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...is how long my BB has lasted! Unbeliveable!
I had read that they were possibily the worst of them all but thats really crap.
It came as standard on my Orange 5 Pro which was new in early August and hasn't been near a jet wash, just ridden through a typical british autumn!
So, my question is...what to replace it with?
Are the Hope BB's worth a shot?
What has anyone else replaced their's with?
Mine still runs smooth after 3 years, probably cursed it now!
Shimano have lasted much longer than RF for me.
hope ceramic FTW
Raceface 3 month for me. Shimano usually last me about 9 month. Now running a hope BB, been on the bike about 12 month now and still running fine. Only time will tell as to how good it is. CK, not tried one.
6months on my hope stainless, getting a bit of creaking now.
spoke to the hope team they didnt recommend replacing bearings with ceramics for use over the winter?
im pretty heavy though so im happy with hope...
This should be a "sticky" topic, this is the 3rd external BB thread in as many days.
New bearings a fiver a pair off fleabay. 6805 2RS. Tap out the tophats and old bearings, freeze the new ones to aid refitting. Considerably cheaper than any other alternative.
3 months from an RF is good going if you ride regularly, their max compliment idea is pony (in this application) as it gives the dirt nowhere to go.
Hope ceramic, now on its 2nd bike - circa 3k
Munque - could you provide a link for the above?
Thanks,
Nick.
Mine lasted 10 months, with a good clean and liberal dose of de-watering solution after every ride.
Repalced it with a Pro-lite Stainless on, £30 all in and it's proper smooth 😀
nick, a link to what?
prior threads? (and no offence waas intended, external BB's clearly have issues and the weather we're having is killing them).
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/xt-hollowtech-2-bb
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/race-face-x-type-bottom-brackets
or bearings? I went for cheapo generic branded from a UK-based ebayer as an experiment, rather than paying £15 upwards for SKF and other branded (if you wreck the tophats you havent lost too much).
http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/GAP-Bearings__W0QQ_sidZ52320147?_nkw=6805+2rs&submit=Search
at least as good as the original fitted bearings in shimano, and way better than the RF ones. A bit of patience and tapping got the tophats out in one piece, a bit of less subtle tapping got the bearings out. Freeze the new ones and they should push in without too much difficulty (stick a bit of grease or copper ease to help things along) and then push the top hats in. An older thread had a link to a step by step photo guide, but the one I used to refer to has died.
Anything except RaceFace. Their cranks don't last long either in my experience.
Thanks.
Wasn't aware there was a limit on threads with the same topic 😉
I had a R/F go after 4 months in the Summer .Contacted them they say their new team version is redesigned with better seals .I didn't fancy being a guinea pig so went with Hope .
we sell orange bikes at our shop and the upgrades i tell everyone are a must are the bb (go hope) and the maxle swing arm. the rest of the finishing kit is pretty good. the performance pack is worth a look. but number one on the list every time has to be the bb the race face ones are really very very bad. hope have nailed it, i was even moaning to the silverfish rep about the raceface bb and he told me they were just going to copy hope for the next generation. its a shame really cos the rest of the kit they make is top notch. the atlas freeride cranks are amazing. so one more time go hope.
joe x x
shimano has lasted me 4 months, but im replacing the bearings with much higher quality ones, should make a nice change.
14 months. 3 months is bad.
Had RF with my oranges.
I have nothing but utter contempt for them.
They might as well sell you a bike with no BB really.
I got [b]one[/b] ride out a factory fitted set. I guess a fluke but all the others have never gone beyond 3 months.
I've never had problems with the cranks, but not really a lot to go wrong there hey?
I would never buy a bike with them on.
Mine only lasted a couple of weeks and Orange changed it
There total crap.
1 year in and changed it for an Hope S/Steel now FAB
Even the rings are soft and lose teeth on my middle ring
on my third one under two years
Hope should make Cranks too
Mine lasted 2 months
the bike shop I bought it from were going to give me a warranty replacement but didnt have it in stock so asked if I wanted shimano xt instead including crankset as the other crankset was race face
shimano still going strong 3 years later
RF BB's are poor, 3 months (HT) and 6 months (FS) for mine, both were replaced with Hope BB's - 15 months going strong (HT) and 6 months going strong (FS). Have a look at their site for cleaning / replacing bearings.
Worst external BB so far are the S*perstar ones my mate had, 3 rides and failed / replaced, then 1 ride and failed. Apparently he now has to prove a load of details about torque settings, facing of BB shell, that his tools meet the correct standards etc before he can get a refund.
The new Hope BB he's got is silent and smooth with no problems 10 rides in.....
You'd think the cranks had little to go wrong... The axle interface wore out quickly on mine resulting in some very bling landfill.
🙁
S'funny, Shimano external BBs last me 18 months, fairly consistantly.
The older octalink cartridge types would last me... ..about 18 months too, but considering the former are half the price, I still think its not too bad.