Enduro "Max Hit" Bottom Bracket: Getting Rolling

Enduro “Max Hit” Bottom Bracket: Getting Rolling – by Guitar Ted

Bearings are vitally important to the operation of your bicycle. In fact, did you know that ball bearings were initially designed for bicycles? That’s right. Without the development of ball bearings for late 19th Century bicycle wheels, who knows where we’d be now.

The Max Hit bottom bracket kit in the box. — *The Endurobearings Max Hit 440C Stainless Steel BSA24 Bottom Bracket Kit.*

Well, thankfully the bicycle and all the technological advancements the machine brought to bear resulted in some cool things we all take for granted today. Ball bearings maybe one of those things that you take for granted on your bicycle rides, but I’d wager that changes drastically when things go bad inside your hubs or bottom bracket. Bearing issues are often not just ride ending occurrences, but they can result in expensive repairs and downtime that we all would like to avoid if possible. That’s where Endurobearings comes in.

A little over 25 years ago Endurobearings came to be through a search for better suspension pivot bearings. Since then, Endurobearings has branched out into production of several cycling components and industrial bearing applications. We are testing their “Max Hit” bottom bracket in a long-term test. So, let’s focus on that part and see why this component may be an attractive addition to your bicycle.

Detail showing the Max Hit bottom bracket cups. — *The Max Hit cups are part of the component, eliminating the need for a separate aluminum shell.*

What It Is: Max Hit is Endurobearings “guaranteed for life” technology that utilizes an entire component machined from 440C Stainless Steel. They claim that “440C is capable of attaining (after exacting heat and cryogenic treatments) the highest strength, hardness and wear resistance of all the martensitic stainless alloys, making it a perfect match for high-impact, wet-condition riding where big hits, salt and muck conspire to destroy lesser bearings.“

Furthermore, Endurobearings also claims that their Max Hit bottom bracket has up to 8 times the mass of the competitions ball bearings and more contact area. this results in a component that can, as Endurobearings claims, withstand twice the force loads of other bottom brackets. This also allows for longer durability and better performance. The assembly also allows for an easier installation, claims Endurobearings, due to the ability of the Max Hit assembly to spin freely despite being preloaded during installation. This makes it easier to install since the unit is forgiving in that manner.

Endurobearings not only claims Max Hit will outlast anything else for a bottom bracket you could buy, but that its bearings and seals will spin so well that you will see wattage savings during usage as well. Endurobearings promises an independently run test and paper will be forthcoming which will show this to be true.

Endurobearings makes a bottom bracket in about every standard in either their Torq Tite or Max Hit range. Check them out here. The Max Hit BSA 440C Stainless Steel Bottom Bracket Kit we are testing runs $179.00USD

Detail shot of a Shimano bottom bracket in-situ — *GT replaced this Shimano outboard bearing bottom bracket with the Max Hit*

First Impressions and Installation: The presentation box and gleaming 440C stainless steel cups greet the eye with an impression of quality and good looks. The green bearing seals are a bit different. Inside the box you find the instructions for installation, shims, and shields for the bottom bracket. There is no connecting “tube” as you might find in other bottom brackets.

Installation of the Max Hit bottom bracket was planned for my Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 bicycle which I initially built up with a box-stock Shimano outboard bearing bottom bracket. This was matched up with a 2000’s era XT crankset. The Endurobearings Max Hit kit I received was a direct replacement for this Shimano unit and with the included shims, spacers and instructions it was a rather easy swap. Those not acquainted with bottom bracket replacement should have no issues doing this job – that is – if you have the correct tools. If you feel uncomfortable with a job like this, or if you don’t own the correct tools, or both, please see your local bike shop mechanic. It should be a quick and easy job for a competent shop mechanic to perform this switch.

After everything was assembled and properly torqued to spec, I found that the bottom bracket spun freely and maybe even a bit better than I might have seen with a direct Shimano replacement. The cranks feel really smooth right now and otherwise, everything seems ready to be put to a test.

Detail showing the Endurobearings Max Hit BB in-situ — *The Max Hit bottom bracket in-situ*

So Far… The Endurobearings Max Hit 440C Stainless Steel BSA24 Bottom Bracket Kit was impressive to behold, easy to install, and seems to spin freely. Now what?

Well, good looks and a lot of promises mean nothing unless one can expect a lot of miles of trouble-free use and an experience with that component that enhances the overall cycling experience. Will Max Hit bearings do this for me and my Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3? This is the test protocol and obviously, it will take some time and a lot of miles to see if the claims are true here. So, this will be a Long Term review that won’t see a verdict for quite some time.

I will try to sneak in some updates as things go along in a Gravel Grinder News post if anything significant happens. Otherwise, the plan is to use this bottom bracket and the bicycle it is in a whole lot over Spring, Summer, and Fall and we’ll hopefully have a check-in after the season to see how things are going with the Max Hit bearings.

Note:Riding Gravel received the Endurobearings Max Hit 440C Stainless Steel BSA24 Bottom Bracket Kit at no charge for test and review. We are not being paid nor bribed for this review and we will alwys struve to give our honest views and opinions throughout.