This maintanance-free bottom bracket is fully sealed, providing off road riders of commuters a no-hassle replacement bottom bracket. Perfect for replacing your worn-out bracket or for building your bike from scratch. Chro-mo steel and aluminum construction creates a high-strength, durable bottom bracket.
Weaknesses: Weight... but so many people eating like worms and looking for a feather bike...
Bottom Line:
10.000 miles, I decided to upgrade, bought xtr... 2000 miles and broke (expensive but not 100% sealed and no warranty...), the back to my old bb for 12.000 miles more, a new upgrade, an incredible Race Face Deus... 370 miles and broke! Back to my old and cheap bb... Now after 8.200 miles I believe that I should upgrade because it´s starting to make little noise under high pressure, but... I am scare, so many baaaad bb out there! 30.200 smooth-miles with dirt, sun, snow, water, mud under 240 pounds... If you want a better BB don´t buy xtr or race face...
Submitted by
cougar
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2007
Strengths: Tough, no flexing, spins smooth, available in many sizes
Weaknesses: none that i've experienced, although with any square taper, it's a good idea to check the crankbolts occasionally for tightness.
Bottom Line:
I honestly have no problem with the old school square taper BB. I have Octalink and ISIS on other bikes, and really don't see any big advantage. I'm onlt 150lbs. so I don't notice any flex. I think the square taper BB last a bit longer the the splined types. This BB only has one year and maybe 5000 miles on it, so I can't comment on long term durability. Had to take drive side of crank off one time because the BB was a bit loose. This was probaly my fault in not tightening it enough during initial insrallation. After tightening it back up, it's good to go! Spins smooth.
Weaknesses: a little heavy. not as stiff as current B.B
Bottom Line:
Very durable. I have had mine for 11 years now and it is still as smooth as when I first got it. Having worked at a shop i have seen lots of these B.B come through and have only had to replace a hand full.
Strengths: No Fuss it works....well. Spins smoothly, no maintannce so far. Works well with the first generation hollowtech cranks.
Weaknesses: None, not the top flashy technology, the crank style is fading.
Bottom Line:
Works, If you can find a good square taper crank set, pick one of these up, they are old school but work great. If you dont care about having the blingy new stuff. Im replacing crank set with a custom octink crankset soon and moving this to another bike that im building. Im replacing the bb because its a 68 mm and I need a 72mm, what a waste!
Bike Setup: 2004 fsr xc specialized, 2004 fox talas, cane creek rear shock, hope hubs, hayes hfx 9 dh brakes, ritchey every thing else.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
chris anderson
a Cross Country Rider
from norwich
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2005
Strengths: never have to worry about it.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
i used this bb for eight years and never had a single problem. it came on my old mt. shasta tempest and i switched it over when i bought a new bike two years ago. This bb, and the stem are the only two parts still running on my new bike and i could be happier about it. I have heard so many negatives regarding the isis drives, and everyone loves these old taperlocks. i just wish it was easier to get a hold of square taper cranks these days, cause i would just keep running this bb. highly recommended. happy trails. p
Submitted by
matt savage
a Cross Country Rider
from bend, or
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004
Strengths: Indestrucible
Weaknesses: NUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
This bottom bracket has lasted me through 3 frames. It's a first generation XT BB from the first year they did 9 speed. I'm still running it today. I'm astonished, no, flabbergasted that it's lasted this long. It's been raced, "freeriden", and just plain old abused in the Pac NW mud and it is still running strong. XT stuff rules all the way. I just hope I can still find a square taper to replace it IF it goes.
Submitted by
royce
a Weekend Warrior
from onida,s.d
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2003
Strengths: xt grade quality,way lighter than the OEM stx-rc that only lasted a few rides
Weaknesses: I spose it wouldnt be much good to a freerider
Bottom Line:
the xt un-72 that came on my giant 980 carbon fiber full susp. has lasted flawlessely for 5 years.I figured when the cheap stx-rc whent to hell I'd go with a new xt unit and I'm happy and dancing again.Yay!
Similar Products Used: xt on my other bike,my other higher end jekyll has an lx on it from factory that has lasted 3 seasons
Bike Setup: custom jekyll
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
luke
a Weekend Warrior
from Suffolk, UK
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2003
Strengths: Smooth, very reliable, easy to fit, no worries
Weaknesses: Absolutely none. Ever.
Bottom Line:
I've ridden this BB to the ends of the earth. I've ridden this BB for 6 years through snow, rain, mud and not a murmer. I've never even cleaned the bike! It's the only part of the whole bike that still works!
Strengths: it's cheap and it adds to smooth pedaling, it works for what it is made for, cross country
Weaknesses: alot, after 3 months of use, the ole boy snapped on me and about sliced my leg open. This bottom bracket isn't as strong as these other reviewers are making it out to be. I only weigh 130 pounds for goodness sake.
Bottom Line:
too cheaply made, maybe mine was just a factory defect, but I seriously doubt it!
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Atl, GA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002
Strengths: Super strong and very smooth. If installed properly will last a long time. Mine held up over 2 years before replacement. I replaced it with the same cause it works!
Weaknesses: Not the lightest but its strong and works.
Bottom Line:
Highly reccomend if you want high quality and longevity. Make sure its installed properly and it will give you years of service.
Submitted by
Leotis Denetclaw
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterflow NM USA
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2002
Strengths: Price, Availibity, XT product
Weaknesses: Duribility, It did not last as long as I needed it to.
Bottom Line:
This product looked nice, I wanted to like it so bad, the cups kept pushing out, the bearings developed play it them, it lasted most of the summer. I am 240lbs and figure this was the penalty for my weight, that is until I tried RaceFace............It is the best I have used to date.
These units pretty much last forever. Managed to kill an OEM LX unit after a couple seasons, but I have yet to see an XT unit fail. I suppose if you ride through mud on a continual basis you could pack one up...or if you subject it to forces it wasn't engineered for, like 10' drops. But as another learned gentleman said in his post, expecting an XC BB to survive freeride antics is like buying an air sprung race fork to ride the World Cup DH circuit - STUPID.
