Bottom bracket life?

[dontlookdown]

Lotobear said:

I've rarely had to replace BB's but on cleaning my 5 month old Nukeproof Scout yesterday I discovered the bottom bracket was utterly shagged out, massive lateral play.

I stripped it and discovered knackered Chinese bearings leaking rusty water. I would have claimed were it not for the fact that CRC have no gone tits up.

Happily I found a brand new pair of Hope cartridge bearings in my stash that I must have bought years ago from my old Commencal - fortunately exactly the right size so all is now well.

...but I would have expected much better of a bike with a RRP of £2,500 than stty Chinese bearings in the BB. It has seen a lot of wet riding this winter but even so.

I think quite a few 'respectable' brands cheap out on bearings, probably because you can't see them when you buy a new bike. Hubs headsets and BBs can often disappoint when opened up.