I'm planning to buy a Hope BB. What is the practical difference between the steel and ceramic versions and what benefit would I get from buying the ceramic...if any?
Nope - My SS one has lasted many years so has my mates road one he uses for CX 🙂
Ceramic bearings are designed to be beneficial in high speed, high temperature environments... ie. not the low speed, low temperature, high load environment of a mountain bike.
Save the money you won't see a benefit.
Mind you, save the money and buy XT BB's for £12.75 each from Rose Bikes instead IMO!
TBH I think of Shim vs Hope BB analogous to Shim cup n'cone to Hope Carts - Service them every 3-4 months vs leave for 2 years then replace?
TBH I think of Shim vs Hope BB analogous to Shim cup n'cone to Hope Carts - Service them every 3-4 months vs leave for 2 years then replace?
Except that both BB's are running cartridge bearings, both have similar sealing, and both last a similar amount of time for most people, the defining factor seeming to be where you ride mainly and how much mud you expose them to... 😕
The thing is, IME Shimano are just a bit of a lottery. Some BBs last forever while others just fall apart and die. I don't wallow in mud, my riding is generally in the dry (i.e. Suffolk - a function of location and lack of rain) and when it does get muddy it isn't that bad.
I was rather hoping (excuse pun) that Hope would be more consistent plus you can replace the bearings.
Except that both BB's are running cartridge bearings,
Yes I know that I wasn't suggesting that I was suggesting that Shimano BB's benefit from regular servicing and cleaning rather than Hope would likely , on the whole, last longer between breakdowns as they have stainless bearings.
The main difference between hop and Shimano BB's (XT and below) is that they have Stainless bearings so don't suffer from rusting so badly.