FSA Platinum Bottom Bracket ISIS

Advantages: LightWeight, indestructible, good price
Disadvantages: not the Cheapest of Cranks

...The Middle burn Rs7 Cranks have been around for years now because there is nothing better on the market. 4 Years ago I bought a set to go on my pashley trials bike. I had been ridding for 3 years, and needed something that could keep up I had bent a pair of cheap cranks then replaced them with some FSA cranks I then Proceeded to smash them against every thing until also bent. Then they had to be grinded of my bike as they would not come off the bottom bracket. So I decided to invest in a set of Middle burn cranks I had seen at the bike show. At the time they set me back £180 with a bash ring and 22 Tooth chain ring. I put them on straight away unlike other cranks the bash ring is fixed to the crank via a large nut that attaches to the thread of the crank, this means there is no week point and the crank is almost one piece making... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Cheap, extremely durable, abuse tolerant
Disadvantages: Poor crank choice, may not be suitble for extreme use

...What's this? It is a JIS square tapered BB. And in english... BB - bottom bracket. Screwed into the frame and serves as a mounting point for your cranks. Square taper - Axle shaft of the bottom bracket is tapered. The shaft is wider at the base than it is at the tip, so it ensures a very tight fit when the crank is tightened up. It fits square holed cranks only. JIS - Japanese International Standard. This is a measure of the degree of taper. There is also the ISO standard used by European manufacturers, such as Campagnola. The vast majority of mountain bike cranks are JIS. An ISO crank may or may not fit a JIS square taper BB depending on the tolerances and amount of wear. Evolution or Devolution? In the last few years BB's have undergone something of a revolution. Octalink from Shimano, ISIS from the others... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great for downhill
Disadvantages: suspension no good for road.

...for the road due to the suspension on the back. You can adjust the suspension for the road but you have to fully wind it in and is not a quick action. Another problem with the bike is the bottom bracket (the bearing where the peddles are) to offer a bike like this at a reasonable price, cheaper than its makers for instance, parts like this are of poor quality, the bracket is made of plastic so soon wears out and will need to be replaced with a decent one. Again you can pay a varied amount of prices for them and they usually cost about £10 to fit. I replaced mine with a Shimano and have not had any problems since. The pads on the Tektron are not of decent quality either and Im finding they get spongy not so longer after I have adjusted them. The seat is quite comfy as its larger than a normal Carerra stiff tail seat, one fat arse in padded shorts... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful