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I've only ever had threaded BBs, the Trek Fuel Ex has a PF, judging by the soec sheet its the lowest cheapest shimano OE version. Its a bit knackered now, quite clunky so will need replacing soon-ish.
I can see i need a BB92 / PF41 spec one. Shimano look like they do MT500 or MT800 which are plastic and unserviceable and I cant see any difference in except price. And Hope do a PF41 mega-priced but stainless steel with replaceable bearings.
Is there actually an advantage sticking with a plastic bb in a carbon frame?
Is the Hope steel and servicable long life worth 3 shimanos?
Any good mid priced alternatives that beat them both?
I won't even ask about how to remove and replace without the right tools (yet)
Take a look at threadfit bbs from wheelsmanufacturimg as an alternative
I use a wheels manufacturing threaded pushfit on my commencal. It's been faultless for 18 months but they aren't cheap right now.
I got lucky buying mine for £59.99 but it seems they are £100+ now. You also need a compatible tool to fit it.
Wheels Manufacturing BB86/92 Outboard ABEC-3 BB for 24mm (Shimano) Cranks - Black Black https://amzn.eu/d/guUGGaS
I won’t even ask about how to remove and replace without the right tools
Where are you dazzy ?
Is there actually an advantage sticking with a plastic bb in a carbon frame?
Yes, if the BB hole in the frame is misshapen, the plastic is soft enough to be able to deform to the shape while keeping the bearing in the right place. I wouldn't bother with metal replacements, IME they're not worth it. I use a DUB version of the same thing and get about the same lifespan out of it that you'd get from the equivalent standard BB
My last couple of bikes have been PF, one being the Fuel (and again now), and the Slayer. I got about a year out of both BBs, which for £24, i can live with. Sure it's 10-15 mins to swap it to a new one, but it's not a tricky job and they work fairly well IMO. I know people go on about BBs lasting 4 lifetimes... but really, for me, 1 year is perfectly acceptable for the punishment they get.
Had no issues with Shimano press fits. Run them on my winter hardtail and on my second in 7 years. <br /><br />
Knock them out (carefully) with a socket or screwdriver and press back in with a headset press. Easy to home make with a piece of threaded bar and large washers or pieces of wood. Mine uses the wee shelves from an old Ikea cd unit!
Just noticed the Hope bb requires a special Hope install tool, proprietary and specific to the bb. That’ll be an extra £50 please.
I've just replaced an RF one with one from Airbike that cost a tenner. Too early to say how good it is but for £10 I'm not going to cry if it doesn't last forever.
I have a Hope one, but I probably wouldn't bother again. <br /><br />I've found the bearing life better than the SRAM plastic BBs, but not massively so, which is disappointing considering the bearings cost more than the entire SRAM BB and you need to pay for extra tools on top (I bought a cheaper tool from ebay - but still wasn't free). <br /><br />I find changing a standard pressfit BB to be way faster and easier too, plus no worries about whether any given bikeshop will have the tool or not.
Lash an XT (M8000) one in there, they're better than the Deore (M5000) level ones, they spin round, last well enough (few thousand KM's) for what the £20 pay for them.
Lash an XT (M8000) one in there, they’re better than the Deore (M5000) level ones, they spin round, last well enough (few thousand KM’s) for what the £20 pay for them.
Just bought that one from BT. Second one in my 2017 Trek Stache, I don't think 2 in 6 years is bad. Especially as it's my winter bike which really does get used in the worst of the mud fest that is Epping in winter
I have both the Hope thread-together PF41 and PF46 - they have lasted well but i probably wouldnt bother again. The initial cost then the custom tool cost makes them a little too much. We also need to take the tool on trips abroad as cant be sure bike shops will have it.
Token ninja - in my experience they last longer and run better than standard press fit BBs and are cheaper than the wheel manufacturing kit.
ninja looks like a good design, but premium pricing again.
I can vouch for the token ninja as well. Very happy with the one I installed compared to the press fit it replaced.
Yes you’re right, needs a tool to adapt to a torque wrench. Otherwise it looks like the standard shimano threaded tool fits plus guessing the torque.
On a tangent I use GXP's on my winter bikes which see a lot of washing - every ride. I was finding I was getting through NDS bearings like Billy O as I do a lot of miles. I started using a rubber glove with the fingers cut off as a sleeve over the NDS crank and cable tied round the BB shell. Imagine a Johnny on the crank arm placed at 6 o'clock with the open end cable tied to the NDS BB shell...
My bearings are lasting ages now. In fact, the last one I changed was a DS bearing which gets done precisely NEVER. That's how infrequently...
Classy 🙂
Sorry, add 'whilst washing' to my glove/johnny ensemble up there^ Not whilst riding <shudders>
I have Hope on the cross bike, and the special tool. I haven’t noticed a great deal of difference compared to a much cheaper alternative. I don’t imagine they machine the actual bearings in Barnoldswick, so I just get replacements from Aire Velo Bearings.
Boblo, we need photos!
Here ya go. Happy to oblige 🙃 Covers the vulnerable NDS bearing during washing:
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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/TwFmkCMk/20231106-135612.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/TwFmkCMk/20231106-135612.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Replaced the standard press fit in my stump jumper with a wheels manufacturing BB (and a liberal helping of marine grease) over 3 years ago now, haven't needed to touch it since. Bike's used at least five days a week and rarely cleaned, BB as good as the day I fitted it.
I think it uses the standard Shimano type tools to fit if memory serves.