Do external bb's

[JeRkY]

You dont get an axle, you get the cranks...they have the axle built on to them. External BB's will only work with suitable cranks. Shimano has its Hollowtech 2 range (current range cranks SLX,XT,XTR etc) Theres also the GXP system used by truative etc, similar idea but I think a slightly different diameter, then there is the new BB30 standard which is starting to creep in on the top end Sram XX stuff.

You cant use a standard square taper or isis crankset with an external BB, you must use the more traditional internal cups/sealed units.

 

[IDB1]

Okie doke.. didn't get that square taper + external BB was a no-go (despite it being already said here :roll: ) . .

So square taper is restricted to non-pretty bb's... bummer.

 

[Lysander]

It's no geat loss..........BBs arnae the most obvious bits of the bike..........

In my Valued Opinion ( ), there was nowt wrong with good old square taper axle in a cup and ball bearing setup- all ye needed was a check of the ball bearings every so often, and it would last forever.

 

[IDB1]

I hear ya. . . would've been nice to have something pretty down below though..

CRC do UN54 (which is LX kit iirc) for £15 delivered.. all around the interweb there are claims of them being good, solid, bombproof bb's..

So I guess that'll probably be it until I can afford a Royce (i.e. for ever )

 

[marin man]

If you buy an fsa team issue carbon in megaexo and then buy a new hope ceramic bb then bobs your uncle These bits are cheap

 

[IDB1]

pah . . .

Square taper is not negotiable. . .

 

[FluffyChicken]

I hear ya. . . would've been nice to have something pretty down below though..

CRC do UN54 (which is LX kit iirc) for £15 delivered.. all around the interweb there are claims of them being good, solid, bombproof bb's..

So I guess that'll probably be it until I can afford a Royce (i.e. for ever )

Given all but a very thin bit is in the frame and with the lower profile cranks most of it is covered anyway. Pretty doesn't really matter.

The UN54 are reasonably light for a cheap bottom bracket. You'll need the correct length of course. Probably classed as inbetween LX/XT compared to the one's from back in the day and the weight.
Anyways, if you look there are plenty of others to get, again though for looks it's all covered up.

I think Mavic or somebody actually did do an external bottom bracket for square taper 'BiTD', this was to create and effectively larger bottom bracket width.

I'll be honest though, I have an SLX chainset on my old bike and the bottom bracket looks crap. black, with a few plastic spacers against a red steel frame just doesn't look pretty.

 

[marin man]

Yumm Yumm

 

[IDB1]

Even worse. . . carbon too. . . no no no no no...... don't like the stuff.

 

[marin man]

I thought you had taste :shock: tut tut