SRAM cranks & GXP B/Bs

Airmiles
Airmiles Posts: 101
edited May 2009 in Workshop
Faced with a choice of 105 cranks without BB, or Sram Rival with BB for only £7-50 more, I plumped for the Rival, as you would (and the cranks and chainrings look a class above).

However.... I fear I've backed myself into a corner with the GXP BB standard, as aftermarket replacement options appear thin on the ground (e.g. no Acros or Hope - their spacer bodge doesn't count).

Are these BBs OK?

Is the range of replacement BBS likely to get better over the next year or two? What are SRAM/Truvativ's market share?

Thanks

Miles
I'm not saying pedestrians in Hackney are stupid.. but a fixed bayonet would be more use than a fixed gear...

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Hope do a spacer that allows you to use a standard HTII / MegaExo design with a SRAM crank.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    just picked up a SRAM Red chainset and intend to use the Hope spacers on my Hope ceramic BB, as MD says.

    Is this the 'spacer bodge' you suggest?
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Hugues
    Hugues Posts: 115
    I have GXP BB's fitted to a couple of bikes and I've found the durability to be good (which is saying something as someone who is hard on components).

    The only thing to make sure is that you apply some anti-seize compound or good quality grease to the non-drive side portion of the axle shaft where it sits in the bearing. I've had one instance of a bearing seizing to the axle shaft, which makes getting the chainset of a real bugger :evil:
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    just finished fitting my Red chainset to a frame with a Hope BB (with Hope spacers) and it's fine.

    The SRAM fixing method is a bit odd, and it's harder to judge what's happening compared to a Shimano method, but the instructions are good and it all worked okay. Going for a ride tomorrow so we'll see how it settles in.

    In short, any Hope BB can be modified using the Hope spacers to run SRAM chainsets, and I suspect any Shimano BB would be okay too, although I couldn't confirm this.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I cant see the choice of GXP bottom brackets getting any better tbh.
    I've found most to be absolute rubbish.I had one that developed play after only about 40 miles.
    If it had to be GXP I would deffinately be looking at the Hope conversions, and I would never say anything that Hope does is a bodge, they are doing you a favor by making the best of a bad situation.
  • Hugues
    Hugues Posts: 115
    Can't see anything on their website, but I'm guessing that Hope BB's are not an option for anyone with Italian threaded BB shells ?
  • balfa_man
    balfa_man Posts: 9
    Acros will have a GXP compatable BB out in the coming few months. As with our other BB's it will be available in Italian Thread fitment & BSA.

    Jamie @ Balfa UK

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