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Shimano
XT Bottom Bracket
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Submitted by
d
a
from UK
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Smooth,
| | Weaknesses: | Its SQUARE TAPER and snaps doing 4ft drops(frequently)(100 quid wasted on a xtr crank 8( | | Similar Products Used: | Many other Taper BB
Hollowtech,ISIS | | Bottom Line: | My advise is to never buy square taper your allways ganna snap them no matter how good the quality is and how much money you spend just dont buy,
I reccomend Hollowtech 2 or ISIS(dont last that long lo isis)
I have now snapped every single Square Taper BB and Crank ive owend im so glad Hollowtech and ISIS came out,
Im sorry but any square taper bb or crank gets a ZERO mark(but i cant leave zero DAM IT)
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgan Hill
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Tule | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | I can't remember | | Strengths: | Solid reliable product. Doesn't leak or squeak and takes loads of punishment without a whimper. I have owned 3 and only replace when I get a new frame. I check em when I sell my old frames and they all spin smooth. | | Weaknesses: | I guess they are not as stiff as the Isis or x-type but I can't tell. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Lx Isis toasted in 6 months and boy did that crank creeaaak! | | Bike Setup: | Yet 575 with Marzocchi AM1 up front, swiss army knife of bikes. | | Bottom Line: | I can buy whatever I want these days but I can't stand a noisy or unreliable drivetrain. This is by far the most reliable trouble free bottom bracket on the market today! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sky
a Cross Country Rider
from Aiea, HI
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Smooth, Strong, Quiet, & Long Lasting! Lightweight for a square taper BB. | | Weaknesses: | None so far~ | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ, UN-53 | | Bike Setup: | '04 Specialized Hardrock Pro Disk - SS Conversion | | Bottom Line: | Great BB for $20, has lasted me since I bought my bike and got rid of the crap Truvativ BB that came on my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefan Baillargeon
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellefeuille
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | local trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | La Cordee | | Strengths: | Very smooth, no more cracking noise...(so far) | | Weaknesses: | none... | | Similar Products Used: | did not used other brand since I changed the original BB for this one on my Cannondale F900SX | | Bike Setup: | F900SX Hard tail, Lefty front suspension, LX/XTR SETUP | | Bottom Line: | Very satisfied so far, I do about 100km per week of cross country (a bof free ride) and it is been running very well since I had it installed.
Hope that it will do as good as the original BB that was insatlled on the bike, in witch it lasted 2 1/2 year. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere on 2 wheels. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikefit | | Strengths: | Inexpensive and does exactly what it is supposed to do. | | Weaknesses: | None. Just the people that are using them the wrong way. | | Similar Products Used: | Real(piece of crap), UN52 (good but heavy) | | Bike Setup: | Trek X01, Klein Attitude Race. | | Bottom Line: | These bottom brackets do just what they are supposed to do. Keep your crankarms together and go round and round forever. I have 24000 km ( year round riding on salted roads and rain the rest of the year) on the X01 and 5000 km on the Klein and both are still as smooth as silk. It just seems that the retards that are breaking them are doing 5 and 8 foot drops are using the wrong gear. Duh!!! Open your eyes fellow cyclist's ( I have to be polite) and start using your brains. That is the bottom line!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger
a Cross Country Rider
from Regina, SK, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Dutch Cycle | | Strengths: | Good product. No complaints. Smooth and fairly tough. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock parts. | | Bike Setup: | Kona w/ xt shifters, derailleurs, hayes disc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a good BB for cross country riders, and weak offroaders like myself. I've never had any problems, smooth as silk. If you're the kind of rider that's taking six foot drops, you'd better be ready to dish out for parts. There's nothing wrong with that style of riding if you have the guts and the coin.
Torque is measured in ft*lbs or N*m. It's exactly how it looks. Length from the joint multiplied by the force. The length MUST be measured at 90 degrees from the direction of the force. Unless you're 3D inclined, forget about picturing it or calculating it. Torque on a BB can occur in different directions, and the most is produced when you land with the cranks horizontal to the ground. This maximizes the torque due to the length of the cranks. Of course, this is the only reasonable way to land if you want to keep your boys intact. Landing with your cranks perpendicular to the ground will make the length of the cranks negligible, and minimize the torque on your cranks and BB. The longer you fall, the higher the downward force, and the higher the torque on your BB. No type of 3/4 inch metal can withstand someone falling six feet time and time again. It will wear, it will tire, and it will eventually break. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Theo DR
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Hup Leong | | Strengths: | Buttery smooth compared to my stock bb. | | Weaknesses: | None found so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock bb on my bike | | Bike Setup: | KHS FXT Sport | | Bottom Line: | Left the bike shop with a big grin on my face after feeling the smoothness! Hasn't given me any problems so far, still as smooth as ever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton CA.
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any East Bay Park. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap and reliable when used for its intended applications.
| | Weaknesses: | Wear out in about 1500 miles of 10-20% grades.
I wish Shimano would make them greasable, like the Micro-Lube on my SXR fork. | | Similar Products Used: | STX R/C, UN-71. Some kind of Race Face piece of junk, that didn't last one summer of riding. | | Bike Setup: | FSR xc with; Easton Carbon Riser bar, F519 rims with DT hubs. | | Bottom Line: | First of all; Shimano's quality has not dropped. When the UN-71/72 bottom brackets were first designed, free ride didn't exist.
Second; I wish I could still remember the mathamatical formula for FT lbs energy, because a 5+ ft. drop is a lot of torque to put on a piece of metal thats only about 3/4 inch in diameter, especialy if you add in the torque multiplication from the crank arms.
People have invented new and extreme offshoots of mountain biking, then complain that parts break.
I've got news for you people; Extreme versions of any sports that involve machinery, break parts on a regular basis.
The problem is made worse by the constant demands that said parts be made lighter. The manufacturers can't keep making things lighter and stronger, and keep the part affordable.
I find some of the reviews on this web site amazing, because people will admit things, like breaking a part when they crash, but they put the blame on the manufacturer instead of themselves. That people, is truly strange.
I don't doubt, that the people complaining about a good product, break a lot of parts other than the ones they are complaining about, in a paticular review.
Also; If you are doing "drops" you aren't a cross-country rider any more, you have become something else. People are doing 8 ft. drops and then calling themselve cross-country riders. Where did that thinking originate from?
I use my XT bottom brackets for cross-country use and have had no problems what-so-ever with them, even though I do jumps and weigh 210 lbs.
If you do extreme things on a bike, things are going to break.
Bottom line; this is a very good product for normal mountain bikers. I've had more expensive parts on my bike and they almost never last, and they don't usually save more than a few grams in weight, if they weigh less at all.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pascal
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Trials | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Eurotech Cycle | | Strengths: | Well, the XT square taper BB was cheap and the bearings are very smooth... Stiff untill it breaks Also, it is light which is nice. | | Weaknesses: | This BB is dangerously week. It suddenly snaps with no warning at all leaving a sharp bit of metal that just rips into your ancle. | | Bike Setup: | Norco Team Trials HS33 brakes, XT and XTR components | | Bottom Line: | I have to give this POS the lowest overall rating possible because it really messed up my shin when it snapped off a 5 foot drop. I landed the drop perfectly so the BB really wasn't stressed that much when it broke.
On the other hand, it did turn my pedals for a whole year of intensive riding so I have to give a high value rating... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobo D. Clown
a Cross Country Rider
from L.A.
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bobo is often spotted on most ocal trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Strengths: | Price, Durability, Smoothness | | Weaknesses: | Weight, if you're into that sorta thing. | | Similar Products Used: | White Industries Titanium BB. I'm not sure what madness induced me to sell it. | | Bike Setup: | Bobo's Custom Dakar: See Bobo's review 2002 Jamis Dakar | | Bottom Line: | I see alot of discrepencies between the reviews here. From what I gather the folks having trouble are doing some serious drops or DH. I mean, how do you break a bottom bracket spindle?!?! Don't get me wrong, 4 to 5 ft high speed drops are no match for bobo and his custom dakar but anything beyond that and I'm wetting my shorts. Based on about 3 months of that kinda xc/freeride use the XT BB has held up fine. Plus for 22 dollars it's a pretty good way to go. 4 havelinos to Shimano for a solid product. Let's see if the XTR can get the 5 rating by cutting some weight | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jensen fong
a Weekend Warrior
from hong kong
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | tai mo shan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | it work"ed"...and i m on my third one
it's smooth when it works | | Weaknesses: | it broke and screwed my crank
it makes sounds | | Similar Products Used: | none i guess | | Bike Setup: | da bomb xlr8r, z1 drop off 2000 model, deore disc, d321 rims, middleburn crank and chainring, deore/lx derailleur with 8 speed hg casette | | Bottom Line: | it's a weak piece of crap....and it seems that the older ones are better...
the first one lasted a few years and the second one lasted a few months..i m on my third one now and i dont know when it will die
btw....i dont ride hard
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterford, Mi.
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | T&C | | Strengths: | What Strenghts? | | Weaknesses: | It is, its own weakness. Broke a spindel, well in side of the housing. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots | | Bike Setup: | P.3 | | Bottom Line: | Smooth but weak. 7ft huck in to a small table top... nice smooth landings and it spun right off... Took a huge chunk out of my Crank... Im on the light end to (145lbs) KING or Race Face... thats it. Bottom Line Shimano sucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Flanagan
a
from Chicago, IL US of A
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | urban assualt/trials | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | It came a pretty box | | Weaknesses: | I do alot of pretty big dropoffs, and admittedly this is not what this product was intended for. Still, i would expect a product bearing the name "SHIMANO XT" to last a bit longer than a FREAKIN' MONTH. I was jumping off of a loading dock that was maybe six feet up and the BB snaps on the left side sending my race face crank (complete with shard of said bottom bracket) into my calf. I had to coast on my bike back to my dorm (foot on the other crankarm)with with a 3 inch gash on my calf, bleeding all over my shoes. Ryan was not pleased. | | Similar Products Used: | Other bottom brackets whose names i am uncertain of. They were cheap but they didnt give me any problems. | | Bike Setup: | Its an Azonic DS 1 with a sexy guy on the seat. | | Bottom Line: | If you do urban assualt and/or trials get a raceface or something. Thats what im going to do. This BB wont hold up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
drew
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | just keeps going and going | | Weaknesses: | had the same one for 4 years with no problems | | Similar Products Used: | un52,cheapo shimano copies | | Bike Setup: | univega alpina 502 rigid,xt mega 9 chainset(tapered),front mech,rear mech,suntour 8 speed cassette,sram pc59 chain | | Bottom Line: | This bottom bracket is tops in my book.Never creaked or complained at all.Had the same one for 4 years and it has delt with some harsh treatment.In that time have been through 2 chainsets,2 rear mechs,6 cassettes and many chains but this bottom bracket just keeps going. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Downhiller
from CT
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It works for a little while | | Weaknesses: | It breaks on you when you ride it like you should, the fricken left crank snapped off where it connects to the bb, this shouldnt have happend im dissapointed b/c shimano usually makes good stuff | | Similar Products Used: | race face - get one of these they dont fricken break | | Bike Setup: | a standard dh rig | | Bottom Line: | dont buy this flaming piece of hog balls, its absolutely worthless and will break on you, im slowly losing confidence in shimano which is supposedly the leading brand in bike parts, im only givin it 3 flamin chilis for price cause its cheap as hell | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BOB
a Cross Country Rider
from Marysville CA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | South yuba (all 16 miles) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Many stores | | Strengths: | Price is great. Availibility is excellent.Cheap enough to have a spare on hand. | | Weaknesses: | Wear one out about every 8 months. | | Similar Products Used: | Numerous brands and models. | | Bike Setup: | S/C Superlight, XT drive train w/ race face cranks, Mavic 517 Xtr hubs, Avid brakes and Psylo r fork | | Bottom Line: | I have tried alot of other bottom brackets and they all wear out in about the same time. The big advantage of the UN-72 price. The price is fair for how long I get out of one.I always have a spare one on hand ready to swap one out. I dont do huge drops but I ride a real lot and parts wear out. I am just a serious trail rider and this bottom bracket meets my needs. Simply put the bottom bracket on a bike that gets used alot wears out. I will continue to use this bottom bracket until I go to splined cranks or I find something as cost effective. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Siegje
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere in Tibet or North of Beijing | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | The fact that after browsing this MTBReview page this is the first time in 5 years that I have given any thought about this bottom bracket. | | Weaknesses: | It creaks. But somehow this creaking doesn't bother me anymore, and, strangely enough, I'd be more worried if it stopped! | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Nameless alu frame, X517 rims, PMP hubs, Sapim CX-ray, old Manitou shock, XT + XTR components, local Chinese bar, post and saddle. | | Bottom Line: | For the cross-country cycling I do, with no drops or hardcore downhilling action (I prefer uphills and flats), I think this is a very good value bottom bracket. I would buy it again, but for the sub-8kg super hardtail I am currently building up I would like to buy the best there is in terms of quality, strength and weight. Any recommendations? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keith quille
a Downhiller
from ireland
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any jump course! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | un-named irish shop! | | Strengths: | Light , Cheap | | Weaknesses: | snapped on the left hand crank arm. only over a 5" drop,really hurt and pissed off at it breaking cos it damaged my left xt crank. | | Similar Products Used: | un 52 | | Bike Setup: | z.1, jack flash ,xt groupset , xt discs ......... | | Bottom Line: | really lost faith in supposed jump / downhill parts.(xt)
buy something else............dont get hurt! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | boggs | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | many, many bike shops | | Strengths: | reliable to a fault
very reasonably priced | | Weaknesses: | boring
should last just a little, little bit longer | | Similar Products Used: | race face
cheap shimano
| | Bike Setup: | sc superlight 25.5 lbs dog dick red w/o stickers, uses solid, reliable components | | Bottom Line: | damn the botique bottom brackets.
no more race bb's for me, what with all the creaking and crackling, not to metion the maddening chainline problems. why is my mechanic able to install a regular old un 72 and make all of these problems go away?
this is something like my sixth xt level bb. i cannot understand what sort of drug induced madness inspired me to waste my money on anything other than a simple, reliable shimano xt bb. i have learned my lesson and will now stay on the path of sanity that living forty years on this earth has taught me to follow.
i have had xt btoom brakets in my kona (94-98), my GT (98-99) and both of my ibis alibis (98/99-present) i have an xt bb in my superlght. xt bottom brackets run and run and run, then give you ample warning that they are going belly up, then die. when you get that first warning that they are sick, you replace it, cheap. end of story.
i don't know what all of you who are writing about creaking and the like are yammering about. maybe youse should eat a Competence Pill or something, because my shimano equpement has been for the most part trouble free.
forget about using expensive, chi chi parts in this place on your frame. pick simplicity and reliability over the cool factor down at the bottom bracket shell. like it or not, shimano is the word here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pascal
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything with trials | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | airbomb.com | | Strengths: | Did wat is is supposed to do for a hole year. | | Weaknesses: | None so far... | | Similar Products Used: | Some POS shimano junk that seised up after like a week of use. | | Bike Setup: | Norco Team Trials HS33 brakes | | Bottom Line: | I ride trials, and this BB has kept turning for over a year now. I am a happy rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zeke "the ripper" Hudson
a Downhiller
from Ashland, OR
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Time warp | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | lightweight, smooth. | | Weaknesses: | square taper, weak. | | Similar Products Used: | truvative isis dh bb | | Bike Setup: | psylo, alite 4000, hussefelt, rhyno lite, avid 2.0 shimano xt disc, 9.0 sl, lx/xtr, kore freeride light handlebar, thomson post | | Bottom Line: | this worked fine for about 1 year exactly. i got into freeriding, and the fricker snapped on me. it's good for XC use i guess, but i would suggest getting a spline system. it's much stiffer. i had the unsplined version, so that may change some of the stiffness, but mine snapped at the cup, and sheared the spindle off... kinda scary. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Gao
a Weekend Warrior
from Shanghai China
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | a local shop | | Strengths: | durable, smooth, light, maintenance free, hollow axle...it's DEORE XT, | | Weaknesses: | the aluminum right adapter broke several months ago | | Similar Products Used: | shimano lp25 lp26 | | Bike Setup: | bridgestone hardtail, xt-xtr, sun rims | | Bottom Line: | i began to use this bb more than 2 years ago, and then no need to remember it. so durable and smooth, no play at all. after 2 years abuse, it's still so smooth like the day i bought it. but several months ago, my crank shaking, after an overhaul, i found the right side aluminum bb adapter cracked! luckily i had a old lp 25 bb whose adapter is on the right side, so i just replaced the xt adapter with the older resin adapter. then it returned to heaven. now i still feel very confident and comfortable on this bb.
but it's not available any more...why does shimano stopped making such a good product? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oliver
a Downhiller
from Muenster
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Spiegeleierweg | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Lightweight, easy to install | | Weaknesses: | Bent after a 5ft drop | | Similar Products Used: | all shimano 4square, syncros | | Bike Setup: | MC san andreas, stratos,... | | Bottom Line: | If you have enough money to buy a new one after every ride o.k. if you only do xc-cycling o.k.
not for downhill, not for jumps! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Budd Lake,NJ
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mt creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | cycle works (bryam) | | Strengths: | good price | | Weaknesses: | fell apart on me after 6 months of owning it | | Similar Products Used: | lx,xt | | Bike Setup: | access alu-ht frame manitou mars c fork rolf dolmite wheels lx drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | the product worked great for the first 6 months that i had been ridin it i raced a lot but i didnt take it off any significantly big drop offs nothing over 5 feet like i saw many people have and clearly this product should not be used for that but it started to severly creek and it got really anoying and ended up having a faulty bottom bracket so i had to buy a new one because xtr models only go with xtr cranks and so far this one is working fine im just waiting to c if the same thing happens and if it does i dont recomend this product | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Mason
a Weekend Warrior
from Cornwall, Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything that has 5 foot + drops | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bicyle World | | Strengths: | Seems better then the one I just replaced, looks good but who will see it burried in the frame. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, but I have only had it a few hours | | Similar Products Used: | UN52 | | Bike Setup: | Basicly stock FSR with R/F cranks and tioga 2.3 DHs | | Bottom Line: | Seems like a decent bb for the price, but is onlty a temp fix. I have killed 3 UN52s in the last 2 years 2 this year alone. I want something that can take the bigger hits I am doing now. Got any hits in the $100 cnd range let drop me a line, oh yeah slined is out till I kill the R/F cranks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a
from Texas
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Smooth, quiet, and strong | | Weaknesses: | ES-70 bb is only compatible with shimano cranks. Great marketing on their part. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Strongarm II crankset | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper M4 | | Bottom Line: | Great BB, haven't had any problems with it. However, I'm fairly light for being 5'9" and that has something to do with the durability of the product. The other thing is that if this bottom bracket is OEM, make sure you check the torque on the bb. What I've found is that the bb feels as if it's only been hand tightened on new bikes. According to Barnett, the torque on the bb should be between 260-350 in-lbs and Shimano recommends between 405-608 in-lbs. In addition, the cranks should be torqued to 390 in-lbs max according to Barnett and between 305-391 according to Shimano. Which ever recommendation you chose is up to you. By the way, you can find all torque specifications on the park tools website. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Dundas, Ontario , Canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Dundas valley | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Silent Sports | | Strengths: | Strong, durable | | Weaknesses: | None that I notice | | Bike Setup: | Thin Blue Line - CO2 Max - Full XTR and XT drive train and wheels, Sun rims, no supsension. | | Bottom Line: | I have be riding this bike for about 7 years and have never had to replace the bb. It started creaking about 3 years ago. I took it in for replacement at the LBS this year. They took it out said it was fine , lubed the housing put it back in and it works fine. I don't know what the quality of material is like currently, but 7 years ago it was bullet proof. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Downhiller
from Edmonton
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light, splined. | | Weaknesses: | Weak | | Similar Products Used: | Isis, profile cromo, raceface tapered spindle | | Bike Setup: | Steel framed freeride bike, xt drivetrain, bashguard, rockshox psylo, chrisking h/s, 519 rims, profile cranks/bb | | Bottom Line: | I've always loved the xt groupo until i busted one of there bottom brackets, the severed spindle nearly surgically removed my foot/ankle. I was really pissed when exactly the same thing happened to my warranty replacement bb. by a profile bb/crank combo end of story, there heavy strong and look great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin longpré
a Downhiller
from quebec
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | hydro tours | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | fournel | | Weaknesses: | very good indestructible bottom bracket and preaty cheap for the quality | | Similar Products Used: | lx but it brakes after 1 month | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher marlin with z1 and lx crank some dh components
| | Bottom Line: | i suggest it for all types of ryders but specially for freeryders.
if you brake one bb per month try the xt and you will never have to buy an other. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phat Mat
a Downhiller
from Vancouver BC Canada
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Weak as hell. They break if you're not riding like a pansy. They also break off and can leave very nasty sharp bits that can slice yer legs easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face BB | | Bike Setup: | Devinci Phatt Marzocchi Z1 Hayes D321 kooka Dh Cranks | | Bottom Line: | They're disposable cuz they're cheap. Breaking a BB off a drop sucks and it can really hurt the boys. Get a decent BB and save yourself the $ and the pain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Flatland
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap, not too heavy... | | Weaknesses: | Broke after 3 Months light use!!! | | Similar Products Used: | none yet | | Bottom Line: | Mixed feelings... ran ok when it did, but I just got the clicking noise (see below).. only I put more like 200 miles on it, not 6000.. i ride Xcountry only, no trials etc. I bought the bike just before the end of the season and was getting ready to go now.. alas, on goes a race face (: God bless canadian aluminum... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Versun Jetericks
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | dependable and reliable | | Weaknesses: | Wears out after about 6000 miles | | Similar Products Used: | lx bottom brackets | | Bike Setup: | ti hardtail setup for cross country racing. | | Bottom Line: | This bottom bracket is not made for downhilling. If you downhill or "freeride" you should consider getting a bottom bracket that is specifically made for the impact that a downhiller puts on cranks and bottom brackets. Ridding an xt bottom bracket on you Santa Cruz Bullit is like putting a Sid SL on a freeride bike and wondering why it broke. What kind of idiot does that? Try a Truvativ Husafelt (sp?) or a Race Face bottom bracket with some North Shore cranks.
Now that I've got that off my chest I can continue with the review. I put about 6000 or so miles on one of these before it started "click-clicking" away. When this bottom bracket starts clicking it's a quick few rides and the thing is totally fried. If you notice the dreaded clicking, take it out, grease the threads and put it back in. You'll be good until the new one comes in the mail. I'd say that 6000 miles is pretty reliable considering the thing costs only 19 dollars at pricepoint. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SC Bullit
a Downhiller
from Woodside, CA USA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | If its dirt...it works for me | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Work | | Strengths: | It turned my cranks for a couple months, and it never creaked... | | Weaknesses: | Well it snaped in half and my crank went flying, so I landed on the seat and smashed my nuts. I should sue. | | Similar Products Used: | LX, and many others. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Santa Cruz Bullit, MX-6, D321's, Hayes, Blackspire, Azonic, etc. | | Bottom Line: | The only thing shimano can get right is thier shifting, everything else of thiers sucks. Especially this bb. I could have hurt my self really bad. Damn Shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Isaac Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Swansea, UK
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | that one | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Cycles | | Strengths: | its great | | Weaknesses: | its only great for about 6 months! I was just jumping some 4 foot steps, when, to my sadness, it snapped! Yes, my undercarriage was punished severly by my toptube! | | Similar Products Used: | Um, none | | Bike Setup: | custom hardtail, Z1 droppoffs, Hope o2 pro | | Bottom Line: | this is an absolute bargain , or so you thinks for a few months, then it is a weak pice of rubbish. It broke and im only about 7 stone! If you do alot of trials, dirtjumps, DH then DONT buy this | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ruudje R.
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Up and down | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Dealer | | Strengths: | Durable, smooth, stiff, sealing, weight, price | | Weaknesses: | Non so far | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face taper lock | | Bike Setup: | '99 Zaskar LE, Z2 Atom Race, Sram 9.0 SL, Roox, Magura HS33, Customized Mavic X-517 wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | This is my second UN-72 bottom bracket. The first one lasted for almost 4 years (approx. 50.000 km) of intensive riding in various conditions (dust, mud, water, snow) and terrain without any problem.
In '99 I built my Zaskar LE with initially a Race Face Taper Lock Bottom bracket. This bottom bracket lasted about 4 months, then it started to make an anoying squeaking noice and had to be replaced. The Race Face warranty was applied rigorously. Only downside: no 73mm bottom bracket available. Oops, ... and I didn't want to wait for 2 months
to get a new Race Face.
From previous experience I opted for a Shimano XT again and saved on cash also. Ever since I ride my bike "bottom bracket trouble free".
If you consider the value for money aspect, this bottom bracket can't be beaten. Even not by the cheaper LX version.
From my experience I must say that once this bottom bracket starts to wear, the wear and tear goes fast. In other words:
if you notice some play you better start looking for a new one.
One of my biking buddies broke his UN-72 after 2 months of use. He had his bottom bracket replaced without costs and within the shortest possible delay at a "Shimano Service Center".
All in all this is an excellent choice. Maybe I was lucky, but I will probably still use Shimano's XT bottom bracket for years to come. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Pickett
a Cross Country Rider
from oakley
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rockville | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Delt freewheeler | | Strengths: | Strong stiff fairly light (both un72 and es70) Great value | | Weaknesses: | Only works with shimano crank, damn shimano | | Similar Products Used: | un52 | | Bike Setup: | Ritchey NITI frame 99 manitou sx ti lx XT group 23 lbs | | Bottom Line: | If you like other taper crank set use the un72 bb because it's runs a little smother than the es70 and it's pretty stiff since it is also hollow or go with American Classic
I've heard lot of good stories about them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mountain Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bird Sanctuary | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Lakeshore Cycle and Sports | | Strengths: | Light, Smooth, Well Sealed, Stiff, the Splined System Rules | | Weaknesses: | Only works with Shimano cranks (big surprise!!) | | Similar Products Used: | Other Shimano crap | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded '00 Schwinn Moab 1, LX/XTR, Syncros, Titec, Mavic, Profile, blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the ES-70 Splined bottom bracket that came stock on my bike. It's the best BB for its price. I think it's superior than any ti BB because it is stiffer, quieter, lasts longer, and won't seize to ti crank bolts. It's not worth using an inferior bottom bracket to save 40-50 grams. The only gripe I have with it is that I can't use it with RaceFace cranks, so when I buy a pair I'll also have to get a new BB!
Don't buy a new BB if it's square taper. I've seen so many of them stripped it isn't even funny to laugh at the poor suckers... Splined bottom brackets are stiffer, stronger and will last much longer.
A great bb... maybe one day Sh*tmano will comply and make their cranks and bottoms brackets compatible with other splined systems. But, hey, if you want hollowtech cranks, you don't have much choice. Get this BB! It rules!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Strengths: | Smooth, reliable, stiff, pretty inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | XTR | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000, LX Hollowtech '00 cranks, Dave's Speed Dream wheels, XTR cassette | | Bottom Line: | This is a review of the ES-70 BB. After riding for a couple of hundred miles in all sorts of terrain, I have to give this a big thumbs up. The ES-70 is smooth and very durable. As to the comments below about the splines not holding up, it would appear almost certain that this was caused by improper crank installation. If the cranks are not installed properly or allowed to become loose, any splines (or square taper fit) will be ruined in short order. When installing the cranks, one has to make sure NOT to grease the bolts and to frequently check for any play (by pushing/pulling the crank arms in opposite directions), especially at the beginning. It strikes me that alot of unjustified criticism is levelled all sorts of products here when it is really faulty installation that is to blame. The ES-70, properly installed, is a great product.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe
a
from uk
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | allows your cranks to rotate | | Weaknesses: | develops significant play in under 6 months use. | | Bike Setup: | Orange Evo2 Alu hardtail, Hope discs, xt/lx manitou | | Bottom Line: | I'm talking about the splined axle ES-70 version of this unit...
Basically it came as OEM on my bike and after 6 months use is loose and rattly. I weigh 13 stone and ride a few times a week on and off road but this is an unacceptably short lifetime for a component. Its been replaced under warranty and I can only hope that the one I had was faulty otherwise its a crime to waste time manufacturing stuff this poor. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clint
a Downhiller
from calgary
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Still strait after 1 year, Smooth bearings after 1 year, doesn't creak. | | Weaknesses: | Splines can strip out easly | | Similar Products Used: | LX older XT's | | Bike Setup: | Devinci hard tail, 130mm Z1, Hayes, xt, XTR, Mammoth, 321, Gazza 3.0 Lots of Race Face, The usual urban assult stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Good bb, didn't bend the axle yet, still runs smooth. Cheap!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelvin
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Mailorder | | Strengths: | It has bearings, and goes round while supporting the cranks | | Weaknesses: | Mine creaks all the time on all bikes I've had. Think the cups threads are too small/tolerances off. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano UN52 | | Bike Setup: | kona kilauea single speed | | Bottom Line: | Well this POS was on my nice titanium race bike. On this it supported some real nice middleburn RS7 duo cranks. The thing creaked all the time and I thought it was because of the titanium and large down tube. Well the single speeds BB died and I put this UN72 (old design by the way) onto it and guess what ? the creaking is back and sounds awful.
Never buying another shimano BB ever again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J B
a
from Alamogordo, NM
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Good quality, durable, inexpensive, not heavy, good range of sizes | | Weaknesses: | none I know of | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized junk | | Bike Setup: | FSR XC | | Bottom Line: | The photo on this product rating is for a Shimano UN72 not one of the new splined ES70 bottom brackets. I suspect some of the others reviewing it may be commenting on splined bottom brackets. I have used these on three bikes for over three years and never had a problem. I ride in harsh conditions (wet and dry) and never had a problem. When I removed the Specialized bottom bracket from my FSR last summer I could have bought something more expensive, but why bother? Its just a bottom bracket and it holds up good. Save your money for a different upgrade. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andru
a Weekend Warrior
from WCU
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | Broke it in have within 15min of me buying it...So far ive broken 2 of them | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Kaitai, XT drive train, RockShox XL, Spox rear wheel, Kore Stem | | Bottom Line: | XT BB suck ass, dont buy one ever | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Woody Kubacki
a Downhiller
from Calgary,alberta,Canada
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | none, except that it is fairly cheap. | | Weaknesses: | i did a 4 foot drop on my hardtail, and i broke the BB. the BB axle gouged my leg and i had to get 10 stitches. | | Similar Products Used: | i bought an lx bb because it has a solid axle, not like the xt which has a hollow axle | | Bike Setup: | z1 drop off, blackspire chain god, magura tomac rim brakes, brodie climbmax frame | | Bottom Line: | if you do urban, don't buy an xt bb. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | I do not ride extreme "trick" trails - but I do ride technically difficult/fun Pac.N.W. trails including those in British Columbia. If you wheigh less than 180 lbs, use a soft tail, or do less than 4-6' drops this bottom bracket will work well and long for you. You cannot beat this bottom bracket for the price - for normal use. However, only four chili's - value - because bearings are not replaceable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ben seltzer
a Racer
from boulder colorado usa
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | lets not go there | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | i dont remember? | | Strengths: | none, it sucks. | | Weaknesses: | it breaks. what a lousy piece of sh*t. i should have known what i was going to get after all it is shimano and the only thing they can get right is shifting. Also it only took me about 15 min. to bend it. then it broke 4 rides later. | | Similar Products Used: | raceface. other types of shimano, but i dont think we will be doing that any more. Im going profile. | | Bike Setup: | single speed haro Z1cr xt v's (decent not great but the levers are good) surly 1x1 hubs. the hubs are probably the coolest parts i own. | | Bottom Line: | i was droping a big wall but it still shouldnt have broken. it gashed me open and it was really gross. they should have a fund raiser for all the people injured by failing shimano parts, where you get to pummel a shimano ceo for a min. for 5 bucks. It would raise millions and pay our medical bills.
Really, you should put your money somewhere else. Shimano cant seem to get anything right but shifting and it shows painfully. there are a lot of companies out there that acually ride. They know that you need to make things work in the real world. Try raceface, or anything. Or if you do buy shimano make sure you leave the bike in the garage. even then you might want to be carefull though.
god oh god why do they make us give at least one flamer? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johnny mtbr
a Downhiller
from vancouver BC
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | expresso | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | john henry | | Strengths: | its cheap
not to much money | | Weaknesses: | its cheap
they break | | Similar Products Used: | LX bb | | Bike Setup: | fsr | | Bottom Line: | this bb is no good for the north shore . maby if u r from calafornia and all u do is fire roads then it would last but i am 15 and this bb lasted me 3 months and when it broke shimano didnot give a crap thus shimano is crap . if u need a bb that lasts get a raceface :-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Orr
a Weekend Warrior
from Redfield
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Tought, lite, good looking, and quiet. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XTR | | Bike Setup: | Custom 6500 | | Bottom Line: | Tought and lite, hard to beat. This guy whinning about having it bend on a five foot drop off must of had a bad one. Not hard to do. HE could of gotten warranty on it. I have done higher then six foot drops and this thing has held out, wouldn't have it any other way. Another five by five for shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Christie
a Downhiller
from Burnaby BC Canada
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lolah's on Burnaby Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Sharpies Cycles | | Strengths: | Shiney color and it went round and round very quietly and had no free play much like any of the other that I have had. Fine for the praries and stroller trails. | | Weaknesses: | It bent on the first 5 foot drop. The Specialized crank was fine but the Shamino Spindle bent. 2 hours old. Like, I am really glad that it did not shatter. I have know of some major surgery done on legs and other body parts just because the BB spindle actually breaks off. Think about it... | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Elite Cartridge,(junk) White Industries Cro-Mo Bottom Bracket (Fractured ouch) Shamino LX (bent too) | | Bike Setup: | Cove Stiffie Oversize Aluminum Hardtale Marzocchi Z3 Long Travel forks, Riser bars for Down hill, big drops , ladders teeter totters logs & rocks . It is A North Shore Animal. | | Bottom Line: | Hey it is your future and future children we are looking at. You gotta be able to trust the Equipment, this one is scary, it bent on the first little 5 foot platform drop on the trail I'm 180 lbs,and ride 3-5 real mountain trails that are too rough for hikers per week. , Geesh, I didn't even flatten the wheels and this BB bent, Maybe the bearings are good and maybe they are waterproof I would never know, but at least they did not crush.
You can buy it if you ride the same trails that a baby stroller can go on,( and not lose the babys head). Meaning smooth ones where you do not have to stand fully on the peddles for the whole trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jochen
a
from vienna
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | cheap, quality, no service required | | Similar Products Used: | LX, some titan stuff (CREAK, CREAK) | | Bottom Line: | well, just the best price to quality ratio, buy it and you won´t regret..... (anyhow, nobody will recognize your red ano bb for 5x the cost....) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelly
a Weekend Warrior
from SF, CA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | This is so clearly locality-oriented that it doesn't matter | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Got it through a complicated deal | | Strengths: | Light
Strong
Cheap
Good bearings
Better than RaceFace, though everything else they make is dope: I have lots of their parts, but until this BB issue is resolved I'm stayin' UN-72 fo life | | Weaknesses: | Not as cool for bragging rights as RF, but this isn't a weakness per se. They kick ass. Until ISIS drive comes out, these are the best bet for sure. | | Similar Products Used: | Sub-LX, RF, UN-52 (LX), Ultegra (yes on a mountain bike)don't have any idea what my Schwinn had when I was 12. Sorry. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F2000sx (red/wht/blu hardtail with a lefty). Full XTR until I traded those cranks out for these (splined to tapered). WTB Velociraptor 2.1s. RF seatpost, Oury grips. | | Bottom Line: | The guy I bought my car from (92 Ac Integra) worked a deal with me where I traded out my XTR cranks and Ultegra (I know it's weird, take it out on Cannondale) bottom bracket for a set of Turbines with a UN-72 BB. I had a little bargaining power because the XTRs (though missing half a tooth on the big ring [which (the big ring), as you XTR crank owners know, costs about half the total price of cranks and rings]) are worth more than the RFs, so I asked him to put on a Race Face bb instead of the XT. He said that he would never recommend the RF one over shimano, and notwithstanding the bad reviews you're going to see right below this post, no problems. Anyone that rides tapered square cranks should use these over anything else. Why go Ti to get 20g less when you're paying twice as much? I don't know where mtbr.com gets off saying this BB is $21, but retail is like $35, so no comp in this price range, and with the exception of the last few posts after this (might they all be from the same person? Hmmmmmmmmmm.) the reviews have been in line with what I've heard from my boys. One of them has bent a Boxxer, broken a Yeti DH6, and is basically the most abusive (of bikes) rider that I've ever met, and he likes the UN-72. From a guy that has snapped a head tube off an M2 hardtail that is saying something. F all that talk about breaking these on this site because I know a lot of people and no one I have ever met has had any complaint about these BBs. I welcome feedback to my real e-mail address. Please only relevant things, yo. profeign@hotmail.com . And by the way. I don't post reviews here often, but this is a functional and inexpensive product that might make you faster. You don't see it, and you don't think about it. That is more praise then it should be, but so it goes. This BB is pretty much the best. Plus it's not that expensive. Nuff' said. Kelly | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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