Designed for all current Shimano-compatible Hollowtech II outboard-bearing-style cranksets, this new bottom bracket from Hope offers a salient technological upgrade from the factory bearings with a bit of added style. At the heart of the matter are Swiss INA cartridge bearings custom-made for Hope. Offered in conventional hardened stainless steel and ceramic coated, these bearings are a definite step up in quality from the original OEM bearings. The bearings are set in machined aluminum cups, anodized in a variety of colors. The bearings actually sit slightly recessed in the cups and are covered by plastic labyrinth shields that run in grooves cut in the inside edges of the rims of the cups. The center water sleeve is also machined from aluminum, unlike the plastic common to the majority of OEM bottom brackets. The aluminum sleeve is indeed nice, but it is probably heavier than a plastic one. O-rings seal the sleeve as in the OEM Shimano. Sizing conforms to the Shimano standard: After switching this one in for the factory one that came with my XT crankset, no front derailleur adjustment was required.
After removing the OEM Shimano bottom bracket and cleaning the shell, I applied moly anti-seize to the new bottom bracket threads and installed it. I greased the o-rings on the center sleeve to ensure a smooth, waterproof fit. The cups threaded in easily and tightened down with no issues. After cleaning up the excess anti-seize, I removed the plastic bearing shields and covered the face of the bearing seals with waterproof grease and reinstalled the shields. With a light coat of grease on the crank spindle, the crankset slid in easily. The non-drive crank went on, was preloaded against the bearings, and was tightened down. Initially, the new bottom bracket felt very smooth, but the shear of the grease I put under the shields gave it some rotational drag.
With the new bottom bracket installed, I planned on shaking it down on Wednesday, but it started raining just as I was rolling the bike out of the house. Hopefully I can test it on Friday or over the weekend if there is a trail ride.
Recommended
About 113-grams according to Hope (not sure how heavy the OEM Shimano one is)
Around 50-55 UK Pounds (MSRP 65 UK Pounds)
Will post a review when I get the chance to ride on it.
BTW: if you’re wondering about the single BB spacer on the non-drive side, since the Ellsworth shell is 73mm, one spacer is required. I am running it on the wrong side to bring the chainrings in closer to the frame and improve the chainline… And, yes, it makes a difference!
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