As per http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=48&products_id=177

“ABEC 5 races and Grade 5 silicon nitride balls, offer the optimal quality for mountain and road bikes….. Contains 2 x 6001 2rs”

I’m currently using a Hope Mono Suspension front hub and Hope Mono rear with the Ti freehub, but wasn’t sure if these bearing kits would fit my hubs.

Have any STWers used these bearing kits, generally or for Hope specifically, and will they fit my hubs?

Thanks….

2 bearings for £35! Stone the crows!

All I’ll say about that is you’d be better off getting some standard, good quality bearings, maybe even the O/E replacements which are about £20 for a set of 4.
They last so long in XC hubs (4 years on mine) that I just can’t see the point of spending 3.5 times the price (for 4) when for the same cash normal beaings will do you for 12 years or more!

Ditto above.

The original bearings are fine for the moment. I was merely looking at potential upgrades.

Would ceramic bearing make much of a difference to the existing steel ones?

Am I right in thinking that the £35 was for a complete set (of 2) for the front hub, and the £70 for a complete set (of 4) for the rear hub?

Also, I thought the £35 was for a complete set for the front hub

Sorry, yes you are right, but the price difference ( x 3.5) is still the same
🙂

Would ceramic bearing make much of a difference to the existing steel ones?

No…

Octopi are soooo last year. Marmots and small furry mammals are where it is at :fact:

They last so long in XC hubs (4 years on mine)

Not on mine.. i’m on my 4th set in less than 2 years!

Not on mine.. i’m on my 4th set in less than 2 years

What are you doing to them? 😯

IF there anything like the bottom bracket bearings i wouldn’t bother. There’s another review on bike radar from a group test saying theres only lasted one ride.

Tat.

IF there anything like the bottom bracket bearings i wouldn’t bother. There’s another review on bike radar from a group test saying theres only lasted one ride

Aah but I was hoping that the existing, so far very effective, Hope seals on the hubs would prevent that happening. Wouldn’t they?!

Like most other STWers, I also read the old threads on various Superstar products, but how wrong can one go with ceramic bearing replacement kits?

A seal isn’t going to stop crap quality bearings getting all crunchy and rough it just keeps the grease in and the muck out.

If your set on Ceramic bearings get them from Enduro – those are some damn fine bearings.

PP> Dunno, something is not right

I’m seriously thinking of getting a new set of wheels (American classic/progress turbine and olympics 😀

If your set on Ceramic bearings get them from Enduro – those are some damn fine bearings.

Thanks Offroading – I take you mean the CH 6001 LLB bearings, from http://www.endurobearings.com/products/enduro_bearings.html?

If so, where can I get them in 6001 2rs as BETD don’t seem to do them in that size in ceramic, but only in steel?

IIRC ceramic have better corrosion resistance but worse shock load capability so I am a bit dubious about ceramic bearings at all on MTBs

Anyone know better / more?

Spoke to a specialist bearing supplier about bearings on mountain bikes the other day. His opinion is that on Mountain Bikes, life of the bearings has far more to do with stopping the crap getting into the bearings (ie. utilising very good seals, or having the bearings hidden away as best possible) than it does the grade of the bearings. He said he would never bother with anything better than a half decent stainless set, probably Chinese, on a Mountain bike. Anything more expensive would still wear out as fast, and provide no benefit!

Ceramic bearings are great for the purpose they were designed for. VERY high rpm applications, generally running at high heat too. For Mountain Bike wheel bearings, in the wet and cold of the UK, they’re no better than anything else as their strengths don’t get the opportunity to come into play. Seal quality is far more important, and it pays to keep them packed with a decent quality grease too.