FSA Mega Exo

Price Paid:  $40.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
anything up a mountain

Bike Setup:
litespeed ultimate.

Summary:
love the slk crank! bb is pure junk. I've road for years on good old campy unsealed bottom brackets with not one problem. This thing crapped out after 3 months. This is my second one that has died. Don't buy it!

Strengths:
It keeps your crank from hitting the ground!

Weaknesses:
You name it.

Similar Products Used:
campy and shimano

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at I Martin Los Angeles

Favorite Ride:
Orbea Orca

Summary:
Same as other writers, noisy and clicking. Replaced and had same problem. Seems to be different ideas as well on fix, including using plumbers thread tape on the bearing cup threads. Whether a wave washer or O-ring between bearing cup and crank arm. Any, has impact on riding enjoyment.

Strengths:
None..the bike is great.

Weaknesses:
Unreliable bottom bracket.

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Scattante CFR Race

Bike Setup:
Once the new crank and BB are on, full Ultegra 6600 drivetrain. 11-28T cassette, 50/34 chainrings. Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheelset.

Summary:
Just adding my voice to the chorus of dissatisfied FSA Mega Exo bottom bracket users. Mine came as standard, along with the FSA SK-K Carbon crank, on a new Scattante CFR Race bike. I'm very happy with the rest of the bike, but the Mega Exo bottom bracket is pure junk.

I've never had any trouble with a bottom bracket in roughly twenty years of serious riding. This thing started to squeal, creak, wheeze, and make grinding noises within the first 300 miles from brand new. This was after my favorite and very trustworthy LBS set up the bike. To back up their work, they disassembled, inspected, cleaned, relubed, and reassembled the BB/crank assembly to make sure everything was okay when I told them about the noise. This banished the noise for maybe another 100 miles, and then it all came back with a vengeance, and now I'm getting a rough feel.

My mechanic told me they get a lot of similar complaints about FSA bottom brackets, enough that many customers get fed up and switch to other brands just to escape the noise even if the bearings aren't worn out yet. With the loud noise and rough feel, I'm pretty sure my bearings can't be long for this world.

I've had enough. An Ultegra crank and bottom bracket are on the way to match the rest of my drivetrain and replace the FSA parts. I would not recommend the FSA Mega Exo BB to anyone.

Strengths:
Um, it looks nice, I guess...

Weaknesses:
You name it: noisy, rough feel, short bearing life. I suspect all of this must be attributable to a faulty seal design.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano 600 (back in the day), Shimano 105, and soon to be using Shimano Ultegra

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Momentum Multisport

Favorite Ride:
anywhere on Oahu

Bike Setup:
Ridley Crossbow with Campy Mirage

Summary:
FSA Mega EXO is a poor product.I am on my second bike with this bottom bracket and also replacing said bottom bracket for the second time. The first Mega EXO I owned lasted around six months. A couple of rainy rides rendered it a ball of rust. This time it just plain got all crunchy, no rust but plenty of ticking noises and a rough feel. I have also had issues with FSA headsets. I feel that FSA uses poor quality bearings/seals in otherwise ergonomically and functionally sound products. Very frustrating.

Strengths:
Ergonomics, functionality

Weaknesses:
bearings suck (kind of a detriment to functionality)

Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Campangolo (no problems ever)

Price Paid:  $45.00 at REI

Bike Setup:
K2 Redzone Tri-bike

Summary:
Bought megaexo BB in July 08...with my FSA slk-light..its now feb 09..and the bearings are toast...The FSA Crank is awesome..their BB sucks...having the bearing replaced with Phil Wood outboard bearings...LBS says bearings will last a long time and they are sealed

Strengths:
Great to start,smooth..quiet...

Weaknesses:
turns to crap with-in 6-8 mos and 1000 miles