We've been making our own sealed bearings here at King for over 32 years and never has there been a component that benefited more from their strength and durability than the bottom bracket. Yes, the Chris King bottom bracket is here and ready to take on the most challenging conditions your cycling adventures can deliver. The Chris King bottom bracket is specifically designed for Shimano-compatible external type crank/bottom bracket systems and delivers every benefit you've come to expect from King and in the wide array of colors only King can do.
Weaknesses: This is my second set of Chris King BB, the first one started making noises in less than a year despite being serviced and despite the fact that I keep my Foes FXR 2:1 in top shape so I thought it was a case of a bad set so I bought a new one, well guess what, it is now the same way with less than a year on my bike so as much as I love Chris king (I have their hubs and headset on my bike) I would have to say that their BB are just disappointing and I would not recommend them. I just bought a set of the Hope Stainless Steel Bottom Bracket and I do hope that it will provide me with smooth and silent pedaling; something the Chris king just does not provide me any longer.
Bottom Line:
I am very disappointed with this BB, just not up to the Chris King standard and you should look elsewhere for a BB.
Bike Setup: 2011 Foes FXR 2:1, Sram XO, 2011 Fox Talas 36, Curnutt XTD Air, Mavic 825 Disc rims built around Chris King hubs, Chris King Headset, Rase Seatpost, and many other goods, the best money can buy
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Submitted by
beatfarmer
a Cross Country Rider
from Appleton, Maine
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2011
Strengths: smooth, quiet, easy to install, serviceable, blingy, and made in the USA.
Weaknesses: they released ceramic bearings the day after this one arrived :/
Bottom Line:
So the XT that was installed when I got my bike a few years ago finally froze up this season. I once spent a bunch of coin for a RaceFace BB and the bearings toasted in a couple of months and the replacements even faster, so I was a little hesitant to spend the money on another expensive BB.
However, King has a reputation, and all the other bearings on the bike are already King so I made the plunge and bought the BB and grease injector as a package from CC.
Installation was a breeze; old Race Face Deus XC cranks fit perfectly though I had to add a spacer to get the bolt to tighten down.
On the first ride on it I was able to climb the same trails I've been riding for a few years now 2 gears harder on the back cassette. Granted the XT was completely toasted on 1 side. Also, the creaks the XT made are gone, just silent spinning.
Happy customer; while I don't like watching my money flow away, I'm happy to trade it for super high grade products made by ethical companies. Thanks Chris King!
My old Shimano BB failed, so I spent the $ on a green King BB. Super sexy. I didn't want creaks or issues, so to be on the safe side, i had the shop chase and face my frame. New bracket went in like expected, slapped on cranks rode. After a few weeks of riding, a creak develops. I swapped the cranks (New XTRs for my old Race Face) and still creaked. Put in *new* pedals (they were old anyways)- still creaks. At this point I had the LBS remove, clean, and put BB back in place. Still creaks. Removed bottom bracket and put in an old 'spare' (and cheap) set. No creaks. Put ALL of my original stuff back on (old pedals, old cranks, old spare bottom bracket) and no noise. So now I have about $250 invested in what should have been the best bottom bracket, just to go back to a boring bracket.
I'm not sure why it creaks, but damnit, it creaked and I'm not down with that. Another item of bling for my kid's bikes...
Weaknesses: Tries to be too much.. SRam Shimano.. FSA etc Use this shim and this washer and this sleeve etc.
Bottom Line:
Squeak Click Squeak Click Squeak Click Hmmm??? Shim Shim Spacer Spacer Shim Spacer sleeve Spring washer Shim sleeve.. Follow drawing, Squeak Click Squeak click.. Shop was super but combination of an EBB and a do it all for everyone bottom bracket leaves a lot of room for imagination.. Discard parts B. C. and E if running a Shimano crank.. Insert parts A.C. D and F if running a Tru Vativ crank.. I got Truvativ.. Going back to a Tru Vativ BB and Truvativ crank.. Sorry Chris You are outta here..
Bike Setup: Niner SIR 9 Single speed No Shimano. Reba, Avid Juicy sevens.. Shifters.. Ohh wait there are none.. Had ya goin' didn't I? Custom tubeless wheels.. 22 pounds.
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Submitted by
Lowjack
a Racer
from Northern, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2010
Strengths: It's Chris King....
Weaknesses: It doesn't make you faster or more handsome.
Bottom Line:
Good looks, great company with matching track record, user serviceable, and cheaper than a few others even with the extra grease injection tool. It is the best bottom bracket made yet not the most expensive, doesn't get better than that.
Bike Setup: Moots YBB, Sram, Hadley, Stans NoTubes, and other great stuff.
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Submitted by
OOverboard
a Cross Country Rider
from water valley alberta canada
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2010
Strengths: Looks only.
Weaknesses: Serviceability
Bottom Line:
During my first grease purge the rubber "washer" came out with the grease. Schematics do not depict this washer but written instructions allude to it. Very dissapointed that what is supposed to be a shortcut to greasing / replacing BB ends up being the same as before - pull it apart and fix it. Poor design of grease seal. Note that I did use th CK grease tool too.
BB looks great and overall manufacture seems top notch, but I don't look forward to pulling it apart every time it starts to creak - that was the intent of the quick grease tool was it not - to eliminate that time ?
Submitted by
jon6fountain
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2010
Strengths: Butter Smooth, You can service it,... did I mention you can service it!!
Bottom Line:
You don't buy this BB to make your faster, or help you gain that extra watt of power, No, you buy it because you appreciate fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail, which seems to be evaporating in the biking world. You buy this BB b/c you can service it, and ride for years on it long after others are in the trash bin. You buy this BB because you take pride in wrenching on your own rig on the weekends. You buy this BB b/c you love to ride, and don't want any bike component to stand in the way of you and your favorite single track. So, the bottom line is, is it worth $130 bucks, that is for your to decide... for me it was two times over:)
Similar Products Used: Sram Ceramic Black box, Shimano XTR, XT... Truvativ Team, Race Face... I've ridden pretty much every BB out there.
Bike Setup: Bianchi WUSS Single Speed, Chris King Single Speed Wheels, Fox Fork, Chris King Headset, Thomson Stem and Post, Avid Elixir Mag CR Brakeset, Truvativ SS Crankset
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Submitted by
rlock
a Weekend Warrior
from Kanata, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2010
Strengths: Typical CK quality
Easy re-packing (if you buy the CK tool)
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
I got tired of re-building lesser bottom brackets after riding in wet, muddy conditions so I thought I would try the new Chris King product, having been impressed with their headsets for a long time. So far I have only installed the new BB and will give a follow-up review after some riding. My one bit of advice is to check for play in the cranks after installation and if any is found, remove the cranks and insert one of the spindle shims on the drive side. This is what CK advised to me (and this is not covered in the install guide supplied, nor is it indicated online).
Bike Setup: Specialized Enduro Pro 2006 with Shimano SLX cranks
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Submitted by
mazspeed
a Cross Country Rider
from Campbell Ca
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2010
Strengths: It looks great and it's smooth and it's serviceable. Other than that, it's just another way to spend money
Weaknesses: $50 dollar service tool
Bottom Line:
It's a great little add-on to a bike. It's smooth and serviceable. Other than that it's pretty cool. But it's not going to ride like an extra gear or give you so much less resistance that you can go longer and faster like the 2 morons said below. Complete BS. But it is a nice product.
Bike Setup: 2005 s-works epic with a bunch of expensive parts that don't make me go faster, just feel smoother.
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Submitted by
Morals
a Cross Country Rider
from Round Rock, TX
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2010
Strengths: Smooth as silk, solid as a rock, Blingtastic
Weaknesses: Price maybe, but I don't feel like long-term it's an issue since it's serviceable. Compared to ceramic bearing BBs, the thing is a steal, but that's kinda comparing apples to oranges.
Bottom Line:
Thing is great. I bought the installation tool and it still marred the finish slightly, but it's really only visible if you get right up on it, and even then it's slight. Still kinda let down that I spent the extra dough on the tool to avoid what ended up happening.
Otherwise, installation was easy and it looks ridiculously good on the bike. Spins ultra smooth and feels solid as a rock.
I was attracted to the fact that it's serviceable. I'm hoping to keep it and my bike for life.
Submitted by
Morealice
a Cross Country Rider
from Round Rock, TX
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2010
Strengths: The thing looks sick, smooth and buttery, solid as a rock.
Weaknesses: I'm going with none.
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line is that this thing is player. I got it because it's serviceable, but it's also blingtastic. So far so good. Now if King would only make brake levers, bar ends, seat post clamps, etc I'd be set.
Bike Setup: Moots YBB - King Stuff, Fox Fork, CrossMax, blah blah
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Submitted by
super
a Cross Country Rider
from st louis, mo
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2010
Strengths: Smooth, light and just all around quality
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
if you need to replace your BB, by a king and do it once. Someone said they didn't like having to buy the $50 tool... well buying the tool and being able to make this BB last a lifetime is well worth it.
Bike Setup: 2009 Mongoose Teocali Super; Which is a solid MTB!!
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Submitted by
Ruger
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Bragg
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2009
Strengths: Chris King, UNBELIEVABLY Smooth, servicable, a piece of art!
Weaknesses: What are you kidding!
That would be none!
Bottom Line:
The XTR BB's are excellent. The King is unbelievable!
I use an XTR Crankset.
Smooth like you wont believe! Aluminum spacers, makes it stiff and smooth.
The best upgrade you can make!
Strengths: This BB is light weight and has smooth bearings at first. Don't fall into the King hype.
Weaknesses: The first ride in the rain and the bearings are seized up and grinding. I am aware of the $50 tool you need to buy to repack them, but after spending $120 on the BB and it goes to hell, I consider that a weakness.
Bottom Line:
I might have a bad one, but this BB is not worth the extra dough, in my opinion. I have had much, much better quality from any of the above mentioned bottom brackets.
King gives the consumers the ability to re-pack the bearings instead of buying new ones. However, the tool needed to re-pack them is another $50. According to Kings service manual, the BB needs to be repacked every 3 months. My King BB is hanging on the "wall-o-shame" now, not worth the effort. Unfortunately King falls short on this one for me.
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