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I need a new BB for my Stooge. Is there any point straying from the usual cheap Shimano BB?
I went for a Nukeproof Horizon previously so I could replace the bearings but with my ham fisted-ness and cups that are made from the softest aluminium ever that ship has sailed ;-). I have some brand new bearings that would fit something but not sure what.
Is it worth buying a Hope BB?
There's Uberbike if you want to support a UK brand/add some colour, for a little more money than Shimano and a lot less than Hope
Also has replaceable bearings, I think, and my previous one lasted well
Shimano XT is generally the correct answer.
But currently I'd buy 3 or 4 of these from Merlin for £8.50 - they'll probably last nearly as long.
Yeah, there's other decent options but XT level is both good and inexpensive which makes most other BBs pretty much pointless. The 501 is ime better than older low-end Shimano but still doesn't last as well as XT ime, but at that price ajantom quoted you can't really go wrong tbh.
Hope is imo only really a good option for axle standards that don't have good "native" products, the cost/benefit just doesn't make any sense otherwise but if the OEM options are something rubbish like sram, or a doesn't-really-work-well standard like 30mm screw-in then it can work out great. (also, having the axle run direct on the bearings can go badly)
Hope is imo only really a good option for axle standards that don’t have good “native” products, the cost/benefit just doesn’t make any sense otherwise
The Hope ceramic BB I've on my Cotic says otherwise - originally bought in 2007 for my Spesh Enduro, then moved onto a 456Ti where it did nearly 10k miles and then onto the Cotic when I swapped to shorter cranks during Covid.
#TopValue
There’s Uberbike if you want to support a UK brand/add some colour, for a little more money than Shimano and a lot less than Hope
In as much as Shimano (Madison) is a UK brand.
The reason Hope and Rideworks cost more is because they actually make them, at that price Uberbike clearly aren't.
Hope definitely worth it over Shimano XT/XTR.
Chris King seem indestructible but worth the extra over Hope? Not sure
I've always used XT whevever I've needed to replace an OEM BB. Never had any problems, they seem to last forever.
Despite what the instructions tell you, you can maintain them. Just pop the bearing cover off, flush it out and regrease every few years.
Only thing that would sway me away from them would be ceramic bearings but given how well they seem to last (on my MTB), I'm not sure I can see the point.
here’s Uberbike if you want to support a UK brand/add some colour, for a little more money than Shimano and a lot less than Hope
In as much as Shimano (Madison) is a UK brand.
The reason Hope and Rideworks cost more is because they actually make them, at that price Uberbike clearly aren’t.
Fair enough, I knew Uberbike has some UK manufacturing going on, but looking now it doesn't include their BBs.
https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/category/488/Made-In-Sheffield-UK-Range
I've got a Hope Ceramic HT2 BB on mini-DBW #0001's Alpine (he's had it coming up to 3 years and it was my bike before that for about 4 years) and its still absolutely perfect. Previous Shimano ones I've had last a year or so before they're binned.
Went Hope again on my current main bike when I changed from XTR HT2 to 30mm.
You could try A gusset ext24. 25quid with replaceable bearings. Mine lasted ages before needing work. Top hats are a problem but uberbike sell ones that fit. Maybe same bb?
I'd always say Chris King. The one part that is guaranteed to be transferred from bike to bike (until I bought an ebike). My current Chris King BB is about 12 years old and is on its third bike. Really well made, great support, stays lovely and smooth as long as you grease it (I do a full pivot, headset, and BB grease every 3 months).
Shimano XT +1, I'm not 100% sure Hope aren't better value in the long run but ~£25 is about my threshold for it lasting long enough that I don't feel aggrieved when it fails Vs not baulking at the upfront cost.
Chris King seem indestructible but worth the extra over Hope? Not sure
I killed one, but I didn't own the grease gun. The axle/inner race corroded together so when I removed the cranks it pulled the bearing apart.
Shimano XT and a correctly faced BB shell. One on my stumpy has over 4000miles on it.
Never keen having a hard steel shaft sitting on steel bearings, even worse with aluminium, as there will be fretting/wear
(I do a full pivot, headset, and BB grease every 3 months).
Wow. I'd hope any BB would last for years with that care and attention.
Wow. I’d hope any BB would last for years with that care and attention.
Depends on the bike I guess.
If it's a Santa Cruz or Turner with the grease fittings, then maybe (and CK BB's had a special tool).
Picking the seals off cartridge bearings though I'm not convinced it's worth the effort / reward.
It takes time, you never get them really clean, the risk of damaging the seals. IMO it's better just to accept they wear out and need replacing periodically.
Headset I drop the fork and clean out the space between the outer seal / cup and bearings periodically and pack it with grease. The bearings themselves I leave alone until they need replacing.
The BB is the only XTR item on my bike, the rest is SLX, they last ages and stay smooth spinning: £30 @ BikeTart
Bottom line for me is just that shimano got better over the last 10 years, while Hope got expensiver for the same product. You can get 4-5 genuine XTs or 10 of the cheaper ones for the price of a single stainless steel Hope, for most people the Shimanos will last longer but also a bunch of times will outlast the crank or the bike, and of course it's not a single upfront cost.
And Hope bearings got expensive too, it's £40 for a pair of genuine ones now. Course, you can buy cheaper ones but that starts to get away from the point of Hope in the first place, I have a set of MCR ones in mine now cos they're literally 25% the price but they haven't lasted as well as either Hope or for that matter an XT bottom bracket.
That escalated more than I thought it would, thanks for the input!
I've always just bought Shimano and not really had any complaints, I just wondered if I was missing something especially with regards replaceable bearings.
Anyway, at £8.50 a pop I've bought a few of those cheap BB's from Merlin...not great if you're thinking sustainability but can't ignore it at that price