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Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Lawrenceville
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | SRX cheapo. It lasted one year. | | Weaknesses: | I should have heeded the bad reviews for this BB.. but I learned for myself. The center casing came apart from the screw ends. Was discovered due to rattle noises, took it apart and thought "yeah this is junk". | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Evolve BB | | Bike Setup: | Mt Tam 29er (2002) | | Bottom Line: | Will try another vendor as this is the first BB I have ever worn out. Well.. it worn itself out do to bad quality. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Corvallis Oregon USA
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail that is extremely fast | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$9999.00 | | Purchased At: | Unknown, who cares? You get this anywhere | | Strengths: | Strong, durable, bearings easy to replace | | Weaknesses: | Steel axle is a little bit to heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX bb | | Bottom Line: | This bottom bracket has given me zero problems in more than 5 years of use. I way about 180lbs and ride in mud and wet nasty conditions for half the year. For the weight and strength of this bb it was well worth the price. I finally had to replace the bearings this winter. Bearings were cheap at $16 for the pair and easy to replace. I highly recommend it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Collin
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Strong, uh......strong! | | Weaknesses: | heavy, square tapered | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT | | Bottom Line: | i've been using this BB since '99 and it's amazing! I'm finally going to replace it this year. That's saying alot since it's been transfered from 3 bikes and has put up with 200lbs of beating on an everyday basis. By far, the most durable part on my bike. By the sounds of the new reviews, these aren't being made the same. But, if they are, this is the BB to get (well, it's square tapered, that kinda sucks) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | multi city loop | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | can't think of any | | Weaknesses: | price & durability | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | blur | | Bottom Line: | I read a review here where someone says they heard that some off shore company was actually making some of the Race Face BB's, well if that's the case, that might explain why the product information that was supplied with my bottom bracket was photocopied and not printed- I was wondering why I got a cheap and unreadable xerox copy. As for my the new BB...the frekin thing was defective before I even used it!! I turned the spindle in my hand and felt resistence (metal against metal), so I thought- put it on anyways and give it a try- I did it... and took it off 5 minutes later! What a piece of expensive junk!
This situation caused me to do for myself what the manufacturers of Race Face BB's don't do to well- that is put a reasonable amount of grease in the bracket. SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY AND DRILL A HOLE INTO THE BRACKET, INJECT GREASE INTO IT, PUT STRONG TAPE OVER THE HOLE AND DON'T WASTE ANY MORE MONEY ON A RACE FACE BB. I did this to my "new" (and defective) BB and it did allow the thing to operate for a few hundred miles with no problems. Now the noise is back, so I reinjected some grease-I'll see how long this fix lasts (probably not too long). No more Race Face BB's for this guy- I don't like expensive products that perform like inexpensive ones. Get your act together Race Face. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Saint Paul, MN
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Smooth, ok on the weight. | | Weaknesses: | Give me a warning..please! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Intense Tracer, XTR all the way, Race Face Cranks, love the setup. | | Bottom Line: | Out on a weekend ride with the peeps and the damn thing gave out on me. No warning or anything. Got back to camp and the bottom bracket was toast. Ended up cutting the ride short. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Racer
from New jersey
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ringwood | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Online somewhere | | Strengths: | Very smooth and light weight. | | Weaknesses: | Bearings did not last one year. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kula Deluxe, marzocchi x-fly, race facr next lp, mavic 3.1 w/ xtr hubs, sram x.0 rear and shifters, xt front, and some carbon stuff | | Bottom Line: | Bottom bracket was super smooth up until it died. It died without warning. Started the race with a solid bottom bracket and finished with poop. The bearings just died. For that much money it should last alot longer than one year. I am going back to Shimano, even there cheap bottoms lasted longer than that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leotis Denetclaw
a Cross Country Rider
from Socorro NM USA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Fantasy Island (Tucson) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Durability, Durability, Durability ...... Looks, and function. One of the best I've used ever. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing | | Similar Products Used: | XT BB, Suntour XCpro (greaseguard), as well as various shimano | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrown, Zochs X-fly, ringle hubs with rhino XL rims, raceface cranks, XTR derailuers, syncros stem and post, Monkeylite bar, Canecreek S-5 HS, and Time pedals | | Bottom Line: | I am a 230 lbs rider, I've trashed many XT BBs and was told is was a penalty due to my size and nothing could really be done about it. When this taperlock first came out I was willing to give it a try, it was the best upgrade on my bike to date (4 years). I find that many people do not torque this bottom bracket correctly, this is an important step. Maintance once a year and proper torque specs and I am convinced this thing will go forever. At 230 lbs not many things last, everything on my bike is beefed up, this light weight bottom bracket is right at home. I Love it and would recommend to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikerx40
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lightweight, adjustable chainline, strong spindle. | | Weaknesses: | Bearings toast after one season of riding (mostly dusty trails, never pressure washed or anything like that). Excessive bearing play that cannot be adjusted out. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano UN-71, White Industries Ti | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Hiwassee Full suspension, Manitou SX Carbon, Full XT and XTR, Raceface stem, bars, and X0 Seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | Though I have owned this product since 1999, last season was the first full season of regular riding. After just one season of normal XC riding (no drops or anything like that) the bearings are done. Lots of bearing slop, which is completely unacceptable. I've used cheap Shimano UN-71 bottom brackets for several seasons and they feel as smooth as the day I bought them! Time to get rid of this piece of junk and go back to what actually works. One flaming turd for this piece. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robbie
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontairo, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Multiple Orgasm | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Sportable | | Strengths: | Uber Strong, no flex, no creaking | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | shimano bbgay, truvativ | | Bike Setup: | Dmr Trailstar, Psylo XC, Rhyno Lites, XT XTR | | Bottom Line: | IF u break yer standard bb like I did this is a great upgrade for yer bike. I have had 0 problems from it and it has that cool red color. I also got an amzing deal! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Ogden, UT
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Binghams | | Strengths: | Super light weight!! Cool colors | | Weaknesses: | very flexy-I have the titanium version | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | '01 s-works hardtail with race face next cranks, full xtr, sid sl w/lockout, time ti axle pedals, cross max ust w/hutchison mosquitos etc. etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is the only product on the bike I semi-regret buying. I have the ti version because I am kind of a weight weenie. There just is too much flex in my crank arms. The race face next cranks were on my old fat chance with a generic shimano bottom bracket, they worked awesome-zero flex, super stiff and great looking!! When I purchased my s-works, I had them credit me for the cranks and put the race face on, since the cranks were the old taper square drive, I needed a new bottom bracket so the race face ti was a natural selection. There is now flex in my drivetrain that was not there previous. I weigh only 155 and am not hard on my components. This selection would have to rate as a failure in my opinion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | boggs | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | park cyclery sf | | Strengths: | weight
cool anodized red cups
easily replacable bearings
chainline adjustability | | Weaknesses: | bearing durability | | Similar Products Used: | shimano un 72 | | Bike Setup: | superlight--race face turbine, xtr, mavic, easton monkey lite, yada yada yada. the thing weighs in at 25.5 | | Bottom Line: | don't buy this bottom bracket. get an xt level shimano unit. the shimano is cheaper and the bearings seem to be more durable.
it seems that i was at my dealer every few months replacing the bearings in this bottom braket every other month. i am neither a heavy nor an agressive rider, either. i just ride three to four times a week at about two hours per ride, on normal cross country terrain.
although the race face bottom braket is light and stiff, it was not a product i was able to put on my bike and forget about.
three stars based on the product working very well with fresh bearings and the cool factor. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hopster
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Quantocks | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Does what it says on the box. My steel B/B has been through loads of mud and water, it has never creaked or moved in the frame. It is still smooth and I am looking to get a titanium version for my new frame. It currently resides on a single speed. Those that have had problems should check the threads in the frame and clean them with the proper workshop tools before installation. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Syncros, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Cameleon, Race Face Cranks, Hope XC4 brakes, Titec Bars, Kore stem | | Bottom Line: | Great B/B that is well sealed and runs smooth for years. I am not very heavy so I haven't encountered any reliability issues on the axle, however I would recommend the steel version for heavier riders. I have been a Race Face fan for years and have encountered no problems with any of their kit | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Keller, Texas
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Grapevine Bike Center | | Strengths: | Very nice, light, strong | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | Custom Gary Fisher Sugar 1 | | Bottom Line: | Alright.. This is an apology for the last review I did... (Brian-racer form Ft. Worth, Tx.) My bb worked awesome.. then the bearing thing happened.. started creaking, sent it it, no prob, got it back, the bb still felt the same way OUTSIDE of the bike, so I sat and stewed on how "stupid the Customer service guys are at Race Face which is when i wrote that last review.. which really I was the dumb ass. I installed the BB and it is flawless since, Sorry RF Cust. Serv. You guys rock, Awesome service, I forgot the one rule of thumb and ti will never happen again.... SHUT UP AND RIDE!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wyatt Lecadre
a Cross Country Rider
from Brooklyn,New York
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything I can get to | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Sid's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Stiff, Light, cool looks | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | stock Shimano BB | | Bike Setup: | Trek: OCLV Y22
Easton: CT2 MonkeyLite riser bar & CT2 seatpost
RaceFace: Ti BB, Chainrings, SYStem & Next LP
Onza: H.O. w/ Ritchey Red pads
Rock Shox: Judy SL w/ Styff Components Shockbone fork brace
MountainSpeed: Speed springs
SRAM: 9.0SL (98's)brake levers, shifters & rear derailer
Specialized: Stout hub (front)
Nuke Proof: ATomBomb(carbon) cassette
Mavic: X517 ceramic rims | | Bottom Line: | This product is excellent. I chucked my stock Shimano BB for this one and don't regret it. Once setup, leave it and forget it. For those of you with slipping BBs check the frame threads (for wear, size, etc., you should know what to look for, if not then ask; it's your bike take care of it) first use a little lok-tite to keep things in place. As for creaks I have none, but properly cleaned and lightly greased (wipe away excess) BB threads on the frame you should have none. If you still hear creaks listen closely it may not be the BB. Check your cranks instead.
Don't try to be a mechanic if you don't know what you are doing. Sometimes following the instructions just isn't enough for some people. Get a friend who really knows what they are doing and can teach you; if you don't what to pay a bike shop. I don't trust them either; I do all my own work (I'd rather break it myself), we all have to learn somehow.
This BB is't for you 180+ or DHers or those of you who don't think twice about taking an 8 foot drop. Their strong and light. Great chainline adjustability and very well lubed out the box. I haven't noticed any extra flex due to the Ti construction. Extra cool feature interchangeable anodized colored cups (got red cups but need blue, then order the blue replacements and vice versa). Red cups are standard on the chomoly and blue on the Ti so you know which is which. I set 5 chilis a flame for this product. Do. your homework. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim / Crest trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | aardvark and universal cycles | | Strengths: | It works perfectly for a long time without maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes you have to loc-tite it. | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | Intense tracer modified for 5" in the rear with Jr. T up front and Hope discs. Trek 8500 with King hubs and Marzocchi Z1 Alloy up front. | | Bottom Line: | Many people here complain of the noise these bottom brackets make. When properly set up, they don't make any noise. Sometimes, you'll run into a situation where the bb will move a bit in the frame housing (happened on my Intense with race face and on my old Trek 8000 with shimano bb). When that happens, you get all sorts of creaking. There's a simple fix and a little trick involved. The trick is that you have to be able to install a bb right in one try. The fix is that you get yourself some loc-tite (not the red...blue or less) and coat the threads of the bb before you put it in. You won't be able to take it out very easily, but you won't have to take it out for years and years. There will be no creaking and the thing will just be a smooth and happy as all get out. I haven't bent one yet in years of riding Utah and Colorado. I bent shimano pretty frequently. I can't use a Ti because I weigh about 200 lbs. Bottom line: Race Face works. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim / Crest trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | aardvark and universal cycles | | Strengths: | It works perfectly for a long time without maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes you have to loc-tite it. | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | Intense tracer modified for 5" in the rear with Jr. T up front and Hope discs. Trek 8500 with King hubs and Marzocchi Z1 Alloy up front. | | Bottom Line: | Many people here complain of the noise these bottom brackets make. When properly set up, they don't make any noise. Sometimes, you'll run into a situation where the bb will move a bit in the frame housing (happened on my Intense with race face and on my old Trek 8000 with shimano bb). When that happens, you get all sorts of creaking. There's a simple fix and a little trick involved. The trick is that you have to be able to install a bb right in one try. The fix is that you get yourself some loc-tite (not the red...blue or less) and coat the threads of the bb before you put it in. You won't be able to take it out very easily, but you won't have to take it out for years and years. There will be no creaking and the thing will just be a smooth and happy as all get out. I haven't bent one yet in years of riding Utah and Colorado. I bent shimano pretty frequently. I can't use a Ti because I weigh about 200 lbs. Bottom line: Race Face works. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Wright
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | 911, Chutes and Ladders, Woodlot | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Smooth | | Weaknesses: | Broke | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | RM6 | | Bottom Line: | Well, mine broke. Took an eight foot concrete wall drop, and cracked the bearing, but Race Face fixed it with no questions asked. Just for that, I give it four flamin' chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from T.O. Canada
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Trail Blazers Cycles | | Strengths: | -Super buttery smooothe cartridge bearings
-Stiff--red cups look cool
-Durable--made in CanaDa! | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found much yet, but it does tend to creak if you submerge it! lol . . . | | Similar Products Used: | Broke ass Sh!tmano stuff --I HATE IT! | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, Race Face, Full XT, King ect... | | Bottom Line: | Well, I'm not sure what all these people are bickering about! I ride through the water, mud, snow ect. and I've had no problems to date. The only thing I can see as a bad thing is that if you totally submerge it, it creaks a bit. But who cares? The bearings are smooothe as butter, the thing is super strong, and it kicks the big S out the window any day. So to all the people that are pissin' and moanin' down there . . .
SHUT-UP AND RIDE!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from T.O. Canada
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Trail Blazers Cycles | | Strengths: | -Super buttery smooothe cartridge bearings
-Stiff--red cups look cool
-Durable--made in CanaDa! | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found much yet, but it does tend to creak if you submerge it! lol . . . | | Similar Products Used: | Broke ass Sh!tmano stuff --I HATE IT! | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, Race Face, Full XT, King ect... | | Bottom Line: | Well, I'm not sure what all these people are bickering about! I ride through the water, mud, snow ect. and I've had no problems to date. The only thing I can see as a bad thing is that if you totally submerge it, it creaks a bit. But who cares? The bearings are smooothe as butter, the thing is super strong, and it kicks the big S out the window any day. So to all the people that are pissin' and moanin' down there . . .
SHUT-UP AND RIDE!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Berlin Md. USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeshop | | Strengths: | For 5 minutes it was sweet | | Weaknesses: | constant maintenance, of the pain in the butt variety.Always needing tightening,The cheap crap that came stock was better by far. Sucks the big one. dont buy it. | | Similar Products Used: | many | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper XTR Race Face cranks | | Bottom Line: | You can do much better then this product. You will spend less and be happier with almost anything else out there. I am talking about the ti model. This thing gets loose every time you ride more then a mile. Forget about it. Race Face should know better and I believe they do. Buy something else, anything else, there is no value in this product. There are enough parts of your bike that need constant maintenance already, the bottom bracket does not have to be one of them, but if you buy this crap it will be. For those of you employed by RF who dont like this review,change the product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisville
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Stiff, and strong | | Weaknesses: | the bearings come loose | | Similar Products Used: | xtr,xt | | Bike Setup: | Spooky Pit Boss, Marzocchi Xfly 100mm. | | Bottom Line: | Got a few good months out of mine, then i noticed slop in the bb, made sure everything was good and tight, then i noticed no matter how tight the bb was i still had slop. The bearings had gone crapola on me. The 2 buddies that had bought them also had the same problem. So now i am looking at 3 bb's that are going north for the summer. It looks like i will have to go back to the evil shimano empire, untill Chris King gets off his butt and gets his out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Cupertino CA
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The last one ridden | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Cupertino Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Weight | | Weaknesses: | Creaks | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Campi | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper M2 Pro with XT, Kooka Cranks, Raceface Rings, Paul breaks, 9 speed set up with double crank set | | Bottom Line: | I like the bottom bracket, but it sounds like hell. The Ti bb is really light. I run a 120mm on my mountain bike with 2 chain rings, and the set up give me real tight spacing. Gear ratio is good; I can get down to 1:1 allowing my plenty of spin for steep hills. On my cross bike I have a 110mm again with 2 chain rings. The set up was easy and the adjustability was great, but I cannot keep the thing from creaking. I have tried to lube the caps, but after just a couple of rides the bb begins to creak again. I have both the Ti and CoMO versions: CoMO on my mountain bike and Ti on my cross bike and both creak... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$66.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | Lifetime Warranty, Canadian made | | Weaknesses: | Creaky, Bad spindle and flexy | | Similar Products Used: | LX BB | | Bike Setup: | 1996 rocky mountain Hammer race with lots of raceface parts | | Bottom Line: | As a loyal, proud canadian, I like to buy canadian made products. Too bad I have had such bad luck with Raceface. Thir stem wont clamp tightly on my bar, their Headset was either too tight or too loose and ovaled my head tube and this BB has been taken in once for warranty because of a "machining tolerance" issue with the Spindle. The bearing popped off with the cups. they were supposed to be pressed on, bombproof, watertight and blah, blah blah. So, when all reassembled it worked like a creaky old model T, insted of the corvette I was expecting. Overall, the bke this was on was stolen and while I miss it, I don't miss it's problematic race face components. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | skiis and biikes | | Strengths: | durability, super smooth cartridge bearings, stiff axle. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | stx crap | | Bottom Line: | I'm doing the review on the raceface turbine b.b. I've had this b.b. since '96 and it has held up to EVERYTHING that i've done to it. I weight 195 lbs. and ride aggresive xc, freeride, and trials, not to mention huge drops.
This product is a worthy product and is probably one of the best non-splined b.b.s out there.
After such a long time, i think it is time to replace the cartridge bearings as they are starting to work themselves to destruction.
If you are thinking of still going the non-splined way then purchase a raceface taperlock b.b. or the new isis raceface b.b.
You can't go wrong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
raceface
a
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | your mom | | Bottom Line: | this one's for the ones who are b*tching about the BB. They have lifetime warranty, RF also said that they will replace ANY broken BB's. If it creaks, then send it in so RF can fix it. they are the ones who made them, I am pretty sure that they can fix their own product. Quit whining and send it in to get it fixed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tho
a Cross Country Rider
from Brussels
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Briançon, Fr. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$78.00 | | Purchased At: | Filip Sport | | Strengths: | Works really nice, when it works. very stiff indeed. looks. | | Weaknesses: | durability. Had to change the bearings after one year, which costed me about the price of an XT BB. Have to open it and clean twice a year. Maybe it's because of the muddy conditions in Belgium. | | Similar Products Used: | UN52 (not very strong) | | Bike Setup: | Scott comp racing | | Bottom Line: | In Belgium this bottom bracket is very expensive (more than twice the price of an UN72 (Shim XT)). So I am a little disappointed that it needs so much maintenance. It doesn't resist muddy conditions. For the money this thing costed me up till now, I could have bought a new XT BB every 6 months.
I wouldn't recommend this bottom bracket.
Next time I get Shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
El jefe'
a Racer
from Wellington NZ
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lees Grove | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Jvillecycles.cjb.net | | Strengths: | Light. Looks cool. Spins well. Replaceable bearings. Cromo spindle, should last well, I expect it too! | | Weaknesses: | Taperlocks get stuffed if you do not overtighten the BB as instructed in the RF spec. They are cheap so not a major. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX quality (heavvvvvy) | | Bike Setup: | 1993 (I kid you not) Litespeed Ocoee XC racer. 21.78 pounds | | Bottom Line: | Mine developed play after 6 months of minimal use (well I did do the MTB nationals). I am pretty lite weight (70 kgs)so was pretty disappointed, (cromo model). I talked to the national rep after the bearing people convinced me that my bearings were still sweet.He re-iterated the installation procedure which I have to admit I didnt really adhere to to the letter. I just installed as you would a normal BB. I didnt overtighten, back right off then re-tighten to firm. After I was sent a new taperlock set and re-installed, the slop has gone altogether. If your bearings are still good, then the Taperlock is the only other variable. My mechanic who is a heinous mongrol on his bike has had no trouble with his over two years and he is a hardcore freak. I guess I give it a year before I rate it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Mail Order | | Strengths: | Light, adjustable chain line, replaceable bearings | | Weaknesses: | None - except that you have to buy a replacement drive side cup if you want to run a BB mounted front mech | | Similar Products Used: | Hope, Shimano, White Industries, McMahon | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Cycle, Psylos, Race Face, XTR, Hope discs | | Bottom Line: | |
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