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I'm about to replace the press fit BB on my 2011 Zesty & can't decide whether to get a cheapy FSA (£30) & the tools to DIY, I can then replace as necessary going forward or get the new Hope (£95 fitted at LBS, they have the specific Hope tool)which should only require new bearings once in a blue moon.
Any thoughts ??
I'd go Hope. I replaced the original BB at the start of the year (2011 bike) with a FSA one and one side is already feeling rough. I'm going to try and clean it out and re-grease it but after having a normal Hope BB before, i'd go for that.
On my second Shimano BB in my Zesty, only because Hope hadn't done one at the time I needed to replace the first failure. Next replacement will be a "fit and forget" from Hope (fingers crossed it wil last better than OEM and more to the point as long as I am expecting...)
My 2011 is on its 3rd BB now, the original shimano lasted a few months and the 2 FSA replacements have lasted about a year each. I think they would've lasted longer if I'd popped the seals off and regreased them every now and then, and also stored the bike upside down after wet rides but I just never do.
I may consider the Hope next time, £95 fitted isn't too bad as the FSA are costing me £30 plus £10 fitting each time
Since, emptying out the seat tube without fail after every ride, I get a year and a half plus out of the Shimano ones, which is just as well as they are a complete pain to change.
I too up-end bike with saddle out after wet rides, washing etc & have managed to keep the original alive for 18 months but after hearing you're comments on the FSA & just having had a bonus at work think i'll treat her to the Hope, thank's for the replys.
I got over two years out of my stock shimano one, I replaced like for like. Headset is feeling a little rough now, any suggestions?
I went with a KCNC as a replacement for the Shimano one and it seems to be holding up ok, but we are only talking a couple of months. I'd prob go for a hope next time but when I was looking no one stocked them.
+1 for KCNC. It only has one seal between left and right hand cups (i.e. no crappy plastic sleeve like Shimano) and mine lasted a lot longer than the original Shimano. Mind you it wasn't difficult, cos it did only last for 3 rides.....
+1 for the kcnc. I went through two Fsa ones in about 6 months. Next will be a hope though. I replaced the stock headset with a hope one and its still going strong even after 15 months
replaced mine with an Enduro bottom bracket around christmas http://www.enduroforkseals.com/ and its still silky smooth, when the bearings wear out Ill just replace those. I recently bought the removal and a headset press to completely maintain it myself