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Submitted by
robriw3
a Cross Country Rider
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Store | | Strengths: | Lightweight, Fits and mounts correctly, solid cups. | | Weaknesses: | Short lifespan. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Raceface, FSA Ti version | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS Air & Specialized Enduro | | Bottom Line: | Lightweight for price, but will start to creak and pop before a year. Both the Platinum and Ti models only lasted 9 months before starting to go. I race and ride crosscountry a lot, but have gotten up to 3 years of service from other brands such as Shimano and Raceface. It will still ride smooth and free for several months after the cracking and popping of the bearings start, but who wants to hear that. Buyer consider. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
maico 75
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakdale,Ca
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Mr Toads | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | on line | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Used for 3 months (checked tightness during this time) and it started creaking. Tightened-creaked, tightened-creaked. Checked BB splines and they were very worn. Original Truvativ BB lasted 6 years with no wear on splines. Returned BB to FSA for warranty, it was returned saying they could find no problem. WTF. | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ- Lasted 6 years | | Bike Setup: | Trek fuel 98- basicaly stock | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy this or any other product from FSA. With all the problems they are having with this bottom bracket and they will not warranty? In this day and age a company that has no customer support does not deserve to exist. Bought a new Truvativ BB, the FSA is in the garbage can. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zacdos
a Cross Country Rider
from WA state
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | like just about everythibg | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Looks pretty, Kinda light I guess | | Weaknesses: | Broke way too fast for me | | Similar Products Used: | none on this bike setup
| | Bike Setup: | El Saltamontes, RF cranks ISIS | | Bottom Line: | Ok I have hardly ridden this bike much in the 5 years I have had it. Rode for 6 months straight then had a major crash and could not ride for a time (too long). Was riding it yesterday and felt play in the BB so removed it and it was trash. I am not hard on parts by any means and do not do big drops. Even though my cranks are still fine I am considering dumping ISIS and going to Square Taper!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Freddie
a Cross Country Rider
from Harbor City, CA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Been dead reliable. Throw it on and forget about it. No creaks, no loosening, no play, bearings smoooth! | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | POS Race Face Signature (bearings totally contaminated and gritty after one season), TruVativ Giga (developed play, didn't seem to hold its grease) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight. Bottom bracket attached to TruVativ ISIS Team cranks. | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely no issues whatsover after 2 years of riding (I do live in drier So Cal) and the cranks spin as smoothly as the day I installed this bottom bracket. Hell I've totally forgotten about this product and even forgot to regrease the bottom bracket shell and threads at the end of the first riding seaon. The Race Face Signature that was installed previously NEVER spun smoothly and the bearings became gritty very quickly.
Great job FSA! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
corey
a Weekend Warrior
from se us
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | one with dirt and rock | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | it works, its smooth, its quiet. | | Weaknesses: | price is a little high | | Similar Products Used: | old no name square taper | | Bike Setup: | basic hardtail with truvativ stylo cranks | | Bottom Line: | apparently a lot of people have had bad luck with this bb, I have not. I'm 210lbs and don't ride real aggressive but I don't exactly slow down for rock gardens and rough stuff either.
guess i'm one of the lucky ones | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reamer
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Aspen Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | It fit my frame | | Weaknesses: | Bearings do not hold up. | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face, SHimano | | Bike Setup: | Ventana El Conquistador Tandem MTB | | Bottom Line: | The bearings started feeling like broken glass marbles after a few months of riding. They still function and haven't broken, yet. But very rough. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mick
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycleways Dublin | | Strengths: | Only have it a coupla hours, it feels really smooth | | Weaknesses: | But it's already started to creack, and squeak halfway through a rotation | | Similar Products Used: | truvativ giga pipe...3 years | | Bike Setup: | Cowan, Pikes, Combats | | Bottom Line: | Not impressed with it aready squeaking, am going to return it tomoro | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Hardcore & Crazy! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | *Titanium version! Light, smooth & suprisingly strong! | | Weaknesses: | None, well maybe the price? | | Similar Products Used: | raceface | | Bike Setup: | Well way to much to list, but a highend hardcore DH race rig! | | Bottom Line: | I have thrown everything at this BB in the 2yrs of racing downhill & extreme freeriding with MASSIVE drops & it hasnt skipped a beat! :)
Even though its not a DH BB, it has worked perfectly for 2yrs, So i highly recommend it!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Rome Italy
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Lavagno | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Installed it correctly,and it simply works. no play, no noise, no fault at all for two years. Outlasted the RaceFace I had previously by a year | | Weaknesses: | None.. | | Similar Products Used: | RaceFace (mediocre at best), Shimano (complete and utter rubbish --but you knew that) | | Bike Setup: | Tomac 204, Marz 888 WC, blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | It worked flawlessly for almost two years of downhilling. Now it is time to replace, but I got two solid years out of it, no play, no problems.. I don't know what these people are doing to them to have bearing probs, unless they are spraying degreaser as the bearing seals, or powerwashing the crap out of them. This has gone through mud, dust.. blah blah blah.. I have no idea how many DH runs.. and yes, I do a fair bit of pedling in between on it to keep in shape.. I've had nothing for probs at all.. Now, after 2 years, there is a slight bearing noise.. I've already ordered another one.. the last one was excellent.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Random Drivel
a Weekend Warrior
from Marin, CA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hitler | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal | | Strengths: | Stiff. Strong. Clyde Worthy. Your mom would approve. | | Weaknesses: | Does not say "Phil Wood" on it. | | Similar Products Used: | none. | | Bike Setup: | inbred 1 x 9 with Middleburn 180mm cranks and a bunch of blingy parts. Whoo Hoo. | | Bottom Line: | Pleasantly surprised at how easy this BB was to install (but I used to wrench on bikes and Porsches, so go figure). After a few rides the seals loosened up and now I have nothing but pure buttery BB smoothness. Great BB to run with Middleburn cranks, and very clyde-worthy. Looks like FSA finally got ISIS right. About time. Have to say that the more FSA stuff I use the more I am impressed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar City, UT
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Down Shift Cycles | | Strengths: | Super light, and super smooth. Ti. Four bearings. | | Weaknesses: | none that I've noticed. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano octalink, FSA and Truvative external BBs | | Bike Setup: | Commencal Meta 5 | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Platinum Pro Megaquad Ti.
I've had a really good experience with this bottom bracket. It actually gets more smooth the more you ride it. It's also very light. Combined with the FSA Afterburner ISIS crankset, I'm only a few grams over the M960 XTR.
I was just riding the other day, noticing the buttery smooth pedalling, so I had to get on here and write a review. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray Zapata
a Cross Country Rider
from PUERTO RICO
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$72.00 | | Purchased At: | Ciclomundo Dorado | | Strengths: | Looks | | Weaknesses: | It simply went apart after a month of use and a 24 hr race..My recomendation do not buy it.I send an email to FSA and never answer my reply. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano octalink | | Bike Setup: | Macalu Titanium hardtail.... | | Bottom Line: | Do not ever in your life buy it is just a well look piece of crab. To finish my coment FSA do not reply ever and back up their products..again my recomendation DO NOT BUY IT.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pooh Bear
a Cross Country Rider
from 100 acre wood
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | www.bike-box.de | | Strengths: | It's light enough. For me at least. | | Weaknesses: | don't know yet | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Signature, Truvativ, RPM | | Bike Setup: | steel rigid singlespeed with 2:1 gear ratio = lots of torque | | Bottom Line: | The first isis bottom bracket that held up for more than 3 months.
The RPM I used also comes from FSA but it went the usual ISIS trash can way after 1 week.
The Race Face one worked 6 weeks. Then the spindle was bent.
The Truvativ started making noise right after the first flat ride.
This FSA Platinum Pro thingie is lighter than the others listed and still spins smoothly. No noise. No mixing up of grease and dirt.
I once rode through a river that turned out to be bottom bracket deep. Well it didn't do any harm to this well machined BB. Two bearings on the right side work out quite well. If it dies - SKF will be the next.
It's good for XC riders. If you're a clyde and/or ride very aggressively - ISIS is no option for you anyway.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grumpy
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | Light. | | Weaknesses: | Weak. Like, really weak. | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Signature.
| | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, Race Face ISIS Turbine cranks. | | Bottom Line: | A lot of people have bearing trouble with ISIS BBs. I would love to have had the bearings wear out on this BB, but the spindle broke. I was jumping off a 4" (yes, inch) rock and when I landed, craaaack, and both feet fell forward. I thought I'd pulled the BB shell off the frame, but nope, I'd schnapped the schpindle. Now, this bike is a XC bike. It gets used for XC trail, endurance races, but no jumps or hucking or DHing, gees it's a Superlight, not a VPFree. So please believe me when I say the bike doesn't get trashed around. Shame about the BB, because the bearings were still buttery smooth. I'm going to try a SKF next. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cooper
a Weekend Warrior
from midwest
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | porcupine rim | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Light and stiff. | | Weaknesses: | Started creaking after 2 months. Now it sounds like a cracking kindling! | | Similar Products Used: | EVERYTHING! Raceface, SHimano (supercrap!), World Class, Synacros, Truvativ... square, isis, and outboard. still prefer a good old square spindle! | | Bike Setup: | ROAD BIKE! 97' Fuji team w/ last gen Dura Ace, Bont Cyclocross cranks, Rold Vectors. | | Bottom Line: | Unless you are a light rider, dont buy this product. I am heavy on cranks, but this thing really disspointed me in lifetime. I gotta get something better fast or else I have the feeling my cranks will stop spinning soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Weaknesses: | Creaked from the start, sheared the spindle in 2 off a 4ft drop | | Similar Products Used: | Raceface srx, shimano whatever | | Bike Setup: | kona bear, fox float 100rlc, xt, hayes | | Bottom Line: | There is a reason this bb was cheap, spend a bit more and buy something decent | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | colorful | | Weaknesses: | expensive and short lived | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ Gigapipe Team DH | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardrock setup as commuter | | Bottom Line: | It started creaking from day 1, and now has developed a tick that can be felt during both downstrokes while pedaling. The same feeling as old school 3 piece bottom brackets when they need adjustment, except you can't adjust this piece of garbage. And yes I'm sure it's the bottom bracket, not the cranks, chainrings, stem, seatpost, saddle, frame, etc. All this for a $60 bottom bracket with well under 1000 commuter miles on nice smooth roads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a
from Edmonton
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 60 | | Strengths: | I installed the Platinum DH bb a couple months ago when I installed the e.13DRS chainguide and needed a longer spindle. Since then, I rode 3 days at Panorama, and 2 days at Fernie. So far, no complaints. It seems to do what it's supposed to. Spins smooth, feels strong enough. I'm 5'10", 230lbs, I ride pretty aggressive on technical trails, and hit 3-6' jumps, and no problems yet. | | Weaknesses: | I dunno, I guess we'll see how it holds out over the next year. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Giant AC2, RockShox rear shox, 05 Sherman Flick Fork, Race Face cranks, 2 ring w/e.13 DRS chainguide. | | Bottom Line: | I guess everyone says it's has no life, so I guess we'll just see how mine holds out. So far so good though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dyo
a Cross Country Rider
from Szeged, Hungary
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | It's light, however the it's heavier than it is said on the official home page or printed in their brochures even printed on its box | | Weaknesses: | Bearing are extremly _weak_. I had 3 races in mud and there is nothing greas like stuff in the left bearing but mud. Brownish mud is coming out from the bearing. | | Similar Products Used: | BB-un 25, un 73 | | Bike Setup: | Home made Kona Kula Deluxe 2004 | | Bottom Line: | I wouldn't recommend it to be bought! If you're thinking of buying it, DO NOT do that! buy something cheaper, because it doesn't worth a piece of sh*t. But I give 2 flamin' Chilli as I used it for one year - but three muddy race :( | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr Anderson
a Weekend Warrior
from Albufeira
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | XC, agressive XC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | local BS | | Strengths: | looks | | Weaknesses: | everything else | | Similar Products Used: | shimano, truvativ BB | | Bike Setup: | rocky mountain element 2003, w\ race face carbon lp | | Bottom Line: | "2x double-row deep-groove full-complement sealed cartridge bearing", sealed, yeah wright,that's what they say in theire website, but it's the worst shi* i've ever bought, it lasted for "almost" 4 months and then the bearings got tasted.I wouldn't recomended to anybody, i wonder if they had last longer, some people say that they manage to brake them in half !!! Nobody should bought it . The Isis system ie crap whatever brand makes it. Shimano may be 10 grams more but it lasts. Now i have to buy a complete set of cranks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roman
a
from Tallinn, Estonia
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Veloplus | | Strengths: | Quite light | | Weaknesses: | Weak ! | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ Gigapipe | | Bottom Line: | Broke/bend on a second day after buying. I did dirt jump about 1-1.5 meters and after landing axle bent... so did the left bearing cartridge broke. Well it says on bb "not for downhill or jumping". Dont buy this bb if you plan to do hard stuff, for light XC it might suit well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt McDermott
a Weekend Warrior
from Bethlehem, PA
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | spun smooth for the time that i used it. didn't have it long enough to tell much else. | | Weaknesses: | total garbage. broke in half after 3 or 4 months of light urban assault use. wouldn't recommend even to my worst enemy. | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum No-Name Frame, Manitou Six Front Fork, Haro X1 Stem, Truvativ Riser Bars, Truvativ Five-D Cranks, Mosh Bikes Platform Pedals, Maxxis Holy Rollers, ODI Ruffian Lock-on Grips | | Bottom Line: | started to get a lot of slop after about 3 months of use, then at four months decided it would snap completely in half as i was dropping off of a SMALL curb whilst riding through town. if you ride hard AT ALL i wouldnt recommend this bracket in the least. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Downhiller
from NZ
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | The whole thing is weak. Cranks always used to come loose. | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Spindle snapped after a day of downhiling, no hucks, what a piece of crap. I only had about 6hours riding on it and it broke, I was lucky i did not get hurt when the spindle snapped clean in half. I was not going full speed ahead when i had to go and fetch my crank arm either.
Get something else!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
casey white
a Downhiller
from seattle,wa
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | downhill zone | | Strengths: | none that i could find | | Weaknesses: | the first one bent in half after one ride,the guys @the down hill zone warrantied it for me the second i got maybe three weekends out of before it snapped in the dead center off of a four and a half foot drop, after seeing the inside of one no wonder they break so easy the machine work is horrible the spindel is hollow and the wall thickness varies through out the balls in the bearings are tiny | | Similar Products Used: | truvativ stuff, shimano | | Bike Setup: | 04 brodie devo, shiver 729 mavic | | Bottom Line: | if you weigh 165 or less you might be able to ride on of these for more than a day or two but for us bigger guys not the ticket i don't even know if i would put one on an xc bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jesse
a Cross Country Rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | shubie | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | works well, light, ISIS. | | Weaknesses: | little creaky (could be the frame), but none really. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano? model though | | Bike Setup: | Avid disc (m), Sram X9, Race Face turbine, | | Bottom Line: | Great product! sorry reviewers i only bought it as a package with my raceface crank. but i am pleased! 2000 km and going lots of pounding (im 200lbs 6ft) ride hard and fast. this crank took it. Maybe the other guys do need a 3 piece. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakham
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | Looks good, niclely made | | Weaknesses: | Bearings are tiny and badly sealed - doesn't last | | Similar Products Used: | Shimnano various | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT frame, Talas fork, Mavic wheels, XT/XTR gears, FSA Crank & BB, Race Face stem & bars | | Bottom Line: | Doesn't last long enough. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Cross Country Rider
from winmalee australia
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | no strengths at all | | Weaknesses: | creek,creek,creek | | Bottom Line: | this bottom bracket broke in half on a light fire trail leaving me to ride one legged for 20km to get home. NOT HAPPY. ive done mainly commuting and some light cross county, i weight 165 pounds i doubt i overstressed the bottom bracket and i know i didn`t abbuse it but still it broke. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Kelly
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | Bearings blew up on the bike after about 10 rides. I emailed FSA asking about warranty (they are supposed to warranty for 1 year) and they offered to sell me replacement bearings for half the cost of a new BB... No thanks. | | Similar Products Used: | Syncros, Shimano, White Industry, Race Face | | Bike Setup: | '05 Turner 6-pack. | | Bottom Line: | This is total garbage. Save yourself a few bucks and run far and fast from this horrible bottom bracket. I had only taken the bike out on a few XC rides, no drops or hard riding, and the bearings were so far gone the cranks would hardly turn in the frame. Too bad I can't give it a -ve number of flaming turds because that's just what this POS is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a
from Newmarket,Ont,Can
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | NONE!!!! | | Weaknesses: | this BB is the biggest peice of crap you can get. I went off a little drop and the spindle just snapped right in half dead center. | | Bottom Line: | well i would never by this BB again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Einbeck, Germany
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Great Divide Cyclery | | Strengths: | Looks? | | Weaknesses: | Bearing life, seals | | Similar Products Used: | Several Shimano BBs | | Bottom Line: | This BB blows!!!! I used it for a whopping 6 mo and it is toast. At max it got 500 miles out of it.
The seals are "new & improved"? How friggin' stupid does FSA think we are?
I am riding XC almost exclusively, in all kinds of weather. I NEVER direct the hose onto bearings when I clean the bike - all to no avail. The bearings are shot due to dirt & grit in them.
Since the BB was hot anyway I took it apart to get a closer look. Well, no wonder dirt & water get into the shell: the "seals" are cheap rubber thingies and the axle at the contact point is everything but smooth so that no effective seal can develop. In addition, the bearings are cheapo crap.
If FSA needs some idea how to build a good BB they can contact me. For heaven's sake, take at least good quality cartridge bearings with seals on both sides. I do not care if it gets a little pricier.
The sad part is that the Shimano cheap ES-30 BB in my other bike lasts for 4 years now with NO problems. That's what I got for buying "premium"... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Online Web Purchase | | Strengths: | NONE | | Weaknesses: | Well it only lasted about 10 minutes so ! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Truvativ, Race Face | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7000 | | Bottom Line: | 10 minutes after installation on my son' bike, the inner main spindle snapped in half after my son went over a small drop, luckily he was not hurt.It took three days to get a hold of someone in Customer service at FSA, I was finally told that this type of failure was considered abuse and would not be covered under warranty ! What, so using a XC BB on an XC bike is fine unless it breaks then you should have used our DH BB it's stronger. So now they want me to waste another $10 to send it back and will only warranty it if there was a defect which they never seen before on a spindle! Looks like I am wasting my time with FSA.
Today there seems to be two kinds of manufacturers in the biking industry, those that stand behind their products and support their customers by making it easy to deal with issues etc. And those who feel ther are never at fault and the end user is the problem not my product.
FSA is clearly in the latter group and will not see any more business from me. One star is already too much in this case
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Squamish, BC
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Labour of Love | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Corsa Cycles | | Strengths: | Set and forget for the year I've ridden it | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Truvative DH BB | | Bike Setup: | Hussefelts (recent cheap replacement for Prodigy DH's that lasted me 2.5 years) on a Transition Dirtbag with an '03 Slider, EX729/D321 wheelset, Michelins, etc. | | Bottom Line: | All the reviews are terrible, and I've been happily riding along for a year now with no troubles from my Platinum BB. OK, given, I don't go huge (5-6'), but I'm not small (6'5", 190#) and am fairly hard on equipment. Was there a bad batch of these? Am I just lucky? Or should the previous reviewers all be riding cro-mo 3-piece cranks and not trying to skimp? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Yup | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | I was told they were cheap but strong... | | Weaknesses: | Cheapo | | Similar Products Used: | RaceFace Evolve, Truvative (what I have now) | | Bike Setup: | Freeride hardtail w/ 6 single crown fork | | Bottom Line: | Bought this b/c it was recomended to me as durable (by the shop). 3months of use and SNAP... busted.
Bottom Line - Warrenty is going to help me pay for a new Truvative...for myother bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Pallett
a Racer
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Absolute rubbish piece of equipment. Replaced after only 400 miles of road racing/competition because of slight play and a screaming horrible intermittant noise when pushing hard, especially on the hills. | | Bike Setup: | Cervélo Soloist | | Bottom Line: | Don't touch with a barge pole. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor
a Cross Country Rider
from Redmond, WA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Many | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | None. | | Weaknesses: | Seals are easily compromised. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Rockhopper. | | Bottom Line: | I'm on my third bottom bracket in nine months. The positive thing is that FSA has a great warranty and they have a no hassle replacement policy. But I'm tried of taking on my bike in every three months to have the BB replaced. You should consider another product. I ride mostly XC trails and the cranks do hit rocks, tree roots, etc. The seals are easily weakened and performance quickly deteriorates. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stu Gilbert
a Cross Country Rider
from Milton ,Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | still on the hunt | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The fact it hold my crank arms on | | Weaknesses: | absoutle everything else | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Vertex30 stock | | Bottom Line: | the bearings are the worst part about this thing in 2.5 weeks its destroyed. dont waste your money. if I could it would rate as a 0 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from okc,oklahoma.usa
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | the one I'm riding | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle store too | | Strengths: | smooth very smooth,weight, | | Weaknesses: | what?not for dh ro fr | | Similar Products Used: | race face srx,shimano | | Bike Setup: | 04 nrs,fox 80 rlt,mavic crossland wheelset,spd petals,fsa team carbon pro crank,cloud nine rear shock,avid bb7 brakes,avid sd 7 levers,carbon slk seatpost,bar stem and seat.xt derailurs frontand rear | | Bottom Line: | I would recommend this bottem bracket to any crosscountry racer or weekender looking for top shelf compontes without the price tag.This thing is tough i'm 200+ lbs. And take 2 and 3 foot drops on a regular baises.And have yet to have any problems with it.I'll agree with the other post u don't even know it's there.Best bang for your buck. 5flamers for value,5flamers for overall rateing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
llhank
a Weekend Warrior
from Winchester, MA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Massachusetts coastline & cities | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Airbomb | | Strengths: | Functions well -- smooth, quiet, solid, nicely finished.
| | Weaknesses: | There is a 'system' problem between the bb and crankset so both have to be blamed.
Of itself, the bb does everything it's supposed to do well. No problem installing it in the frame. In riding you don't know it's there and that says a lot.
However, installation of companion FSA ISIS crank leaves much to be desired. The crankarms are installed (basically, force-fit into place) with steel screws. Then, once the crankarms have been pulled into place contacting the bb outer ring, you remove the steel screws and substitute aluminim replacements (a weight-saving measure) torqued within a specific range. According to FSA, when tightening the original steel screws, you may have to use MORE torque than what the final aluminum screws require. I found this so, that the force fit was so tight that it took nearly all my strength to run the crankarm down. In the end, the steel screw stripped before the drive side crankarm reached 'home'. It got to within about .020" so I had to leave it there. Subsequently, FSA sent me replacement steel screws but I'm hesitant to play with this any more. At this point I'm not wanting to risk stripping the bb threads themselves.
But the crankarm location seems to be close enough as I've had no problems since. Still, I'm not too thrilled knowing it isn't a perfect installation. | | Bike Setup: | Dean Torreys Ti frame, Alpha Q CX fork,
SRAM/Avid components, Velomax Orion II wheelset, FSA crank/bb | | Bottom Line: | I would use something different the next time I build a bike. Maybe it's the ISIS or maybe the FSA implementation of it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eayste
a Cross Country Rider
from the northern plains
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | smooth
strong
durable | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face
Truvativ
Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Surly Crosscheck | | Bottom Line: | I used this BB on my crosscheck as a commuter.
it saw about 100 miles a week in all varieties of weather.
I put about 1000 miles on it in the past year with no creaks , groans or other funny noises .
It was installed with proper torque and liberal amounts of grease.
A very solid performer.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bret
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | skeggs,Tam,Tamarancho, Crack, Mile, Demo, | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | sinclair | | Strengths: | 3 bearings, smooth, quiet- | | Weaknesses: | is ISIS considered a weakness these days? | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano BB's | | Bike Setup: | Ritchey Ni-Ti w/ WCS cranks, X.O, King H.S. + hubs, XTR V-Brakes w/Paul love levers, 517 rims, Conti Gravity + Vertical 2.3's, WCS Bar+Post | | Bottom Line: | This product has functioned perfectly since installation. One time I had to tighten a cup, but that was due to my initial under torqueing. It's been raining more recently, so problems may yet arise. I am about 150lbs. and don't really do any significant drop offs or jumps. A good value, cro-mo spindle seems more sane than Ti anyway.Cross country riders looking for a fairly light, reasonably priced BB should consider this product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eddy
a Downhiller
from washinton
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | beacon spokane | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | web | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | every thing lots of play crank bolts always come loose | | Similar Products Used: | race face | | Bike Setup: | super 8 | | Bottom Line: | save you money although if you need a cheap temporarey it will problay work for a week or two | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Kellison
a Downhiller
from Bellingham, WA, US
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Platinum | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Decent weight | | Weaknesses: | Bearing play develops prematurely | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Evolve FR | | Bike Setup: | Bullit w/ Super T, Holzfeller cranks, flat pedals | | Bottom Line: | This BB developed play after only 4 or 5 real rides. However, since then, it has not gotten worse, and I have (almost) learned to live with it. My pedals have also developed a bit of play, so between the two of them, it's kind of annoying. Just a matter of which to fix/replace first.
I am looking at a FSA Platinum Pro Ti to replace it because it has an extra bearing, and is lighter still. My Race Face BB didn't develop play, it tightened up until the friction was unbearable. At least the FSA still spins like it did from day one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
king
a
from Quezon City, Philippines
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | looks nice and shiny when new | | Weaknesses: | weak bearings | | Similar Products Used: | travativ sl, fsa ultimax | | Bike Setup: | hardtail, xt 8speed | | Bottom Line: | crap. mine developed play in less then 4 mos. this makes it the fourth ISIS bb i've used in the past two years. they're all crap. i'm now about to test their warranty since they state that :
"Full Speed Ahead Isis Drive and square taper bottom brackets are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship or bearing failure for two years from date of purchase.
Forty-Eight tooth spline bottom brackets are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship or bearing failure for one year from date of purchase."
let's see...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kristian
a Downhiller
from HELSINKI
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ | | Strengths: | You can install cranks to it... | | Weaknesses: | Weak bearings - generated play in one month. | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ Gigapipe DH | | Bike Setup: | http://www.steelduck.com/public/heckler/index.htm | | Bottom Line: | The BB has worked as it should for 1 month, but it has now developed some play. First I thought it was getting loose, but I took it off my bike cleaned everything and put it back using a torquewrench and it still has play.
ie. I can feel it while I pedal and if take a firm hold of both crankarms and wiggle - I can feel the "play". I am not very impressed of the FSA quality (dying in 1 month of use)
I ride quite rough trailriding and light freeriding, but nothing HUGE. The BB might be good for XC, but not for my kind of riding. I think I have to try something with 4 bearings again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol,CT USA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Have to say none. It does not last at all | | Weaknesses: | Bearings. Drive side. Always. ISIS drive side bearings suck A$$. No manufacturer has made a durable ISIS BB yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Truvatic, Race Face, FSA.. Many many ISIS BB's in the last 3 years. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | Forget ISIS. I am really considering going back to square Taper BB's. The new outboard bearing type cranksets don't look mych better. They have bigger bearings BUT they creak like mad accoring to many, and loosen up. I bought into ISIS because of the consistent chainline and stiff cranks when tightening the unit. But the damn BB drive side bearings BLOW. Longest lasting BB was a cheap Truvativ SL unit for $30. It lasted almost a year. Everything else is toast before 3 months. The FSA Platinum Pro last a whole 6 weeks or so. Wonderful....... I don't care how good a warranty there is, it should be designed to last XC riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from York, North Yorkshire
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | chain reaction | | Strengths: | Loked good, not rediculously priced and reasonably light... | | Weaknesses: | oh dear oh dear oh dear!! bearings made of cheese! | | Similar Products Used: | All of the ISIS FSA BB's, and a RaceFace Evolve | | Bike Setup: | SWorks Enduro, | | Bottom Line: | F***in shoddy equipment again...
between me and 2 mates we have gone through 9 of these damned things in less than a year, yes we are very XC only!!!
Even the gys at chain reaction cycles got sick of replacing them and told us to "upgrade" to a race face evolve which was a hell of a lot beter!!
lasted 3 months if you where lucky - the drive side bearing is just rubbish - it is always that waht goes..
Vote with your feet folks - dont buy this crap! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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