SKF BXC600 Bottom Brackets. Any Reviews?

Steve makin tested one of these in the Grinder section of the mag back in issue 28. He said he’s comment on how it fared after more use, but I didnt spot any update.

Anybody used one and got any comments.

Im considering going isis after recent problems with my square taper on Middleburn arms.

I’ve been running SKF bottom bracket with Isis middleburn for 6 months. No probs to report.

Thanks poggs

Anybody else?

What problem did you get with the square taper system? I’m just about to change to Middleburn/Hope after no end of trouble with ISIS combos (not tried SKF but just about everyting else)

The tapers are shot. Either by me not keeping the nuts tight enough (on one ride the ND side came loose) or by keeping them too tight and the tapers compressing. Dunno exactly, but Ive lost confidence in square taper and I know that isis bb’s dont seem as reliable, but the SKF ‘seems’ better.

I’ve run the BXC300 for 18 months (Its pretty much the same as the 600 but chro-moly axle and casing – same bearings and seals). It was really good, but then died. SKF claim to design them to a life of 10 years and they’re warrantied for 2, so I’ve sent it back to Pace to be replaced….

In the meantime I’m running another RaceFace one I got in the flood sale from CRC. The last Raceface one I had only lasted 3 months.

Thanks ir_bandito

Good to read a ‘real world’ review.

I must confess reading the blurb has me convinced its the way to go, but like I say, there are very few punter comments about.

Cheers

The ISIS system is rubbish for two reasons:

1) Bearing balls are far too small, so BB’s fail prematurely.

2) There’s no proper wedging action in the crank to axle inetrface, so perfect machining of the crank and axle are vital. Manufacturers do not usually make anything 100% perfect. If the crank bore has machined undersize and the BB oversize, then you’ll get a nice tight fit and it’ll be fine. If it happes to be the other way then one or other of the cranks will loosen on a ride. Once ridden loose the bores open up and they’re scrap.

I’ve had loads of trouble with ISIS, and am going back to good old square taper. I’ve knackered FSA, Truvative, FRM. Of all the BB units I’ve been used, only SKF seems to last. My SKF 600 has expensive CNC machined FRM crank arms fitted, which have been affixed with epoxy resin since new to stop them creaking.

ISIS is rubbish!

Thats my conclusion after using RF, Bonty, Truv Cranks & BBs in every combo possible with the same result – creaking after half a dozen rides.
I like the idea of a quality bearing maker like SKF addressing the problem of bearing longevity but the ISIS interface is a poor design – an engineering lecturer told me that its to do with flexing at different rates of the mating faces of the curved parts of the crank/BB interface, the two materials flex differently with the varying load of pedaling. apparently this dosen’t happen when that interface is flat.

150 years of bicycle development, and the best technolgy available today still can’t successfully mate a crank arm to a BB axle. No sytem is perfect, but square taper is the least trouble – and cheapie UN54 BB’s last for years.

SKF ISIS bottom brackets have been on some of my bikes for a couple of years plus and no problems ever. With Middleburn cranks, when I forgot I’d removed the bolts, there was no play for many a mile. Get some!

Thanks for your comments people.

Dunno if its helped me, but it all good to know 🙂

Been running BXC450 for just over 2 years and it has just started to develop some play in it, this has been used probably on average only once a week on a hardtail (some of the time set up as a SS). Was expecting it to last longer!

My SKF BXC600 has been great with Middleburns on both hardtail and susser, I have had no issues to date running in Cannock Paste and the peaks and jet washing (high pressure) after every ride., grease liberally, be careful fitting he cranks to it, observe crank manufacturer torques for the crank bolts (which feel a bit scary to me when cranking up). I have not creaking or anything, but only time will tell

I run a BFR600, it has the slightly thicker spindle. Seems to be fine to me after 2 years use and minimal maintenance…