Originally Posted by
OldsCOOL
I have been using the "ISIS" type cartridge that is similar to the hollotech BB. I like it. The weight is a bit less than cones/bearings and there is no maintenance. Readily available for 16$ at Nashbar. This is my 5th season with it and has been in my '88 Cdale CRITter for the past 2 seasons, trouble-free.
If you ever try an Omni Isis, you'll pay the $90-$100. Same with Deda Titanio. That is my experience.
I had a pair of Isis-driven cranksets, the Stronglight Pulsion, just an incredible crankset, Isis-only (in my price range).
I thought they were great on Token bottom brackets but the Tokens tended to seize a bit.
I swapped over to the Omni and the Deda, and I really noticed the difference, and total weight for the crankset/bb was 505-510g.
The smoothness, combined with the weight, was significantly noticeable, but I'd never use them on a steel bike.
I can't imagine how much better those external BB Stronglights would be, or the high end Rotors on a Ti BB386 with ceramic bearings.
To me, there are levels.
1. Heavy Shimano cartridges.
2. Heavy Shimano/Tange/Sakae/Suntour ball bearing - but they're smoother if I do my job on them right.
3. Octalink 5500, then up to 6500, then "up" to 7700 if I don't really want durability.
3.5 Campagnolo ball bearing, especially the Chorus or Record.
3.75 Campagnolo cartridge, especially Athena or better (not a fan of the Centaur at all)
4. Isis upper levels (Deda Titanio, Omni, maybe Token ceramic, but I've never had one).
5. FSA's and SRAM's early externals.
6. Hollowtech II and FSA's equivalent.
7. BB386, old school threading, light, simple.
The rest of the alphanumeric BB's, no thanks. I'm already confused by life, much less bottom brackets.