ElJamoquio

Hey, I figured there hasn't been a Motobecane thread lately.

Anyway, I needed to know what bottom bracket threads the '05 Le Champion SL has - I'm thinking about replacing mine. Anyone know?

Anyone have recommendations of a comparably light bottom bracket?

hmai18

English threads.

Is your existing BB ISIS or one of the external bearing/through axle ones? Why are you looking at replacing your BB?

badkarma

I put a Truvativ gigapipe in last year to replace that POS BB that came with my bike. I don't know its weight off hand, but it was reasonably inexpensive, and it's smoother than the stock BB.

ravenmore

ISIS BB's wear out quickly and the one that came with the Le Champ SL was a super light BB that breaks down easily. I replaced mine within 3 months. Rest of the bike is great though.

ElJamoquio

Mine is an ISIS. I'm getting a 'click' on some pedal strokes; independent of the scraping noise posted in another thread. I don't think it's the pedals, I think it's the BB.

toshi

What'd you replace yours with, Ravenmore? I think I have a very similar ultralight bb on my fuji sl. No problems yet after chasing/facing/retorquing the thing (it was clacking after its first few hundred miles).

I've heard that the bb on these bikes are rather soggy, but frankly I can't feel it. I weight about 143 now and that, and/or my elfin wattage, may be why.

Ostuni

consider a raceface - when i was there doing that it was what my lbs yoda recommended.. forget which one...

and do what toshi done if you have not already: my bb shell was fairly wacky on that bike - so much so that the crank wobbled like a silly thing - but once chased/faced and reinstalled everyone was happy...

come to think, i never replaced the bb... I MIGHT EVEN STILL HAVE IT???

<sound of footsteps... rummaging through workbench drawers....>

must have ebayed it? but sure found a lot of other goodies... time to do some ebaying...

ravenmore

Toshi - I replaced it with a Truvative Giga Pipe SL, which is actually lighter than the FSA Platinium BB (the chromolly not the Ti). I know because I purchased a FSA Platinium BB later (reputed to be pretty light) and the Truvative was 5 grams lighter.... doh! $80 down the tubes.... What do they say is soggy on the bike? Mine was plenty stiff to me and I weigh 200 pounds. My Scott Speedster is stiffer, but it is a torture device so I don't know if that is a good thing. A very fast torture device.

Ostuni - I've also heard very good things about the Race Face cranks. Most roadies have never heard of them, but they are hallowed ground for mountain bikers. I think they only have one road crank out right now - roughly an Ultegra level offering. I think they're running about $180 on ebay. I heard they have plans for a higher level crankset though sometime in the not too distant future.

ElJamoquio

Uh... is the bottom bracket a 68X118?

rob999

My '06 Le Champ SL is a 68x108

Also, I will add that the BB that was in my bike died during it's tune up (as in before I ever road it)...
When I pulled it out it was unmarked and very cheap looking, I replaced it with a Tru Giga Pipe and all is well. Also, I emailed BD and they shipped out a replacement, it was a Giga Pipe also...not the junk that was their orginally.

Lameness

They shipped you a new Giga Pipe free of charge??

rob999

Sort of...it looks like it has been on another bike...can't really say used but not brand new...

Otherwise yes, it was under warrenty, as it broke literally an hour after I took it out of the box, and shipping was free. They even threw in a floor pump for the trouble, although that has still not arrived yet.