Ceramic GXP BB or not??

brucey72

My Sram GXP Team bottom bracket has developed a click and isn't spinning particuarly well after about after about 1200 miles. I took it apart and regreased it which solved the problem for about another 100 miles before the click started again so I will be replacing it and given that 1200 miles doesn't seem particuarly good I am considering going for a ceramic one this time or do you think I am just pi55ing the additional money up the wall?

Has anyone moved to a ceramic BB from a standard one and if so what, if any, difference did it make?

I was also considering getting this Hope BB and an adaptor kit as it works out slightly cheaper than the Sram one or should I just stick with the Sram one which I can get for £103:

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/16 ... -road.html

Any advice is welcome.

amaferanga

Sounds to me like you're not doing it up to a high enough torque Could be there's nothing at all wrong with the BB.

asprilla

I had a ceramic gxp bb. It lasted four months and 2500 miles before the races wore and rusted giving rise to play in the crankset.

Of course YMMV, but to say I was unimpressed was an understatement which was compounded by Tredz insistence that this wear was to be expected.

napoleond

I had a SRAM GXP BB, it lasted a very short space of time. I was told it was supposed to be stripped and regreased once every ~250 miles.
Bought a ceramic one, better but not by much.
Bobbins and the one big weakness with SRAM.

Thankfully I now have a Rotor Crank with BBRight BB...

springtide9

Hope Tech do BB for road bikes that are GXP compatible (you need the additional GXP adapter)
There is also an option for a ceramic version - which works out at about £100.

The BB seems very well sealed and Hope have a great reputation for BB's on MTB's - where they have a much harder life in terms of mud and water.

rozzer32

I had a Sram ceramic gxp bb and it was fine. Had it about a year with no issues. Although I probably re-greased it every couple of months.

ChrisSA

SRAM tech manual suggests ceramic BB should be greased every 100miles or after using in rain....

brucey72

Thanks for the advice guys - I'm really surprised by the longevity of these BB's. I had campag record chainset and BB before but changed it to the SRAM Red (long story but I need a 165mm crank length due to knee replacement and lack of knee bend). The campag one had done about 10,000 miles and I never serviced it once!!!

Having read a few more reviews and from what you have reported re the SRAM one I have ordered the Hope ceramic BB and adaptor kit.

bendertherobot

My SRAM non ceramic BB has been in situ for 2 years now. Prob 5000 miles or so. At least. No issues.

springtide9

brucey72 wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys - I'm really surprised by the longevity of these BB's. I had campag record chainset and BB before but changed it to the SRAM Red (long story but I need a 165mm crank length due to knee replacement and lack of knee bend). The campag one had done about 10,000 miles and I never serviced it once!!!

Having read a few more reviews and from what you have reported re the SRAM one I have ordered the Hope ceramic BB and adaptor kit.

Been very happy with my Hope Ceramic BB. It has been fit and forget (and I'm not one for being careful washing either)
I also like the idea of the BB being compatible with both Shimano and SRAM (the 'proprietary' standards drive me around the bend TBH)

ddraver

Go for a hope one. There may be prettier or faster, but there are none as long lasting and reliable!!