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I need some BB advice

607 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by SoloRider, Dec 23, 2005

SoloRider

Discussion Starter · Dec 22, 2005

I've just recently toasted my first ever bottom bracket. Wait that doesn't sound right, let me try again. I just recently toasted a bottom bracket for the first time. Ok, that kinda works, anyway I been riding for a good many years and normally my bike gets replaced, stolen, or falls off the top of my truck before the bottom bracket goes south and now I've got a couple of questions. My current BB is just a Race Face SRX that came with my bike and I'm thinking about just getting a straight replacement for now. Now this SRX is my first ISIS BB and I understand that they don't have the greatest rep, but for now I can't afford to spend the GDP of a small island nation on my bike, after all it is Christmas time and I just blew my wad on a Vanilla fork.

Ok, ok, on to the questions.

1. For the time being is there something out there in a cheap ISIS BB that is better than the others?

2. I'm pretty sure my Unit takes a 68x113 BB but what the hell is an "E-type"?

3. I'm looking to upgrade in 6 months or so to a new BB and crankset in the $150 - $200 range, I'm kinda looking at Stylo and Hone. What else should I be looking at?

4. When the upgrade takes place, how can I ensure proper chainline with the new crankset?

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1 - 7 of 7 Posts

single1x1

· #2 · Dec 22, 2005

fsa bb

SoloRider said:
I've just recently toasted my first ever bottom bracket. Wait that doesn't sound right, let me try again. I just recently toasted a bottom bracket for the first time. Ok, that kinda works, anyway I been riding for a good many years and normally my bike gets replaced, stolen, or falls off the top of my truck before the bottom bracket goes south and now I've got a couple of questions. My current BB is just a Race Face SRX that came with my bike and I'm thinking about just getting a straight replacement for now. Now this SRX is my first ISIS BB and I understand that they don't have the greatest rep, but for now I can't afford to spend the GDP of a small island nation on my bike, after all it is Christmas time and I just blew my wad on a Vanilla fork.

Ok, ok, on to the questions.

1. For the time being is there something out there in a cheap ISIS BB that is better than the others?

2. I'm pretty sure my Unit takes a 68x113 BB but what the hell is an "E-type"?

3. I'm looking to upgrade in 6 months or so to a new BB and crankset in the $150 - $200 range, I'm kinda looking at Stylo and Hone. What else should I be looking at?

4. When the upgrade takes place, how can I ensure proper chainline with the new crankset?

I have heard good things about the fsa platinum pro chromo bb, I think it is still cheaper then the raceface. That said I run older octalink xt cranks on one bike and have had no BB issues in 3or 4 years. My other bike is running profiles with the fsa BB conversion kit to run a euro bb on a profile or fsa bmx crank, no problems yet on this bb but it hasn't been on very long yet, my previous BB on the profiles was a S&M and it didn't quite last a year, piece of crap.
The hone crank sounds good, I hear the new lx is almost the same and possibly a little cheaper, I have a friend with the new xt and he loves it, had no problems yet, the lx and hone should be similiarly good, but a little heavier. I don't think that the hone or lx are availible in 180mm length, hope that's not a deal breaker, but you can still affix a pedal to the end of the crank arm. I'm not sure about the bb adjustability, if you are running a cassette hub you can move some spacers on that end.

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upstatesspdr

· #3 · Dec 22, 2005

If it's a singlespeed any 68X113 will work- The e type refers to being able to run a e type front derailler.
As far as the chainline I don't think a few mm will be critical but that's just my .02.
The bb spindle length will determine that so you have some choices there

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Eltbee

· #4 · Dec 22, 2005

I went throught the same thing with my Unit soon after purchase. I didn't care for those Race Face cranks. It was pretty easy to settle on the last-generation non-intergrated XT cranks. The octalink one with the fat arms. You could get them for 99 bucks a while back. For the BB, the 68x113 XT BB (UN-73?) didn't give me a good chainline so my LBS settled on a seemingly cheaper Shimano 68x121 Deore job (ES51?). I didn't think it would hold up but it's worked flawlessly.

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aka brad

· #5 · Dec 23, 2005

Form and function?

Can you say Shimano? I knew that you could. It would seem ISIS was a solution looking for a problem. The 1 deg taper required twice the quality control of Shimano's 2 deg. Truvativ was not seemingly up to the challenge and the rumors started to spread. I like the look and value of the Shimano Deore Octalink. Unfortunately, if you want something longer than a 175 you'll go to XT. I tried the Deores for a year and although they were stiff and bullet proof, I was already hooked on 180's.

I went back to my square taper Raceface 180 turbines; they truely rock, so of course they don't make them anymore. I know little about ISIS Bottom Brackets, but I would stay away from Truvativ. When you're ready for a new set, I would go with Shimano if you want the best bang for the buck. The real downside of the Deores are the chainrings (CR), but since your dealing with a SS, you pay your money and take your choice. BTW a four arm crank takes is a 104 BCD CR; Salsa makes a pretty good SS ring for about $17.

Now to answer your questions.

1. Don't know, probably not.
2. E-type bottom bracket is a bike where the front derailleur attaches to the bottom bracket.
3. I had a Stylo and it sucked; Hone is overkill unless you weigh over 200 lbs and again your stuck with 175's.
4. If you stick with the same size bottom bracket the chainline will be the same (unless you go with a square taper then it will depend on the crank; would probably be a 68x110).

Below is a photo of my then new Rocklobster and the dent in the chain stay where the Stylo crank arm flexed into the stay.

1G1G, Brad