Keep the Sugino Alpina-2 or swap?

[Bike_Me]

Hi all,

I'm currently at a crossroad trying to decide whether to keep my current crank, a Sugino Alpina-2 500D, or swap it over to a Shimano 105 Hollowtech II, to complete my 105 setup.

I've had my bike for just over 6 months now and have covered close to 1600km. My bottom bracket's click has started to get louder with every rotation the further I go. I've looked into replacing just the bottom bracket (68 x 110 Square tapered), and it seems there's not much out there hence why I am flirting with the idea of doing a swap. Will there be much benefit, and is there much of a difference between Sugino and Shimano?

Thanks for the help!
Bike_me

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I've looked into replacing just the bottom bracket (68 x 110 Square tapered), and it seems there's not much out there hence why I am flirting with the idea of doing a swap. Will there be much benefit, and is there much of a difference between Sugino and Shimano?

Thanks for the help!
Bike_me

Imho the Alpina is amongst the nicest square tapered chainset money can buy, while a Shimano 105 chainset is, well, a Shimano mid range chainset. Separately the HT2 for the current 105 is an outboard which I think most if not all would agree is likely inferior in terms of longevity/reliability compared to a humble UN5x... So I don't think such a change as proposed is an upgrade, but I can appreciate the motivation of groupset and look consistency. The only meaningful advantage a HT2 chainset/bb has over a typical square tapered combo is it is usually lighter by having an oversized, thin walled, hollow axle.

For a price if you want to tip the weight advantage there is nothing to stop you getting e.g. a TA Axix Ti or Phil Ti bb, these things weigh not much more than the HT2 cups, BUT that is including the axle.

 

[Bike_Me]

Cheers for the help RecordAceFromNew! Will look into those BB, I think after a few discussion I may keep the Sugino.