Crank & BB question
 

WHy are we as FG and SS people still using square tapper BB and cranks? The rest of the world sort of moved on. Is there a sound reason, i.e. the industry for FG and SS has yet to catch on?

is there a sound reason against square taper? other than "new technology"? i mean, the rest of the world has seemingly moved on from lugged steel frames yet we still gobble those obsolete useless things up like hot cakes..

1. if you're rockin' vintage track parts, they're square.
2. if you're repurposing 80s road parts, they're square.
3. if you're looking for a completely functional, high quality 3-piece crankset that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg just because some jackass at Shimano thought it would be a good idea to introuce a pricey new and not necessarily better standard, then square it is!

There have been some rumours about people stripping those new fancy splined DA track cranks when used on the street for skipping and skidding. Have not heard of anyone stripping quality square taper cranks. So far I still don't know what benefit the splined setup is supposed to offer appart from it being easier to get the hole centered properly.

I like them because , it is easier to take care of and get replacement parts. This is also why I like ballbearings and cups.

Sealed is ok but I cannot see the problem to fix it.

The Octalinks do have problems but again not used for street use. I have a messenger bud in NYC who rides hard and I was surprised he rides them and he rides HARD!

Conclusion, easier to maintain and get parts. same applies to my Headsets.

square and tappered can also slip if not maintained properly.

S/F,
CEYA!

i've never encountered an ocatlink or isis bottom bracket that wasn't noisy. real squeaky. (maybe it's just me, but i dunno).

Square is good enough for many TDF riders too.

DA stuff is nice but super expensive, and octalink BBs are not so good. The 7700 roller/ball unit is a maintenence nightmare, and the sealed bearing octalink BBs have crappy bearing life.

The older model FSA ISIS carbon cranks with the carbon disc spider didn't hold up to street use (the only 2 messengers I know to use them both messed up the spider, FSA made good on the warranty both times) and even if the new FSA isis track cranks (aluminum spider) are more durable they still have carbon arms which don't make much sense in an urban environment where they are likely to be scratched/nicked by locks, bike piles, or pedal hang.

Is anyone actually making a decent price/quality splined or bullseye style 2 piece 144bcd track crankset?

I agree with slopvehicle... especially in the 3rd point. Actually for some reason the isis stuff was redesigned a few years ago to a version 2... and for some reason campy is still doing all their stuff in squared tapper... as long as other companies like miche for example. The question is why campy is still using the same old design??? thats a good question that it is based in common sense and in the desition taken by the campy engeneers so far this days. It wont fail. I have 1 bike with an old campy record bb that it should have at least 20 years... and still rolling w/o any problems. I have to change it soon i think, but i know it will work for 20 more years. Wonder if a new sealed shimano BB (isis) can do that for more than 5 years before braking appart.

Is not a thing that I dont like shimano, but since they started playing god trying to induce their own standar at some point they screw us all. Besides their prices and get new tools... come on Shimano!!! and come on Suntour... I miss u guys!!!

UM :)

Matt Chester (one of a VERY few sound bike authorities, in my opinion) uses square taper cranks. The WI ENO crank is only made in square taper. As are most other "bling" boutique cranks. Wonder why? Because they work. The supposed advantage of an octalink or ISIS BB is that since the diameter of the spindle is bigger, it will be stiffer.

But guess what? Your frame will probably flex long before your BB. And if you increase the spindle diameter without increasing the shell diameter, you have to use smaller bearings, which wear out a lot quicker. I've heard of some SS mountain riders going through two or three ISIS BB's per year.

The new external bearing cranksets solve this bearing life problem while allowing the spindle diameter to increase, but they widen the q-factor, which is not good for most folks' knees. So, why buy a whole new crank/bb setup, when you can just keep using your cup and cone system (just overhaul occasionally with new bearings) or use a UN53 which you have to replace every 5 years or so, and costs around $25?