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Average Rating
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2.78/5
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# of Reviews
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36
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MSRP
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$ 89.00
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Weight
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More Products from Race Face
Submit a Review
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Description:A refined version of last year’s XS ISIS BB, the Signature XS is the perfect high performance, multi use bottom bracket. It is light enough for cross-country use but strong enough to take the hits you’re willing to throw its way.
Features:
ISIS Drive
CNC machined, heat treated, hollow, bored out M15 chromoly spindle
Shot peened finish for strength and nickel plating for corrosion resistance
Double row angular contact bearings
Proprietary non side loading design
Forged and CNC’d aluminum cups and reinforcing sleeve
Heat treated stainless steel crank stoppers
8 independent seals to keep out contaminants
Adjustable cups fit 68 and 73mm shells and allows adjustability of the chain line
Sizes: 108mm 113mm
Shell compatibility: 68 & 73 mm (adjustable)
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Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Bearings never failed. Cranks stayed on. Spindle didn't break. | | Weaknesses: | Insane friction from day one all the way through two solid seasons of XC riding and racing. Bearing held up, but way too much drag. Finally pulled it out and put in a FSA Platinum. Heard their bearings are junk, but at least the spindle turns. | | Similar Products Used: | Truvative ISIS in other bike. two years on that one and still going strong. | | Bike Setup: | full rigid single speed. | | Bottom Line: | Bearings held up great for two years but the friction never went away. Spindle felt stiff when not installed, but after cranking on the cups, it was really tight. Wish King would come out with an ISIS bb. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary White
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | ? San Rafael, Ca, USA | | Strengths: | Lightweight and uses the ISIS system | | Weaknesses: | Bearings, bearings, bearings. I forgot to regrease the bearings and the BB was shot within 500 miles. | | Similar Products Used: | Siganture ISIS FR, Prodigy ISIS XC & FR | | Bike Setup: | Cove Stiffee FR 17” frame (2002 model); Mavic F618FR rims with Hope Bulb hubs; Panaracer tyres (various, change with seasons); Hope C2 brake system; Race Face Atlas crankset c/w 44-32-22 rings; Shimano 12-32 XT cassette; Sachs PC69/99 chain; Shimano M636 DX pedals; Fox Float RLC forks (set@ 100mm travel); Race Face Prodigy seat post, Easton EA50 Monkey riser bars, Easton EA50 stem (90mm, 10 degree rise), Koobi SI saddle; XT shifters (non-rapid rise) and front mech, XTR rear mech (non-rapid rise), XTR cable set; Chris King headset. This is my new bike set up after I removed the North Shore cranks and Signature BB | | Bottom Line: | No one likes taking out BBs unless they have to, so why design a BB that needs to be removed and regreased 'every three months'. I have a seven year old Shimano UN72 that is still spinning smoothly! Very expensive too, so sealed bearings should be the order of the day. The RF Prodigy series is much better - and half the price. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Northampton, UK
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Pitsford Cycles | | Strengths: | Hmmmm.... No, I can't think of any! Well, the cranks stayed on OK, but they should..... | | Weaknesses: | Ineffective sealing from water. Quality control? | | Similar Products Used: | RF SRX and Truvative gigapipe. Both just as bad.... | | Bike Setup: | On-One EBB Inbred | | Bottom Line: | Just as bad sealing as the other ISIS BBs, though the seals look like they should work better. It looks like there is no way to make an ISIS BB that can effectively seal against the elements, as there isn't enough room for the seal (or bearings). My first of these BBs disintegrated on one long ride, it didn't even last 100 miles, though I think there was something wrong with that one from new, and it was replaced by the shop. The second one had the drive side bearing corrode after about 300 miles riding, and that bearing has now been replaced under warrenty. Lets see how long the bearings last this time. I can't be taking the BB apart after every wet ride to clean and dry it out!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Squish
a Weekend Warrior
from Aberdeen
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Light weight, stiff, adjustable chain line, ISIS spline over 800 miles (before bike was stolen) and no creaks. | | Weaknesses: | Cups can work loose, but that's just something that should be on you maintenance list any way | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano ES-50/70 | | Bike Setup: | It was a Trek 8000 Frame, Marzocchi Atom Race 100, Turbine cranks, SRAM X.0 Etc. | | Bottom Line: | Okay, I'm 220lbs about, and usually have trouble with my bottom brackets loosening and creaking. Not the case with this thing, it worked flawlessly for the brief 6 months I got to use it before some one decided they needed my bike more than I did. The only problem I did run into was the cups loosened up on me once, all you have to do is check them once in a while and you'll be okay with that one, but it's still enough to loose one chili over. I did notice initially that the seals were really draggy, but when you consider how many seals there are keeping the crap out it's to be expected. I saw a lot of reviews complaining about the fact that the spindle turned kinda stiff, but it's not something I noticed while I was riding, so it's not a big deal.
In all I really liked the bottom bracket, and will probably be getting another one for my new Turner.
I would definatley recommend this to anyone looking for a light weight, reliable bottom bracket.
happy trails... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manny
a
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Stiff. Smooth. Reliable. Trick. Well engineered. | | Weaknesses: | Cups need slight tightening every 2-3 months, or squeaking develops.
Price. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Octalink (XT/XTR); Race Face CroMo Tapered. | | Bike Setup: | Tracers- W/ RaceFace Next LP's (Red & Black), Signature XS ISIS BBs. | | Bottom Line: | I've had a RaceFace Signature XS BB installed in my '03 Tracer since I got it new. It always performs well and has never needed replacement or maintinence, aside from a little cup tightening.
**I see that it has a lot of bad reviews.... that's too bad! Seems like every manufacturer has had problems with their BB's - ISIS/Octalink splined, and square taper. Unless everyone is switching to Hollow Spindle/External BB type setups, I figure that ISIS is still the best option.
Don't sell yourself that external bb's, and thicker 'hollow spindle' cranks are the only way to go. There's plenty of reviews that rate them at the SAME low level, and discuss many mechanical complaints.
I don't mind a little squeaking, either. Aluminum is brittle, and aluminum cup BB's screwed tightly into aluminum BB housings are bound to start making noise. Frames are pretty stiff nowadays, too!
I just wish that the BB price could come down to more respectable levels.
5 chilis for performance 'cause it's been a great upgrade to ISIS.
4 chilis for value. LOWER the price, man! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nuno jardim
a Cross Country Rider
from lisboa, portugal
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Stiffness,durability. | | Weaknesses: | maintenance,wheight,price. | | Similar Products Used: | Snimano XT square and octalink
race face square | | Bike Setup: | moratti ti hardtail, crossmax sl disc tublless, sram xo shifter and rear drailleur, turbine lp issis, thomson seat and steam, hope minis, fox float rl, maxxis larsen tires | | Bottom Line: | this review is for the double row angular contact bearings version:
after riding hard for about 800 miles on mud and wet condition last winter and 2000 miles total, this thing still work perfect. Ok, reading all reviews here alert me for the maintenance issue (regrease the bearing and crank interface), but unlless you want a component to fit and fogert you should consider this BB.
Think for an instant, no company have come up (untill now ) with a decent problem free BB.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron Carlson
a
from Boston
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything you dont have to share with hikers | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good looking, strong axel | | Weaknesses: | Does not stay tight, bearings shot in three months! | | Similar Products Used: | None. First and possibly last ISIS setup. | | Bike Setup: | Intense XVP loaded with goodies. | | Bottom Line: | I have to say I am really disappointed with this bb. Not only was it pricey but for that price I got a measly 3 months out of it before it started literally falling apart. It made more noise than a jackhammer constantly loosening up. Also the bearings are not sealed as well as RF claims. I like the ISIS concept but for the money nothing out there beats Shimanos cheap UN72 bb. They last forever and stand up to an ungodly amount of abuse. You could by four or more of them for the price of this Canadian made POS and never burn through them all. I have since sold my RF cranks and put my old XTR cranks back on along with the highly reliable square tapered UN72 bb. Not the most sophisticated setup out there but at least it's reliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hobart
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Very stiff, looks bomber, relatively light | | Weaknesses: | Have to grease and retighten the cups every few rides due to insane creaking and grinding. Spindle is very tight. | | Similar Products Used: | Various square tapers | | Bike Setup: | full rigid ss, RF Turbine cranks | | Bottom Line: | After a few hundred miles, I noticed a popping/creaking noise that quickly turned into an insanely loud cracking like the frame was broken. Finally decided to give the BB a little more grease and a tighten and the sound was gone. After about 3-4 rides the sound started coming back. I guess the cups just won't stay tight.
Also, when I first installed the BB at my LBS, I noticed the spindle was so tight that you could barely turn it by hand. LBS said it was just new. After several hundred miles, it's just as tight. At least I have an excuse for riding slow.
Stick with the square taper BB's and wait until Shimano and Race Face perfect the external BB. ISIS is a great idea, but doesn't seem to work in real life. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gizmo Burbank
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any and all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Stiff, pretty, light | | Weaknesses: | Cups come loose. very tight spindle. | | Similar Products Used: | Various shimano square tapers | | Bike Setup: | Custom steel single speed, full rigid, 29'er. | | Bottom Line: | I am not surprised that I'm disappointed by this bb based on all the crap reviews all of these ISIS bb's have received. Cups started to work loose after 3 months and it sounded like the frame was cracked. God aweful noise. Had to buy the special crank puller and bb tool to tighten it up, but now the cracking and popping is gone...for now. When installing the bb, noticed the spindle was very difficult to turn. Almost couldn't turn it with my fingers. LBS speculated it would free up after a couple hundred mile. Not. When I went to tighten cups, noticed the spindle is still very difficult to turn. What the hell? Like someone else said, Race Face makes great products, as long as they don't contain bearings. My theory is since they increased the diameter of the spindle, there is less room for the bearings. great stiffness, crappy bearings. Figure I'll wait a year and see how their new X-type Deus cranks fare. that external bearing idea sounds like the schaboozle. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Somerset, England
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Gold cups | | Weaknesses: | Durability | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano BB's | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC | | Bottom Line: | I thought this would be the answer to all my BB problems, how wrong I was. Firstly it was a pig to fit, I had to use so much torque to get it fitted properly. Then after only about 3 months (riding once a week) of use the bearings began to wear out which meant that the axle started to rattle around. Finally, I was gently riding along the road when the splined part of the axle just snapped off. The BB has just been used for light xc use over the winter no jumps or drops. I wouldn't expect this sort of performance from a £15.00 Shimano BB let alone a £90 one. Buy shimano and stay well clear of this cr@p. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ratt
a Cross Country Rider
from Socal
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any with long single track | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$69.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | adjustable chainline, quality build | | Weaknesses: | lack of support from Raceface, expensive for what you get. | | Similar Products Used: | none my first isis BB | | Bike Setup: | lite weight fs | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line don't waste money on this one year warranty BB, get the 2 year warranty Evolve XC. I posted the 2nd review of this product 2 years ago and it finally died on me. The BB needed to be lubed every 900 mi and worked fine till last week after about 3-4k miles. I tried to get replacement bearings for it, none of my lbs will order the bearings for me since QPB has a $150 minimium order. My fault i guess for not building a relationship with any of them but they are bozos and price gougers what was i supposed to do? Tried to get Raceface to service or sell me the bearings, pretty much got told to go away, they were polite about it but no help at all.You have been warned, don't waste your money here, buy cheaper disposible BB or one with a better warranty. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod Munch
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, California
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Stabbin Cabbin Rampage | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Gold cups poking thru BB shell are off the Blingometer. Weight pretty good compared to other ISIS units, but not so hot when you factor in price. | | Weaknesses: | I was upgrading my '99 Razorback and had the [flawed] notion to go "bargain" on the crank and "sweet" on the BB. I wanted durability 1st, light weight 2nd. | | Similar Products Used: | All Shimano MTB & road, LX-XTR, 105-Dura Ace since '90 or so. | | Bike Setup: | '99 K2 Razorback, XT, Mars Comp Coil, Prodigy XC, Salsa Shaft, Kore stem, Bontrager Racelite bar, Trek OCLV endz, Colorado Cyclist 517/Revolution/XT wheels, 26.8 pounds with coils | | Bottom Line: | I was upgrading my '99 Razorback and had the [flawed] notion to go "bargain" on the crank and "sweet" on the BB. I wanted durability 1st, light weight 2nd. Well the Prodigy cranks made me happy. They were strong and never needed attention. But this $80 BB first came with 2 left cups. My LBS contacted RF and got it sorted out. Once installed, it developed pings & knocks in the frame after a year (that I mostly rode road). After two years, the cranks froze. I took the bike in (afraid of a frame crack I couldn't find) only to discover that the BB was "completely destroyed" per my LBS mechanic. I'm a fast XC rider, no drops, and I don't ride in mud. I expect a BB to simply not give me grief. This puppy cost a lot, failed, and now Race Face says they won't even look at it without a receipt. Well, easy enough. I won't buy Race Face BB's from now on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tracer
a
from Montreux CH
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Sams | | Strengths: | stiff
adjustable chain line | | Weaknesses: | bearings
cups | | Similar Products Used: | rf taper lock, fsa, shimano | | Bike Setup: | Uzzi-SLX, Z1 FR, XT, Race Face bla bla bla | | Bottom Line: | I had these in my Tracer and they worked well, that's till the bearings locked up. I heard they had redesigned them and decided to give them a try.
First the drive side cup would not go in. Went to the shop they did not dare go on either. So two days later I got a new cup, went in like butter.
After a month the drive side started to develop play. Tightened the cup over and over again but kept on developing play, worse it started to ruin the bb shell. I think the bb shell of the Uzzi is a bit roomy, this does not hold the flange less cups well.
I've changed to an FSA with flange on the drive side and it's holding up for months now. Also much and much cheaper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adrian
a Weekend Warrior
from cornwall
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Stiff, strong, not too heavy, the only BB I've used in the last five years or so that doesn't crumble after any drop off of more than four feet | | Weaknesses: | None, although the bearings are a little fiddle to re-grease | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ, Shimano, FSA | | Bike Setup: | Cove G Spot, Mavic XLs, full Race Face finishing kit, Fifth ele rear shock, Fox Vanilla RLC forks | | Bottom Line: | Have heard bad things about these BBs but have now got three bikes with Race Face signature BBs and am well impressed with them. Light, strong, stiff and seem pretty bombproof. Have had two of the BBs in there for approx two years and the bearings are still going strong and I've done soome pretty sick stuff on them. I go thru square taper BBs like they're going out of fashion and had a load of trouble with Octalink which was why I tried ISIS.
I'm glad I did, I would recommend them wholeheartedly | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from WM
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | I have had great results with this bb. In the past when i have had problems with raceface i woudl call them up and take care of my problems. I usually end up with new parts from them. They have had a couple of bad batches get out and usually acknowledge the problem if you call them and ask. I have had this bb in a tracer, a 5 spot and a fuel. This bb takes more abbuse than my 960 xtr cranks & bb unit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LP Morat
a Cross Country Rider
from The Shadows of Diablo, CA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | wall ridge/xanadu | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson Rules! | | Strengths: | ISIS - Stiff, Smooth, Strong Ass spindle/crank interface. Bearings seem great to me, and I've been mud-bogging in clay so deep i thought i might have to leave the bike or die - no joke. Yet I power on week in, week out.
So Far So Good... | | Weaknesses: | None To Note | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Truvative (Bad outta the box!) | | Bike Setup: | Airbourne Paka-Wallup, race-face ISIS next lp - so sweet, candy sl pedals. I love the set. | | Bottom Line: | - new BB? Better Install?? Better Frame (Ti)??? Probably D, all of the above. It's working great, and I'm a big dude who likes to climb and bomb - old school, like johnny T! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from DC/Baltimore
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | dry | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good spindle to crank arm interface | | Weaknesses: | BEARINGS | | Bike Setup: | Intense Tracer | | Bottom Line: | I've gone through two bottom brackets now. First one developed at click every crank revolution. It turns out that one of the out bearing-race cracked. I shoulda stuck with Shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | I wish this BB had strengths! | | Weaknesses: | From the start it was a hassle as Raceface requires a special installation tool that only they sell! Once installed I was happy for about three months and then the creaking began. Now the thing can be heard for miles around and it has a lot of play in it. No doubt that total failure is coming soon! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD4 blah blah | | Bottom Line: | I bought this BB because I was scared to use the BB that came with my Prodigy crankset (it too is rated very poorly). It was a waste of money. I ride often, but I baby my bike and it was not subjected to anything but the usual pounding. Does anyone make a good ISIS bottom bracket? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Colorado Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Strengths: | ISIS interface to cranks, weight | | Weaknesses: | None Yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur, Chris King headset/hubs, XTR shifters/cassette/RD, Race Face Next LP cranks, Marzocchi Marathon SL | | Bottom Line: | I read all the negative comments regarding this bottom bracket but because of a very positive history with Race Face components I made a decision for it anyway. Todate this has been a very positive decision. Yes, I did have a very good technician do the install. In fact due, to troubleshooting some creaking, which turned out to be in the pivots on the frame, the BB was reinstalled twice thereafter on the Blur. So, having moved it from my hardtail to the Blur this totaled four installs, no issues. The bearings have performed admirably. Yes, I do take care of my gear because I depend on it not to fail. I ride at about 155 lbs. and get in 50-60 miles of singletrack a week May through Oct. By the way this set-up rocks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gomez
a Cross Country Rider
from eugene OR
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | beyondbikes | | Strengths: | light, stiff, strong | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | 03 heckler, king parts, raceface parts, thomson parts, shimano parts, etc. | | Bottom Line: | start buy saying i am not a heavy rider. after several difficult trails and many miles including downhill runs at the local ski park this bottom bracket has surived it all. i have already worn out my pivot bearings and considerably loosened up my rear hub but the bb is just fine. if you are a heavier rider or are really hard on your products try the sig fr. it is not that much heavier and much sturdier. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Steed Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong
Great Warantee
Great spline quality and finish | | Weaknesses: | Fairly Expensive
Loosens over time
Bearings aren't great
Won't fit certain frames without mods (it physically won't fit into the shell) | | Similar Products Used: | XT and XTR (both great), Truvativ and RF taperlock (not so great) | | Bike Setup: | 02 .243 lightish freeride set-up | | Bottom Line: | An otherwise decent bb that refuses to stay tight, the threads seem to be of poor quality and refuse to hold no matter how much you torque down the cups. I've had similar problems on my RF taperlock, but never on any other bb. I gave up and just locktighted it into my frame. Also on so frame it won't fit through the bb because of clearance issues. For example Norco VPSs have a reinforcing ring inside the bb shell that must be filed slightly in order for this bb to fit. There are better BBs out there, especially for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duane
a Racer
from Shippensburg, PA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in Michaux | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat.com | | Strengths: | Pretty, looks heavy duty, raceface name | | Weaknesses: | doesn't fit, too big to install | | Similar Products Used: | shimano, bontrager, truvativ | | Bike Setup: | 2001 K2 Zed Team, RS Duke, 9.0, crossmax ust, stilo team cranks | | Bottom Line: | This seems like a great bottom bracket if it fits into your ride. There is a super tiny lip in the middle of my bottom bracket shell that won't let this thing slide in properly. It's odd that I have had this problem with NO other bottom bracket that I have tried. The thing is just TOO big. This lip is something you almost have to feel to realize that it is there. Hello Raceface, maybe you should rethink your tolerances on this one. Plus or minus 5% could make all the difference. Picked up a Bontrager Race Lite at the lbs for $35. At this price I can replace two of these and still save money on the non-fitting raceface.
Buy at your own risk.
3 chilis for value - this thing isnt' cheap
1 chili for crappy fit issue | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Livonia, MI
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to list! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$69.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond Bikes | | Strengths: | Light weight (um..well..that may be it's weakness too!) | | Weaknesses: | Poor bearing durability, TERRIBLE CUP DESIGN!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano taperlock | | Bike Setup: | Foes FXR w/Curnutt, Fox TALAS RLC, XTR, RaceFace next LP cranks, Sung-Ringle wheels | | Bottom Line: | In RaceFace's quest to make light weight products, they obviously forgot about durability when they made this bottom bracket.
I first installed RaceFace bottom bracket on my old Mountain Cycle, it only took about 2 months before it started to fall apart. I ride most in dry weather, so this is completely unacceptable! I pulled the cranks off & the outer seals on the bearing fell off! How about that for quality. I put a new one in, & sure enough a few months later, the spindle had some play in it as well as a little bit of grinding!
The other problem is the cups. How about giving us some threads for once? You might as well of wrapped some aluminum foil around the ends of the bottom bracket. Shimano bottom brackets thread very easily every time I use them. When I recently built my FXR up, I chased the threads before I installed the RaceFace. Then I partially threaded in the non-drive side, which went in like butter. Then I started the drive side, & noticed that it was starting to bind up by the second turn. I immediately stopped, & inspected the spindle to make sure it was still centered in the bottom bracket shell, it was. I decided to remove the whole assembly & take it down to my shop.
I pulled the drive side out with no problem (the side that was binding), and the threads on the frame were fine. Then I started to pull the non-drive side, and noticed that it was turning but the cup was not coming out. All the threads came off the cup as soon as I turned it. I ended it pulling it out with two needle-nose pliers. Of course, the cup was shot, & the threads on my frame were all buggered up! I took it down to the shop, chased the threads, and installed a Shimano unit right away, with no problems.
Unfortunately, there are only about 10 microns left on the non-drive side threads. So, I may have to heli-coil the frame (a $2000 frame!) at a later date, all thanks to this bottom bracket.
Now, some of you may say that I am an idiot because I cross threaded the cups. I work in a manufacturing plant, I know how to install anything that has threads. I started both sides by hand. The non-drive side went in almost 2 turns before I used the socket. The problem is that the cups are too thin, they warp way too easily. If there was some more meat to these cups, this probably wouldn't happen. I plan to take a thread guage tomorrow and measure the threads on this bottom bracket too.
Bottom line: RaceFace lost another customer. My friends that work at shops have many of the same problems with these bottom brackets. For the sake of your frame, DO NOT BUY THIS BOTTOM BRACKET! IF you DO manage to get the bottom bracket in, you will only have to REMOVE it again in a few months when the bearings are shot. I learned the hard way...I am back with Shimano. If I could give this product ZERO chillies, I would. It is a piece of junk. Bert & Ernie could engineer a better bottom bracket. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Brassington
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh, UK
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | hodge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Biketreks | | Strengths: | Easy to fit, lightish | | Weaknesses: | Bearing play after 6months, complete failure after 12 months | | Similar Products Used: | FSA, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Bullit, Fox Vanillas, Sun Singletrack, Hope minis, XT | | Bottom Line: | I've given up on ISIS (and Race Face), after FSA B/B lasting 3months then a $100 race face developing play after 6months. Going back to shimano even if I have to replace every 6months it will still work out cheaper. Race Face market themselves as hardcore but some of there products (anything with bearings in !) just don't make the grade | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob T
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Henry Coe State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Its stiff.spindle and hole in crank arm will outlast square tapered types.Its really nice to have the little grease holes! | | Weaknesses: | I'll have to wait and see if bearings last.Seals allow a bit of water to come into the bracket,but that may be due to my submariner habits! | | Similar Products Used: | Phil Wood(great)Shimano,Campy,Stronglight(old days) | | Bike Setup: | Turner 02 its a nice bike! | | Bottom Line: | Still turning smoothly after many deep water immersions all winter and spring.I pulled it out to shoot in some grease last week.As I did so it took a lot of grease and when it was filled up a bit of water came out past the seals.This leads me to believe that there is no way to keep water out.My old Phil Woods would last 2 years with no maintainance,but then the bearings would need replacing.I'll keep periodically greasing it so we'll see how it lasts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Ecclestone
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Update, after replacing shot bearings and packing the whole unit with lube, it managed to survive another 8months. When removing the bb, it virtually exploded - bearings and bits of housing everywhere!.
| | Bottom Line: | Ive come to the conclusion after trying a FSA bb (it lasted 3weeks) that the ISIS design is flawed, by making the OD of the splined interface bigger than the Shimano octalink there is no room left to fit decent sized bearings.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
derby Marin
a
from Marin
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | RaceFace warrantee | | Strengths: | Stiff | | Weaknesses: | 1) hard to get cranks on and off compared to square taper.
2) high viscosity lube slows free spin. | | Similar Products Used: | Prodegy ISIS (2 times junk in 3 months previously, maybe fixed like Signature now). FSA ti ISIS (junk in 3 - 4 months) | | Bike Setup: | Tracer, coil springs, Avid discs | | Bottom Line: | Seems like Raceface fixed the problem of rapid wear (sloppy in two rides, junk in 4 months) with my first Signature XS. They warrantied it. I talked to the warrantee manager Andrew, and he said the new one they replaced mine with uses different bearings and they now pack the bearing with much higher viscosity lube.
Apparently the changes worked, because after two months of use with much mud riding the BB is still bearing slop free. It's tight. It still doesn't spin the cranks completely freely like a Shimano BB. But the added stiffness over a tapered spindle is noticeable.
If it lasts a year and a half like my old square taper XT BB's did riding the same conditions wet and dry under my 20 |
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