Ahem...Hambini?

I've seen PeakTorque do some tests, but he's chums with Hambini so there's that bias/partiality to account for. Then various YouTube bike mechanics too. Again they seem to be chums so not exactly partial, nor bench-marked.

Time bikes do/did come with Hambini bottom brackets in some models. I'm sure they could have easily gone for the Shimano, SRAM, Campy standard and saved a tonne of money, but decided to go with Hambini products for whatever reasons.

He also claims to have (had) deals with some Pro teams, but given NDAs and without insider or even public knowledge, we (or rather I) don't know who or how true the claims hold.

Just some examples.

Shimano HT BB is just fine.

Sure, if it's threaded. Otherwise, YMMV.

Couldn't care less if his BB lasted a million years and had 0 friction. In the end it's just a bit of tat that goes on the toy I take out when I want to have some self indulgent fun. Shimano / hope / whatever bottom bracket is fine.

People love to act as though they need something that they want, even if it means supporting cunts.

I got a token ninja BB set with 5(?) different shells, so far it’s been on 4 bikes and so fa so good.

Eh? A few of us have mentioned genuine cases where a one piece, press-fit BB works best and/or may solve an issue other designs exacerbate. Yeah of course, no need to buy from Hambini when there are alternative products that are designed similarly to address the same problem, but denying there's a problem with some frames seems disingenuous.

solve an issue other designs exacerbate.

who says this? Hambini? not very neutral assessment is it?

One huge factor in BB discussion is user error of installation as well. There are many factors why a BB can fail/creak, if Hambini says he has a silver bullet he is a snake oil salesman.

Hippy quoted from BBInfinite earlier:

"Bicycle frame bottom bracket shells are notoriously misaligned, inconsistent, and out of round, and so it’s inadvisable to use the bike frame as the primary aligning member for bottom bracket bearings. Yet, that’s what our multi-piece bottom bracket competition does, and this explains why their systems frequently fail prematurely and creak.

A BBInfinite OPD (One-Piece-Design) bottom bracket module is a CNC precision-machined hub---like the front wheel hub on your bike---that you press into your frame. And just like your trouble-free wheel hub, BBInfinite OPD bottom brackets have perfectly aligned bearings regardless of your frame’s BB shell alignment and tolerances. Perfectly aligned bearings are essential for thousands of miles of trouble-free use and extreme spin performance."

There's YTers like Mapdec too, who are always doing videos working on customer's luxurious road bikes that end up being faced, maybe reamed and end up with a BBI/Hambini like product due to the issues. Videos seem pretty transparent in the way they show/prove the misalignment or lack of roundness of a shell.

You can find articles from journalists on this issue too, of needing to do extra work on frames just to stop creaks, premature wear to shells, threads, bearings etc.

There's plenty out there, and there are a few brands selling 'solutions'.

I usually put all youtube pundits in one box. Most grifters/trying to sell you something "link in bio" etc.

Sure, PF BBs suck in comparison to threaded but does that mean one needs to die on a hill to defend a £250 BB sold by a grifter?

Personally I trust the big bike brands that employ multiple engineers and subject experts with much higher QC standards than cottage/vlogger industry.

Honestly if you can afford an overpriced BB stop being a cheapskate and buy a new bike. Sell the old one to a normal person who won't care about any of the issues you think matter.

I often ride a bike with some kind of squeak, who cares?! If you want complete silence go for a hike.

Is it sus if I sell a Canyon with free noise cancelling headphones?

*disclaimer, wheels mfg probably getting the overpriced monies, hambini is a cunt, etc.

So do I - Generally speaking, I trust a team of experienced and employed engineers more than a YT rogue with dubious credentials and a foul mouth. But we're all aware of QC failures and the likes. Think Boeing and their recent scandals. And again, big bike brands (Time) have chosen these products to use with their frames, so I don't think this is just snake oil, just a very niche product for very niche use-cases.

But don't mention any of the issues. :)

Personally I trust the big bike brands that employ multiple engineers and subject experts with much higher QC standards than cottage/vlogger industry.

I think some of the cottage vlogger community demonstrated that they have the tools & skills to measure the discrepencies they highlight. On the other end of it brands can be super shady when they'd need to admit to their QC faults (eg: Cannondale first says frame is unsafe to ride due to user error during installation, then issues brand new frame that has the exact same issue fresh out of the box, Cannondale now says its by desig
n)

Here's a Praxis crankset that I bought from a guy who said he tried 3 different BB/crank brands but the bearings would never last. Its not about an annoying creak, its about binning a BB every few thousand kms. Just because there are a lot of happy users with perfect frames, that shouldnt invalidate the experience of others who paid a lot of money for something that doesnt live up to spec. And you are left with grifters who provide a niche solution to a niche problem.

Hambini can still be a knob. Both things can be true.

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If you want complete silence go for a hike.

Just stay fat and unfit - the wheezing and wincing easily drowns out any unhelpful creaks.

Hambini can still be a knob. Both things can be true.

Thats fair but I will never take him seriously just because of the way he communicates and am shocked that people do. People who walk amongst us.

Hambini can still be a knob. Both things can be true.

Lol. Exactly.

Yes there are plenty of examples of QC issues with bikes. Look at how many steerer/headtube related recalls and 'updates' there have been with the 'newer shape' SystemSix, Tarmac SL7, the massive futureshock recall and many, many others with all this internal integration. Independents with some knowledge and expertise who call these problems out are necessary. It's a bit shit when they end up forming a camp of heels, while the big brands get defended by a camp of shills.

You could also argue that these YTers selling products or with affiliate links have both far less to gain and far less to lose with their products and their bold claims, than any major brand does. Who's more likely and able to cover up to protect their brand image and profits? That's a no-brainer.

This I completely agree with. He's become unbearable on that front and has a cultish, yes-man following.

Since you can buy a token or KCNC PF30 thread together BB for 40 quid, this conversation is moot and you don't need to give Hambini a penny. Everyone's happy. Except Hambini, thankfully.

I think @infmz is Hambini. Where do I claim my £5?

cultish

Obvious typo is obvious

Oh shizzle, my cover has been blown!

@gbj_tester Lol. I actually don't like using the word you have in mind. Many find it misogynistic, which ironically is one of the problems we have with Hambini!

Boeing

Strewth, when did they start building bikes?

The problem with big brands is that they are run by accountants in battle with engineers, the bean counters nearly always win. And the same again for the sub contractors.
Cervelo is an example of an innovative brand that quality went down hill as it grew.

I don’t know if @gbj_tester has any Scottish lineage but I’m sure we can lend him our usage of the word anyway.

Up here it’s not misogyny, every cunt’s some sort of a cunt, whether you’ve got your own one or no.

But Hambini is a total cunt.