Description:The XS ISIS BB features double row angular contact sealed cartridge bearings. These high performance bearings are ultra light and durable. No drive side fixed flanged allows riders to adjust chainline from 47.5-51.0mm. Precision CNC machined, heat-treated hollow Nickel Chromoly steel spindle features a shot peened finish for strength and nickel plating for corrosion resistance.
Submitted by
sub zero
a Downhiller
from England Date Reviewed: April 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Slopoey Git
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
ad cycles (the bike butchers)
Strengths:
Strength, no noise at all, hard wearing, decent bearings, well sealed, don't come loose, look nice, sounds good, can be bought in safe knowledge that warranties will be kept, splined, durable, does not deform.
Similar Products Used:
shimano octalink
Bike Setup:
orange sub zero big head, [isis bb], specialised handlebars, shimano deore rapid fire/mech/disc hubs, home made titanium spokes, dh30 rims, v12 pedals, hope mini discs, mission cranks, fsa pig h/set, fox vanilla 125r forks, nokian gazza 2.3 tyres,
Bottom Line:
exellent bottom bracket- after having an octalink, i almost got used to having constant hassle from my bb, however i have not had one spot of trouble from my isis, and i do ride very hard. my review: bloody marvellous
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Submitted by
JRo
a Racer
from Toronto Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003
Bad product, will not buy again. Brutal to install, requiring an insane amount of torque to get the seal seated. Never really spun smoothly. After 1/2 a season of wet racing it was shot. rode the rest of the season on it and it self destructed. took it apart and the bearings were toast, races damaged, dirt was everywhere.
to it's credit, it didn't creak, tick or come loose.
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Submitted by
Mark Howard
a Cross Country Rider
from Montebello, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 17, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Longevity... This BB just does'nt last.
Similar Products Used:
Race Face Prodigy, XTR
Bike Setup:
Turner XCE with all the good stuff
Bottom Line:
This is my second Race Face BB. They just don't hold up. The first one lasted 2-3 months and began to make a lot of noise. It got loose and could'nt be repaired. The bearings wore out. This one began to squeal. I pulled it out & discovered that one of the bearings locked up. I got tired of the problems & went to XTR. XTR is o.k. but I should have gone to something with compact rings.
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Submitted by
nick vangeel
a Cross Country Rider
from belgium Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002
Bought this product together with the Prodigy crank. After four weeks I heard a mechanical noise inside the crank. The bottom bracket was broken ! So, they gave me another for free and this one broke after three weeks !! If this is the quality of Race Face, no thank you ! Keep it ! I replaced the crank and bottom bracket by a set of Shimano XT and had no problems with it until now !!
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Submitted by
derby
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo, CA USA Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Horsethief
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
RaceFace Warrantee
Strengths:
Sexy name
Weaknesses:
soft bearings
Similar Products Used:
RaceFase Prodigy ISIS BB
Bike Setup:
Tracer
Bottom Line:
Crap. Added $40 to Warrantied Prodigy ISIS (which lasted 6 months including 2 wet months before seizing). The ISIS XS has twice the bearings and became loose after 2 rides. Gradually getting looser as time passes now to 6 months in dry condition (about half as fast as Prodigy failed). I'm 200 lbs and XC ride 4 times a week or more with much climbing. Perhaps light weight riders will have satisfactory performance. I always got 1.5 years minimum use with UN72 before the slightest looseness occurred (looseness was a signal to replace). RaceFace warrantee said expect it to loosen up. Sorry I've been spoiled by inexpensive quality, It's hard to accept crap now and pay more than 3 times the price. I'll be getting an FSA ISIS BB unless King comes out with one soon. The ISIS Turbine crankset is stiff and looks great but my Shimano LX cranks shifted easier. No more RaceFace products for me unless it's free (or they pay me!)
- ray
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Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Rubicon jeep trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$58.00
Purchased At:
cambria bikes
Strengths:
Strong, No Creaking, Great Warranty
Weaknesses:
kept coming lose at first but Raceface Fixed it under Warranty ( Thanks Guys!)
Similar Products Used:
Shimano un52(sic), Shimano un72, and Suntour XCPro
Bike Setup:
Cove G-Spot, Rockshox Psylo SL, Fox vanilla rc, Atomic Labs stem, RF next LP isis, Atomic Labs aircorp (rear)rim,ACS Z-rim (front),Avid disk brakes, and Crupi pedals
Bottom Line:
This is a great product from a company that makes good thier warranty, I would definetly recommend this bottom bracket to anyone who is think about buying one..
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Submitted by
OC.
a Downhiller
from Oz Date Reviewed: June 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
I cann't really say,because it didn't last long.
Weaknesses:
The bearings on the left hand side died within three months on purchase.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano UN-72(XT)
Bike Setup:
Bought it with Race Face Turbine cranks(a fit and forget product).
Bottom Line:
I'd like to tell you great things about the XS Isis but I have to say that I was more than disappointed with this product,I thought I was going to fit it and forget it like the Shimano one I had before but NO.We'll wait and see how Advanced Traders(Race Face Suppliers in Oz)deal with the problem.With luck they will fix it get it back to me and I can post the review I think this product can get.
Word of Warning,The old ones seem to have four catridge bearings and the new ones have only two big catridge units instead.Word is the newer ones are stronger.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
www.wrenchscience.com
Strengths:
tough, splined, light enough
Weaknesses:
goes from good to bad really fast
Similar Products Used:
nothing splined
Bottom Line:
This is an update to my previous review. On a ride last week, as I was climbing a gnarly road hill (to get to the trail) in my 20/28 gear combo, I started getting this horrible scratching and crunching noise. I stopped partway up, checked all the chainring bolts and both pedals, then continued on my ride despite it all. Up until then, my only clue that there might be some maintenance needed was one time when I happened to spin the cranks sans chain and things seemed just the slightest bit rough.
Granted, it has about 2500 miles on it (700 or so of those off-road) and I weigh anywhere from 190-210 with Camelback, but I'd hoped for a little more of the fire-and-forget-it type reliability I got from my pre-spline Shimano UN-72 (XT). You can bet good money that my next ISIS bb will be Chris King, whenever that pops to the surface.
3 chilis to equal out my 5 rating from before, because now I think it's honestly a solid-but-not-outstanding 4 chili product.
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Submitted by
Ben
a Downhiller
from Chico, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
123Bikes
Strengths:
ahhhhh... It's light I guess
Weaknesses:
The spindel began to bend after the first month of riding. I thought it was a bent plate on my MRP at first. It eventually became unrideable after about 6 months. Two other guys on my colligiant team had the same exact problem. I had the XS Dh 128mm BB. I sent it back to the warranty department about 7 weeks ago. I have called and left messages numerouse times and haven't heard back.
Submitted by
TT
a Racer
from USA Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Guys, you do not have to buy a new tool *IF you already have a Shimano BB tool. Below I will paste info. DIRECT from the Park web site.
Bottom Line:
The BBT-2 fits Shimano® cartridge bottom brackets, including those with oversized "pipe billet' spindles. The BBT-2 also fits ISIS Drive cartridge bottom brackets such as Race Face® and FSA® that use the 20 tooth spline pattern. Simply insert the BBT-2 into the splined cartridge and either tighten or loosen using a 3/8 inch ratchet driver or a 32mm wrench.
For ISIS compatible, look at the packaging for the wording, "For removal and installation of Shimano and ISIS Drive cartridge bottom brackets using 20 tooth spline pattern."
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA Date Reviewed: March 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
www.wrenchscience.com
Strengths:
strength, durability, smoothness
Similar Products Used:
Shimano UN-72, STX
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-X, Next LP cranks, Bontrager RE-1 pedals
Bottom Line:
When it comes to bottom brackets, I'm more concerned about getting an install-it-and-forget-it product than the latest 5-gram-lighter weight weenie titanium model (especially at 190+ lbs.). I have absolutely no complaints about the XS and I've ridden it through rain storms, trails with that thin dust that gets into everything, and mud. Great product, no complaints. I recommend it to anyone looking for a BB that won't quit anytime soon.
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Submitted by
Joe
a
from Houston Date Reviewed: March 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Jack Brooks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Solid construction, no problems per say except....
this thing is well worth the money. i recomend this to anyone
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Griff
a Cross Country Rider
from Va Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
It works.
Weaknesses:
As with another reviewer, I had to buy the ISIS bottom bracket tool due to no shops having it or aware they needed it.
Bottom Line:
Mated to ISIS Race Face Next LP's. So far no problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Monrovia, MD Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Gambril Park -- Blue
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Mount Airy Bicycles
Strengths:
4 brearings!
Weaknesses:
Too short -- only comes in 113mm
Similar Products Used:
XTR and Dura Ace
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll, Race Face Next LP cranks
Bottom Line:
Had to really torque to get the cranks to seat -- 55 ft-lbs! (Race Face said to go as high as 60, but seating was a must). Many torque checks over the first 100-200 miles were needed and they creaked during that time. But, once they seated fully, they've been quiet and dependable.
Had a real problem with the chain line. The left side can't move in because then the crank hits the swing-arm pivot, and I really need to move the right side out (drive side) to get the middle->small downshift reliable. I had to bend the outer edge of my *XTR* front derailleur in to get it to downshift at all -- IMO, you shouldn't have to bend expensive metal to make it work. After lots of careful tweaking on that cage, it's "ok". They really need to make a 116!!!
Rating's based on RaceFace's only making it in a 113 (and I believe a way too wide 135) and forcing everyone to follow their lead.
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Submitted by
Michael hardy
a
from Rhyl wales UK Date Reviewed: October 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
chainreactioncycles
Strengths:
strong, stiff, very pretty
Weaknesses:
optional DH cup's flange isn't offset to the driveside so it ruin's the chainline if used for it's intended purpose (I.E. fitting chain device) and that on a 68mm shell, don't even try it on 73mm without shaving loads off the drive side of the shell (not recomended)
Similar Products Used:
Raceface Prodigy Isis (went all lose after 1 month of commuting and XC?)
buy it if you got the cranks and the cash. if not, don't. there cheaper ISIS BB for the budget crank user's
much better than prodigy. still feels stiff but smooth to turn when cranks are off
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Submitted by
duh huh
a
from georgia Date Reviewed: October 5, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
supergo or pp
Strengths:
Specs sounds nice, four bearings ooooohhhh
Weaknesses:
Just more bearings to ruin
Similar Products Used:
shimano
Bike Setup:
2 wheels, handlebar, streamers on the grips and baseball card in rear spokes, makes it go vroooom....
Bottom Line:
Rode these for 500 miles on flat ground, never saw rain or mud puddles, got grit in 'em, probably from hosing bike off for regular cleanings. Lesson - avoid direct blasts from hoses around crank spindle. Bearings can be removed from axle fairly easily. I repacked all the bearings, will try it again. My cheap old shimano bb never got gritty in four years of similar use. I think RF has compromised bearing protection on this bb by making it "servicable". They ought to include spare bearings at that high a price.
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Submitted by
Max
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$78.00
Purchased At:
Roaring mouse cyclery
Strengths:
Works great. Smooth bearings. Servicable.
Weaknesses:
Had to torque like hell to get RF turbine cranks on.
Similar Products Used:
Isis: FSA (not isis standard, see review). Prodigy (early production issues: defective bearings). Square: LX.XT. FSA.
Bottom Line:
Great BB. A bit pricey but I hope it makes up for the price in the long run. It seems that the ISIS standard change a bit in the early days so I had big problems with FSA. I do not know why it was necessary to torque the crank screw so hard with this one. Will post update review in 6 months.
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from San Fran Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
Light weight
Weaknesses:
It broke !!!!
Similar Products Used:
UN 70, UN 72, other RF BB, FSA
Bike Setup:
Titus Quasi
Bottom Line:
Well, the BB felt great when it worked. Unfortunately, on a simple Redwood ride (xc fireroad) I felt stiction on certain parts of my pedal stroke. By the time I got back to the car, it was even flexing.
Took the BB out of the bike, and foudn that one of hte sealed bearings were crushed somehow (not sure how) and the axel was a little bent.
Great BB for weight, not sure about durability !
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Submitted by
Henry
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario Date Reviewed: August 16, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Seaton or The Rouge
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
-Really smooth -Great warranty -ISIS works great
Weaknesses:
Price, I think the regular price of $124 (Cdn funds) is a bit steep for a BB.
Similar Products Used:
LX BB
Bike Setup:
2000 Attitude Comp Stock Except for Truvativ Stylo Team Cranks and Race Face BB.
Bottom Line:
I'm using these with Truvativ Stylo Team cranks and I haven't had to tighten them yet, as a result of this BB the cranks really are much more stiffer than the standard tapered design. 4 chillies for value b/c of the price but 5 chillies overall b/c of the preformance you get out of them.
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Monterey, CA USA Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Well made and clear instructions.
Weaknesses:
Weight... Not as light as a TI square one
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth truth with Next LP etc.
Bottom Line:
This is a really nice piece. Even just sitting on my desk, everyone had to pick it up and look at it, but hey, what do you expect when you have a beautiful chunk of steel topped with two gold anodized aluminum cups.
Even with the really good instructions I had a question. I called Raceface and got an instant answer and when the previous reviewer said it took a special tool to install. Well, all ISIS bottom brackets take it. Hey, it’s only 10 bucks, so just drink a few less beers.
One of the best features about this is the adjustable chain line and it looks easy to rebuild, but with the really good seals that Raceface uses I don’t think I will be doing that soon.
Overall, ISIS is the way to go. . . and this is the best ISIS bottom bracket made. . . Until FSA comes out with a TI version. This should be soon.
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Submitted by
Grant
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane Australia Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Well made, include instructions well written and easy to understand.
Weaknesses:
The special tool required to fit an ISIS XS BB is not included with the BB. This fact is not advertised in any ISIS ads I've seen. The retailer was not aware of this and every bike shop I visited or phoned in Brisbane had no idea. Now you all know.
Similar Products Used:
XTR, Control Tech, Sugino
Bike Setup:
853 Hardtail Z2s and all nice bits.
Bottom Line:
Now you know about this special ISIS BB tool you can ask your retailer for it when you buy your BB and cranks (I guess). The product will probably get 5 chilli's, the company can take 1 and do what ever with it. They then have the hide to charge me for this $10 socket.
$
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