Shimano Octalink vs Hollowtech II

kenan
kenan Posts: 952
edited August 2010 in MTB buying advice
Is the Hollowtech II much better than the older Octalink?

Need a new chainset and a Deore chainset with octalink is £35, but the Hollowtech II is £57. Is the newer set-up worth the extra cost?

Comments

  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    No probs with my bargain-bucket Deore chainset in 6000+ off-road miles. EN51 BBs are cheap as chips and last ages, steel middle ring is almost indestructable.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    it's a bit stiffer, yes but at the Deore end of the spectrum this may be a marginal gain and whether it is worth £22 is up to you
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    kenan wrote:
    Is the Hollowtech II much better than the older Octalink?
    YES. Far far better.

    However. Do you really need a new chainset? Maybe just a new set of chainrings is all you need.
  • FunBus
    FunBus Posts: 394
    a new set of chainrings would cost similar if not the same as a complete new chainset - especially if you're looking around £35
  • kenan
    kenan Posts: 952
    FunBus wrote:
    a new set of chainrings would cost similar if not the same as a complete new chainset - especially if you're looking around £35

    Sorry didn't say, its for a bike I'm putting together. I have an Octalink BB (second hand) so this is why this option would be cheaper. Planning to have the bike a few years so wanted to see if spending the extra woud be worth it.

    Bike is a On-One 456 so a hardtail if that helps :)
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I think Octalink has its place. Works well. And the BBs certainly last longer. No need to face the frame either.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Well, whilst octalink BBs do last longer, in my experience, the crank arms interface doesn't. A HTII bottom bracket has outlasted all Octalink cranks I've tried.
    I'm pretty heavy going on cranks though.
  • wordnumb
    wordnumb Posts: 847
    Only complaint I have with the Octalink is that I once broke the spider loose from the crank. I think that was a freak one-off and I replaced it for next to nothing. Added bonus is you don't have to face the frame with an internal BB.

    Kenan - you say the BB is secondhand, is the spindle the right length for the frame? (apologies if that's patronising, but it's worth checking before you buy the cranks etc)
  • kenan
    kenan Posts: 952
    wordnumb wrote:
    Kenan - you say the BB is secondhand, is the spindle the right length for the frame? (apologies if that's patronising, but it's worth checking before you buy the cranks etc)

    3 months ago I didn't know they were different lengths, but I have picked up loads building my last bike. Same length.

    Sounding like the extra £20 could be better spent elsewhere.

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