Last year I joined the 21st century and got an xt chainset and matching bottom bracket with external bearings. It now creaks. My square taper xt is god knows how old and still going good.
Is there a top notch bb or are they all rubbish?
Hope
Hope + 1
XT BB, if fitted right, lasts very well (you can buy 4 for the cost of one Hope, and they'll outlast the Hope by a long way) The main difference is Hope are more resistant to overtightening, Shimano don't like it at all.
Gamut's EXT24 is a good middle ground- lasts almost as well as Hope, costs half as much, comes in pretty colours.
Hope for me
Mine is about to enter winter number four
Hope it is then. Is ceramic worth the extra?
I picked up a S/H King for £35. LBS purged new grease into it for £7. Literally took 5 mins. (Cups off the bike though, obviously, but can be done in situ). Figured at that price its not worth buying the tools.
A year later its still silky smooth, & its used all year round.