a little thin for uk conditions.
HTH
Pete
cheers fella
What grease gun are you using with the CK tool? sslowpace
Big Pete, King's little tool (as in Stu's pic) can be used with a standard grease gun (grease nipple supplied with the tool), or i believe it can be screwed directly to a grease gun (but not sure how).
Pete (standard size)
I have had a hope ceramic BB for about 2 years and has been on 3 different bikes in that time and its still going strong.
Just fit and forget.
singelspeedstu, did you need the CK installation tool to fit, or does the Shimano one work without damaging the anodising?
Pete(another) aka Woodsman