Good BB with a good company behind it. I had the Cobalt Chromoly on my single speed for 3+ years, before I noticed the cranks didn't spin freely any longer. Not seized but tight. I sumbitted a ticket with Crank Bros, and mailed it off. 1 week later, I received my replacement Titanium BB. I would totally spring for a Crank Bros again. Awesome warranty. Thanks Crank Bros.
Similar Products Used: FSA, Shimano, Truvativ, Race Face...
Bike Setup: Single Speed
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
lexvil
a Cross Country Rider
from Phils
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2010
Strengths: Blingy, light.
Weaknesses: Broke easily on me and I don't jump. Just usual XC riding.
Bottom Line:
The flange holding the spokes broke while on a slight uphill section of a fire road. Good thing I was not haulin ass of a catastrophic failure and imminent crash would have happened if at high speed. Maybe it's my 230 lbs but My bro who uses a Mavic slr and weighs around the same as me and ride the same trails seem to have no problem with his wheels. A wheelset at this pricepoint should be able to handle this stuff easy.
Submitted by
20tooth
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, NZ
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2009
Strengths: Good marketing.
Weaknesses: The non-drive side bearings are shot. Poor quality seals. Very overpriced, overhyped.
Bottom Line:
This BB should have lasted longer. 2 years sounds like a long time, but it was only used for commuting. If it can't take a bit of commuting, then it'll be worthless as a mountain bike BB. I regularly removed the BB, and regreased the blue seals, so I'm surprised to see the Enduro bearings have been so contaminated.
I'm also wondering why it isn't possible to replace these bearings. They press fit a sleeve onto the BB spindle, which keeps you from swapping out the bearings. If this sleeve was removable, it wouldn't be a problem.
Next BB to try will be the SKF BXC-600. Hopefully they know how to make a reliable ISIS BB (they'd be the first). My Egg Beaters also fell apart due to bad bearings, after 1 year or so. My new Time pedals have been better in every way. I've given up on Crank Bros due to poor engineering.
Similar Products Used: Shimano lx and xt square taper, Raceface ISIS (also crap), SKF ISIS, raceface X-type
Bike Setup: Used on an old Kona Explosif hardtail commuter, an eclectic mix of XT, sram, Marzocchi, etc
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
kohook1
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2009
Strengths: It spins as smoothly as it can given that it has a lot of play
Weaknesses: Two months of commuting through a Chicago winter and it has developed a bunch of play. Every time I get on the bike it's click click click.
Bottom Line:
I should have switched over to some other crank/BB system. ISIS just doesn't work.
Strengths: It looks pretty and comes with a good warrenty (But will it be honoured?)
Weaknesses: It is under-engineered and over hyped by Crankbrothers, like the majority of there products!
Bottom Line:
The bottom bracket looks very pretty, it is a shame the standard of engineering does not match, after 6 months of winter riding in the UK, wet & muddy, the BB is creaking, grinding & has developed lots of play.
It will be interesting to see if CrankBrothers come good on there 5 year warrenty.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Heckler, Fox 36, X0, Middleburn, Hope, DT Swiss, Chris King
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Hadouken*
a Cross Country Rider
from Midlands, UK
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2008
Strengths: Strength
Weight
Weaknesses: Non i can think of
Bottom Line:
I have run the steel spindle bb for a while now with the cobalt crankset, but having bent 2 sets of the non driveside cranks, i was offered a credit note from the UK Crank Bro distributor. I picked up the Ti spindle bb with the credit note, and i am amazed at how light this is! I have only had a few miles on it, but it runs as smooth as my last one, and feels just as stiff.
I'm giving this 5 chilis for value (because basically it was free), and 5 for the overall as this is the best BB money can buy (in my opinion)
On a final note, Crank Brothers customer service is some of the best i have ever encountered, and they all bend over backwards for you. (Big thanks to Mark at 2Pure, and John over in CA)
Bike Setup: using FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue with the Ti BB
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
zecarle
a Weekend Warrior
from alameda CA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008
Strengths: it is a well known brand and the spec looked good
Weaknesses: hard to install the drive side shell did not seem to be threaded right I could have screwed up the thread on the frame side easily, it took great care to not do so. not stable the first few months had to re-tightened the non drive side at least once or twice. and it ended up squeaking like you would not believe. I removed it after less than one year and installed a Raceface instead which was a breeze to install and seems very stable.
Bottom Line:
a disappointment. I also purchased pedals ( Mallet and similar egg beater type of system) from that brand and they started to fall apart after few months, with the Mallet the bearing literally disintegrated after 2 years
Strengths: Very well made, easy installation, 5 year warranty, super light but strong
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
Its been a year now, and my hopes for an ISIS BB that lasts seems to be coming true. Its expensive, but with a 5 year warranty, I figure that's its the same cost as replacing a cheap one every year, and that's what I was doing. If it lasts for 5 years, then I would give it a 5 for value, but I'm only at 1 year. I have no style except bashing into rocks and trees. No bunny hoping light weight here! 215lbs.! Its nice and light, and still spins effortlessly after 1 year plus. Great product.
Similar Products Used: Truvativ gigapipe and other Truvativs
Bike Setup: Turner Burner, RP3, Reba w/ Poploc, Carbon bars, K24 Hyd brakes, King/AC Hubs and Synergy rims, Thomson seatpost, X.9 Sram and Truvativ cranks
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
eric
a Weekend Warrior
from florida, usa
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2008
Strengths: Certainly looks the part.
Weaknesses: Saddly it's toast after 8 months (roughly 800 miles)
Bottom Line:
I had great hopes that the CC Cobalt would be the final word in a quality ISIS BB. I could not have been more pleased until it became stiff and ceased after 8 months of use. I guess I'll find out how well the 5 year warranty works and try again. I will hold off giving a poor score until I see how the relpacement does.
After the FSA froze up from Cyclocross racing I bought the Cobalt. This thing is still smooth after several hundred miles of training rides, 7 XC and 6 Short Track MTB races. Think it has a couple of Cross races on it too.
To give a clue as to how hard I ride, this year I blew out the seals on both the AD-12 and Judy fork, broke 2 wheels, one chain, the derailleur hanger and destroyed an SRAM PG990 cassette.
Haven't noticed any flex. I'm 6'3" and usually 200+ lbs.
Strengths: - Buttery smooth - Strong and stiff - Comes with rubber seals - Looks nice
Weaknesses: - Looks nice but you never see it...
Bottom Line:
I use this BB for everything from XC to DH runs at Whistler, it's taken some big hits and is no worse for wear, mind you i haven't had it that long. Quality BB for most riding styles. Be sure to lube the ends very well.
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007
Strengths: Super smooth, light
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
I've only gotten few rides in with this crankset/bb combo, but man its sweet. Super smooth and light. Not to mention it looks sweeeeet. I'll have to write another review after 6 months or so once I get some miles on it. But for now, super stiff and the shifiting is smooth.
Hi All
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