Steve Harris has a SRAM Red chainset, but thinks the original bottom bracket is too expensive and wants our thoughts on the Truvativ alternative and if there is anything else he could buy that will fit his chainset and his wallet!

Question:
I’m looking at buying a SRAM red chainset because it’s the only carbon one I can find with 110 pcd and 177.5mm arms but I’m wondering about the BB the SRAM GXP is about 100GBP (didn’t really want to pay that much) and the Truvativ GXP is around 20GBP but I’ve read quite a few poor reviews on this product. Are other BB’s compatible? If so what can you recommend in the under 30GBP range?

Hi Steve,

Yes, the SRAM Red chainset is very nice and as you say it takes the 110 pitch chainrings, you must be a tall guy to use 177.5 mm cranks? OK so the SRAM bottom bracket is not cheap, but it is made for the job by the same company who make the cranks so everything should fit together without any problems.

So you want to go for a cheaper alternative; well the Truvative is a possibility, but as you know it’s not really that good and seems not to last very long which is another reason to buy the original equipment from SRAM. The SRAM bottom bracket does have ceramic bearing this is why it’s not cheap; I have seen a non-ceramic bearing bottom bracket from SRAM for $25. Also available is the GXP bottom bracket from Superstars Components, which also comes in eight different colors and is only 20 GBP. It comes in 68/73 shell sizes and with the spacers included, the Superstars bottom bracket is compatible with SRAM, Truvativ and Bontrager chainsets.

Truvativ

I would think the Truvativ and the Superstars bottom bracket sets will be very similar in quality as they are about the same price. So your decision will have to come down to spending less more often as it will wear out more often. This is the problem with all out board bottom brackets as they are more open to the elements, so maybe its better to get the cheap bottom bracket and expect to have to replace it on a regular basis. If you buy the expensive bottom bracket it may run more smoothly and last a bit longer, but you can buy quite a few cheep bottom bracket for the price of one expensive one.

One of the main things with any bottom bracket is to make sure the bottom bracket shell has been faced of so that it is square; this helps to reduce wear and run smoothly.

Superstars