[Closed] superstar components

bottom bracket i ordered lasted about 5 rides.

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in my experience you are better off spending a couple of quid more getting enduro bearings fitted to your old cups.

I know people who've neen running them successfully for a while through winter.

It's a bit marmite, some people love them, some hate them. Got a lot of bad press about the brake pad issue which was resolved IIRC and some stuff over on MLEH involving a rock.

If it was my money I'd go for them, but Id ask for a discount cause I know the owner.

I still use some of the kit, headset being going strong for nearly 2 years now.

I don't have a Superstar vendetta but was disappointed my Superstar BB lasted less than 6 months of light use. I didn't buy another one.

I've used an SSC IRB ISIS BB for over a year & its still smooth (its outlasted every other ISIS BB I've tried)
I not willing to chance thier [s]octopus[/s] brake pads though!

right, after three, everyone run away screaming.

the one i'm after is the htII shimano compatible and it's a choice of this for £20 or going to merlin and paying £37 for an xt one unless anyone has any other offerings.

Even the screaming octopus says go to merlin

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iirc the one in themag test actually failed after 2 rides they have aterrible reputation (done to death on here hence the postings)
I would not fit one if it was given to me
The brake pads were poor initially but are OK now or mine are so not anti Superstar
Their customer service is also legendary for just how bad it is.

Had no problems with their pads so far and certainly not for the price.

For £20 buy it, try it & when they go, replace the bearings with quality ones (I've just found top spec SKF's for less than £12 a pair)

where are these top spec skfs for £12?

I've been using one of the BB's on my singlespeed since last october through months of cannock winter kit eating slop with no problems at all
(at least 60 miles a week). I've also got one of their isis BB's mated to a midleburn duo set on my xc race bike that's lasted longer than a crank brothers one.

I think there may be a lot of snobbery and folks believing bad press in magazines and forums, rather than personal experience. I'd go for it.....if you don't like it, then at least you make future judgements based on experience.

I bought one of the £20 HT2 BB's. No sign of play after 18 months. I'm sure some people here must be retarded and fitting them wrong?

where are these top spec skfs for £12?

I can get big discounts from one of our suppliers at work.

i think i might be missing something here, is it possible to just replace the bearings instead of the whole bearing and cup assembly if so do i just need to remove the cups from the frame and remove the bearings from them and then refit new bearings or is it better to get a shop to do it.

I'm sure some people here must be retarded and fitting them wrong?

Not sure I am allowed to laugh at that comment (PC filter and all that). Mine seized almost solid after about 3 months. The three other BB's (all XT)I have fitted have lasted 1 yr+. It is possible I had a "retarded" moment fitting that particular BB though 😉

Pointless question to ask here, as the regulars are also the same people who hate superstar....

Ask somewhere else and get a better opinion.

turnip - thats like asking a question til you get the answer you want to hear.... surely thats not going to be the right thing to do.

the reason no-one likes the kit is that it plain doesn't work... i think wherever you asked the same would be true, its not just STW people who have had problems.

don't buy ss or shimano, you can't get spares. go with something like acros or even raceface (not sure if they are a standard bearing) that you can easily get spares for.

Most people use 6805 bearings which just press in. They dont last long because they are too low a profile bearing and have tiny balls. Hope and enduro make thicker section bearings by getting rid of the top hat bush, which makes the bearings last longer. But when they seize they cut into your axle and write off your cranks, its your choice!

Basically HT11 is the problem, so just change your bearings its easy to do.

Pointless question to ask here, as the regulars are also the same people who hate superstar....

This is the first time I have posted anything less than favourable about SSC. Or anything resembling an octopus.

Their brake pads are fine (errr, well 9 of the 10 so far anyway but i would still buy more) and the aerozine headset i have is well nice! And reliable too. But when you can post your bb cups to betd and get fantastic long lasting bearings (and really good seals) fitted and sent back to you for about £4 more than a new ssc one, i think its a bit of a no-brainer.
And yes my ssc bb lasted about eight muddy rides cleaned with a bucket and brush, whereas my shimano one lasted two winters. My mate's lasted 3 muddy rides but he has poor bike hygiene.

I've just spunked out £160 on one of their uppy downy seatposts. Forty minutes into it's maiden ride and there are huge scores in the anodising. I'm thinking that there should be adequate wiper seals to stop that, so I contact Octopron. I'm told that this is a "known issue" and they'll warranty it. Errrr if it's a known issue, why are you selling them ?

I had to make a 60 mile round trip to collect the first post because their muppet courier couldn't be arsed to find my house - twice. I told Octopron about the problem so who did they send the warranty return out with ? Yes the same couriers. I've just had to make the same 60 mile round trip to collect the new post as he couldn't be arsed to find my house again.

So after spending £160, I've managed 40 mins riding, spent £15 on fuel and two hours in the car and £4 in postage sending the shonky goods back. When I phoned Octopron and asked if there was anything they would like to do for their part in treating me like a prize twunt, I was told that there was nothing they could do and the couriers had never been a problem before. See, it was my fault all along. Yes, my fault for buying Octopron. 😈

Time for a swift G&T.

Buy some, fit them correctly and then wash them carefully with a brush and not a jetwash.

The bearings will either collapse or sieze (my first set siezed, the second collapsed) within 2 months and then the lovely people at pooperstar will tell you that it's your fault because you fitted them wrong and you jet washed them.

A disaster area. Don't do it. RaceFace ones aren't a great deal better, Shimano are still the best under £50.

Some Superstar stuff is pretty decent, but I won't touch anything of theirs with a bearing in til I start hearing some good things and stop hearing horror stories. But I've used their pads and quick releases no problem, and bought some bits from tibolts which is the same company with a different sticker on it, all fine, and very good service from them too- good communications and fast delivery.

I've used their pads and headsets. I wouldn't say I've had no problem with the pads, but no issue that I haven't had with other pads too, and SS sent me replacements for the ones that failed.

I bought more, and will continue to do so.

I bought a Superstar carbon seatpost for my road bike. On the second ride after fitting it my chain snapped! First time I've snapped a chain on a road bike. Must be related...

(As it happens, seatpost is very light, seems well finished (although a little of the lacquer appears to have flaked off where it's inserted into the frame) and was a real bargain. Looks remarkably similar to the 3T carbon post costing 4 times as much).

I bought a Superstar carbon seatpost

Now that's bravery.

The SSC HTII BB on my mountain bike lasted 1.5 rides. I'd have been happier if it had lasted 1 ride, as it collapsed halfway through the 2nd ride. The one on my road bike is still going strong, though I am acutely embarrassed that it's on there.

Their titanium bolts were very light, but then anything made out of cottage cheese would have been. The customer service (in the broadest sense of the word) that I have received was a touch unpleasant, seemed more about aportioning blame rather than retaining a customer and rather riled me.

But then I've said all this before.

Had pads, 1st ones sh** later ones great. Headset still going strong. Lasted better than my Cane Creek one so far and it was 1/3 price. It was cheap one. Bearings look the same, have same number on them and can't fault it. Got a Shimano HT bb. Original bearings were toss. SS ones were better but the whole system is flamin useless. You can easily get bearing tho from a factors. They are the the same as Shimano so you could just replace those. Just pop them out and ignore the Shimano crap about not serviceing them

Carbon seatpost is fine. You can find the same ones online for twice the price if it makes you feel any better.

I have a (non-SSC supplied) Aerozine headset on the Ti bike and reckon it's just about getting near to replacement - that's about 18 months.

Too many bad stories about their pads and BB/cranksets though.

My SSC BB lasted 6 months (I must be lucky) but normally get ~ 2 years out of a Shimano one so not really a good way to save money. pretty colour though

Trailmonkey why you blaming a crap courier on ss? Thats just silly. Fair enough you had issues with the post tho.

My first ht2 bb was a superstar one. Not impressed. Didnt last the winter, but my 2nd hand xt one is still fine. Planning on reusing the cups from the ss one and popping some new bearings in there.

Like snaps I have fitted an SS ISIS BB. Best I've had (I realise that isn't saying much).

Trailmonkey why you blaming a crap courier on ss? Thats just silly.

Because I told Octopron that there was a problem with the couriers first time around. All they had to do was either use a decent courier or put my phone number(which they had) on the package label and the courier would have had no excuse to claim that he could not find the address.
If a company claims free p&p then as far as I'm concerned, that's part of the price you pay for the goods. I'd say that they've got a fair amount of responsibility in getting the goods to you. Octopron have a choice who they choose to employ for their courier services. Using a company who have already proven that they can't deliver is shirking that responsibility

I bought a Superstar carbon seatpost

Now that's bravery.

After a few month's testing on my roadbike, I've got a second one waiting to be fitted to my hard tail.

Any carbon fibre splinters up the @rse will be reported!

One of my SS cups has just seized after a wash. Nowt will shift it.
Its only done about 200 miles.
It arrived with a missing spacer initially so I couldn't fit it.
Don't think I'll bother again.

I bought some superstar pads and after ONE ride I got made redundant, the roof on my shed started leaking, the cat got pregnant and the world economy went into recession. I emailed a complaint to superstar and they did nothing what is the world coming to something should be done I will write to my MP

buy what you want.

i wont ever buy anything from that company. ever.

its just not worth it.

[/snob]

Your MP won't help, he gets Hope BBs on expenses.

Ceramic superstar BB has lasted me 13 months and still going. No play but does feel a little "old" now. My record with Shmano, Race Face and GXP is 3 months so I have got 2 ceramic SS BBs waiting in case of a failure. One for each bike. If I knew how to fit an Octolink I would probably go for one of them. They seem a better designed system.

SS ceramic BB last about a year for me to (although not very hard use), just replaced it with a Hope one to see what they're like.
Had lots of failed SS pads ages ago and swore I'd never buy any more but just have so I'm hoping all the delaminating problems are well and truly sorted :p

Had no problems with their pads so far and certainly not for the price.

They certainly do last. Ive taken mine off as they proved too 'grabby'/powerful- it felt like my Shimano brakes were Hayes Nines with them on.

I had some horrific problems with their orgainc brake pads falling apart early on, but the sintereds are brilliant. Better than OEM Shimano I reckon.
I had one of the ceramic BBs on my Yeti. It did 350 miles of last years sodden TransWales, spending a LOT of time immnersed in rivers (Yes really), 2ft deep puddles and horizontal lashing rain without complaint. When I got home I checked it and found the bearings felt dry. It's easy to pop off the seals and regrease, and after that it felt like brand new. I guess I did getting on for 1000 miles on it all told, and it was fine when I sold the bike.
I've got a standard £20 one on my SS, which again needed regreasing, but it's still pretty good after last 'summer'....

Used a SS ceramic BB for about 9 months. Not a single problem. I did re-grease it after 6 months as regular maintainance. Can't say there was much grease in there. No problems with their brakepads either.

I notice Neil from superstar doesn't seem to post on STW anymore (or does he???)

Bought a few sets of brakepads, they have been fine and are mega-cheap. Also got two sets of flat pedals, which seem pretty good. Service has always been good too, very fast delivery.

I was running the £20 BB unit for about 5 months before selling the bike to a mate...was running perfectly well through at time and had sat in some pubbles of water so did get a good soaking...seemed to work, I'd go for it...even if it does only last 3 months - it's the same time other companies BB's last...

It's the same time other companies BB's last

Slightly OT- how long should a BB last? I was thinking min. 6months

*insert piece of string here*

Slightly OT- how long should a BB last

Well I've got a Crank Bros Cobalt which has a 5 year warranty, so, 5 years I guess.

Superstar stuff seems to last fine with me. I have the HTII ceramic BB and it is superb. And the pads I had lasted really well - no issues. I'll be keeping buying from them - good value - its just that a lot of people on here hold a grudge due to some initial problems with some of their kit - particularly pads. Neil has worked hard to sort problems and I think their stuff is great quality. My BB has lasted a lot longer than my original shimano XT for example... and my pads were better than the shimano xtr ones until I spilled brake fluid all over them - D'oh!

Just make sure your boyfriend is a mechanical engineer 😛

i've worked in manufacturing and am in a customer facing role now. problems occur with production, it happens, even to the best of companies, but as a distributor or manufacturer, how you resolve problems is what counts.
Neil rightly got upset when some people behaved like nobs towards him, however he proceeded not only to wash his dirty linen in public, but went on to further rant about 'bad customers' in what i guess he thought was a humorous manner. unfortunately he just left me with the impression that he was a complete pr1ck and a resolve never to spend any money with him.
a far as i can tell his best business move so far was to not come back on the forum after the outage at xmas. at least he can't alienate anyone else without having to go to the trouble of selling them something first.

My standard SS BB is about 1 year old now. Still perfect.

Mind you, if you fit it with a rock, then you can't expect it to last long.....

Actually, I did notice that when installing that you have to put the cups in in the correct order or the internal sleeve doesn't seal (as it has no lip at one end to stop it sliding too far into the cup, presumably for different shell widths). I guess if you didn't pay much attention and put them in in the wrong order than it might not last long....

For the same reasons as Del I don't thin I could buy anything from fruit. Shame, as some of the stuff looks OK.

Oh dear glenh I hope your wearing an asbestos suit cos your gonna get flamed

does anyone make shimano style cartridge bearings? No idea what the technical term is but mine arent normal cartriges you get in hope hubs etc, more like cup'n'cone, there isn't an outside edge to the outer race if that makes any sense? Guess it leaves a lot ,more space for bearings.

I dont understand all you people having probs with HTII BBs, mine has been in since HTII was first released, ridden through lakes, left it coated in mud, jet washed it - no problems here, still span fairly smoothly (as good as any square taper ever did after the same length of use) until last week when it finally died in a graunchy crunchy manner. I didnt face the frame for it, I didn't take special care of it.

What is the usual failure mode - race damage? Seal failure? Ball damage?

idiots who dont read the instructions is apparantly the failire mode im told

What is the usual failure mode - race damage? Seal failure? Ball damage?

Whining-STW-I-hate-it-because-it's-not-my-niche-damage I think you'll find
😉

I am not against Superstar in any way. In fact, I buy all my brake pads from them and have had no problems so far (touch wood). If I listened to everything on STW without having my own opinion, I would never have bought them. Most of my friends use them too.

However, I bought a BB from them - think it was SKF one, and that's sweet. However, their own was pretty funned after only a few rides so I wouldn't get another. I also bought a headset, which lasted the same time.

You live and learn, I'm not against Superstar and for certain products, I really like them. It's like everything else though - I use Shimano and generally rate it (apart from the inbuilt wear factor) but I prefer to buy SRAM or KMC chains.

Sounds like you get what you pay for...

Eh? why resurrect a 1 year old thread?

well if you are going to raise it from the dead, my superstar ISIS BB is still rolling smoothly from 2008, which is, um, some decent number of times more than the race face one that died in a couple of months. I had a shimano square taper last about 8 years once so its looking good for the superstar!