Chris King Bottom Bracket - Reviews?

[AnythingButKestrel]

I'm looking for a bulletproof, or at least bb-resistant bottom bracket for a SRAM setup. Anyone have experience with Chris King BB's? I know they start out tight, but that's OK. I would like to have a bottom bracket that might actually last a riding season and the stock SRAM apparently isn't the right horse to ride.

Thx!

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I'm also curious. Since it's King one would just presume that it's good and you get what you pay for. ScRAM BB's have been nothing but trouble, but that's really my only complaint with them.

 

[TexPat]

Have a set of Enduro bearings fitted to your bottom bracket cups for substantially less than a CK and you'll be sweet. Those things have proved to be very durable in wet and muddy New Zealand.

 

[forty four]

when does one know when a bb is no longer good? i have been riding my dura ace bb's for years maybe 30 or 40 thousand miles i assume i should replace it. on my s-works i have a hybrid ceramic bb made by origin 8 i will not be using steel bearings ever again the ceramics are exceptionally smooth noticeably better.

 

[lostintime]

I'm looking for a bulletproof, or at least bb-resistant bottom bracket for a SRAM setup. Anyone have experience with Chris King BB's? I know they start out tight, but that's OK. I would like to have a bottom bracket that might actually last a riding season and the stock SRAM apparently isn't the right horse to ride.

Thx!

CK BB's seem to get good reviews, but remember they are throwaways, the bearings are not replaceable , not for the user at least.

For my money I'd get a Hope Stainless model from Wiggle.uk for $80. They have excellent non contact external seals, and the bearings are fully replaceable. They have informative videos on youtube about servicing them too.

 

[fabramowski]

I have a C.King BB on my R3sl and it is a good BB. Better then the enduro bearings I use to use. I have about 1500 miles on it and it still runs smooth as glass. I have done zero work on it. If you don't Like the C.K. the other option I would chose is Phil Wood BB...

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

I have the Chris King Shimano BB; SRAM one is the same as far as I know, just SRAM specific. I only have 1,000 miles with it so far, but have been very pleased.

I like the fact that you can service it at home with just a torque wrench and a grease gun, provided you get the BB injector tool along with the BB.

 

[AnythingButKestrel]

CK BB was silky smooth and noiseless for 36 miles....I'm pretty sure the bike is actually faster with it....it was pure bliss....then my bike started creaking again. Not sure if it's the BB or something else doing the creaking.

I'm really starting to hate the amount of maintenance involved in road bikes. Motorcycles were easy compared to chasing these stupid gremlins.

Thanks for the feedback though.

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

CK BB was silky smooth and noiseless for 36 miles....I'm pretty sure the bike is actually faster with it....it was pure bliss....then my bike started creaking again. Not sure if it's the BB or something else doing the creaking.

I'm really starting to hate the amount of maintenance involved in road bikes. Motorcycles were easy compared to chasing these stupid gremlins.

Thanks for the feedback though.

Don't know if you looked at the Head Set as the cause of the noise. I had a "creaking" sound whenever I was out of the saddle and that was the culprit in my case.

Good luck.

 

[lostintime]

CK BB was silky smooth and noiseless for 36 miles....I'm pretty sure the bike is actually faster with it....it was pure bliss....then my bike started creaking again. Not sure if it's the BB or something else doing the creaking.

I'm really starting to hate the amount of maintenance involved in road bikes. Motorcycles were easy compared to chasing these stupid gremlins.

Yeah, I never had a creak from a bicycle in 3 decades until I started using cartridge BB's 10 years ago. From what I hear, the outboard designs are no better for noise. Now I've got a squeaky seat too, WTF ..... a seat that squeaks from the inside? Yeah ..... believe it, and it isn't the seatpost, I've use the same Campy SR one since the 80's.

The easiest way to isolate a BB noise is to take off the chain, roll down the driveway with the arms in the 9/3 position and kinda hop to apply pressure to the crank arms. Spin forward on rotation , do it again. If stil no noise try spinning forward a few rotations. If it's from the headset it's real easy to pinpoint it if you have good hearing. Just lean over and let your ears guide you. Or , put your bike on a trainer inside where it's quiet and stand on the chainless drivetrain and pull the bars back and forth.

PITA for sure.

 

[fabramowski]

Make sure you use anti-seize on your BB. It's aluminum on aluminum. Grease will eventually wear away. I do this on every metal part since I live in Florida. Stuff just seem's to rust just looking at it...