Bottom Bracket options

[bazzawill]

Hi Tribe,
So I have long lusted after a bottom bracket upgrade from my Shimano Ultegra BB and I know the Enduro XD-15 were often talked about on this forum; however after a discussion with another Cruzbiker, on facebook I was directed to Hambini and his opinion on ceramic bearings. The issue being hybrid ceramic bearings have ceramic bearings and steel races. The hard ceramic will wear the softer steel, and in Hambini's tests hybrid bearings will start fast but get slower than steel over time.
This deep dive also led me to discover the Shimano system while well made is shit (small bearings and not user replaceable), also I did get some serious creaking on my last ride so I believe my BB needs replacing and I want to replace it with something decent.
I did of course find the very nice Hambini BB which allows standard bearings but also ensures the bearings are aligned correctly (something that is a big issue, even in very expensive bike frames), however these are very expensive.

So here are what I want in a BB:
Standard sized replaceable steel bearings
Ideally some what to ensure they are aligned
As fast as possible (good seals, lubricant, etc)
I am also happy to be convinced to go with the Hambini

 

[Frito Bandito]

I heard the same thing too about ceramic bearings and steel races, which is 1 reason (other than cost) I stayed with steel. Ceramics are faster, and knowing that you have them likely has a placebo effect as well. I heard that they really start coming into their own once the rpms get well above what we can do on the cranks (500rpms or more?). You'd get an even bigger benefit if your wheels had them since they are spinning faster. I don't know your budget though. Sadly, my budget can't afford them since I swap out my BB about every 2 years or 15K-20k kilometers.

 

[trplay]

OK, let's talk BB's. Those who like to give away money won't like this opinion but its mine and I'm sticking to it. I've gone through this fleecing already. The photo shows the RWC BB, it shows the ceramic BB along with the other well-marketed BS BB's. Currently, I am running a cheap Shimano bb because after 4 years of 140mm Rival compact cranks I couldn't find a 165 crankset with the desired chainrings other than the Shimano 105's (different topic).

Anyway one of the huge benefits of a smart trainer is you can repeat exact conditions isolating things like a bottom bracket and see the rewards they yield in power. I've done this many times using my neo smart trainer and I can tell you there is not a measurable difference in power even when you can spin one crank with a BB where it impressively spins round and round and a bb that only makes a couple trips around before it stops turning. I've seen A well-greased $19 BB hang in with the $100+ceramic at 190 watts and 85 rpm. Go ahead and spend that easily earned money as you will not be happy until you do. I sure wish I could get some of mine back!

The smart guy who wants to make his Vendetta go faster will get off Amazon and onto their bike.

 

[cranky cyclist]

I recently bought a new S40 and I believe that compared to my old Silvio with standard BB that it spins up faster and that I can spin fast for longer. Subjective I know, but I am happy with my GXP ceramic.

 

[bazzawill]

OK, let's talk BB's. Those who like to give away money won't like this opinion but its mine and I'm sticking to it. I've gone through this fleecing already. The photo shows the RWC BB, it shows the ceramic BB along with the other well-marketed BS BB's. Currently, I am running a cheap Shimano bb because after 4 years of 140mm Rival compact cranks I couldn't find a 165 crankset with the desired chainrings other than the Shimano 105's (different topic).

Anyway one of the huge benefits of a smart trainer is you can repeat exact conditions isolating things like a bottom bracket and see the rewards they yield in power. I've done this many times using my neo smart trainer and I can tell you there is not a measurable difference in power even when you can spin one crank with a BB where it impressively spins round and round and a bb that only makes a couple trips around before it stops turning. I've seen A well-greased $19 BB hang in with the $100+ceramic at 190 watts and 85 rpm. Go ahead and spend that easily earned money as you will not be happy until you do. I sure wish I could get some of mine back!

The smart guy who wants to make his Vendetta go faster will get off Amazon and onto their bike.

Thanks for your experience, I am trying to be smart and get quality but not spend money unnecessarily. I believe the smaller off brand Shimano bearings are worth upgrading with larger, tried and tested industrial bearings that can be replaced. I am considering the BBinfinate with steel bearings although Hambini does not appear to be a fan (this could just be the ceramic bearings) they may also not be a standard size.

 

[trplay]

Hambini over engineers everything as it is his style. I can easily mic the door I am currently looking at and show where it's not perfectly square nor fitting in the frame perfectly. I can make it sound like its junk as its well beyond an exact tolerance. The truth is the door is operating fine and tightening the tolerances will not change its performance. It will only increase the cost. When you upgrade make sure you are actually getting an on the bike performance increase and not just a numerically better ball bearing. My data says I wasted my money doing just that.

 

[Frito Bandito]

You know it is marginal gains when they start talking about how the lubricant interacts with the seals, and how some riders leave the bearing seals out for races because of the bearing/seal friction.