I'm curious, what is the best bottom bracket brand/model you've used so far ?

Seems like most people when upgrading their bikes, they buy wheels, brakes, drive train, etc.. but seldom I hear replace or upgrade their BB.

Upgraded wheels, brakes and drivetrains are immediately noticeable improvements whereas bb's more or less either work or don't so most people only replace them when they start getting crunchy or noisy.

Some are definitely better than others, I don't know what the best is but Wheels Manufacturing is really good.

 

I'm curious, what is the best bottom bracket brand/model you've used so far ?

Shimano UN-91 square taper.

...which is probably not going to work on your bike...

 

BB-UN53 square taper BB. 20000, or so, miles and still spun like new.

 

There's a couple of individual Bottom Bracket for sale which are not recommended for long-term use. What size crankspindle and BB Shell are you posting about?

Just in general? In general what BB is our most-liked one?

Whatever is part of the seven sets of cranks I have going.

 

Seems like most people when upgrading their bikes, they buy wheels, brakes, drive train, etc.. but seldom I hear replace or upgrade their BB.

people replace their bottom brackets all the time, oftentimes with a better one than they had before. Because they all wear out eventually. But nobody I've ever heard of "upgrades" their perfectly functional bottom bracket for no reason.

Nice thing about the types of bbs common nowadays is that you can oftentimes just press out the bearings and press in new, higher quality ones. So you might still have the "same" bottom bracket, but better bearings.

But as for "which is best" out of all of them, it's not a simple question to answer now. Modern bottom brackets are going to differ based on the frame shell, the spindle they're compatible with, and the specific bearings installed in them. it's all a whole lot more complicated now than it was in the days of mikesee's Shimano BB UN-91.

 

The only BBs I've replaced, were on bikes that were F'd and no BB ever lasted in them, likely due to poor mfg tolerances and alignment. Press-fits that loosely pressed in by hand on a OSBB30 that suffered from cups "walking out", threaded BBs that only got like 1-2 rotations in the spin test on one frame while 6+ in another frame (same crank), PF92 that seemingly got better as it went through more BBs, as they sort of "reamed" the shell (my knees hated this Evil Following frame until I put enough mileage on it).

It's more like, how lucky I was with the bike frame alignment lottery... they seem to be the kind of part that just works and you forget about it, like the front hub or headset, which is just a couple of bearings pressed into a housing.

I will say that I feel ashamed wasting money on RaceFace BBs, having far better luck with cheap disposable Shimano ones that could be had for about $20 each.

 

threaded BBs that only got like 1-2 rotations in the spin test on one frame while 6+ in another frame (same crank), PF92 that seemingly got better as it went through more BBs, as they sort of "reamed" the shell (my knees hated this Evil Following frame until I put enough mileage on it).

It's more like, how lucky I was with the bike frame alignment lottery... .

Face & chase would increase your odds to 100%

 

Yeah I agree... what I meant by upgrade is when the time the bottom bracket broke, buying better brand if possible.

I asked coz I knew there is something wrong with my bike. So I removed the crank and noticed that the non-drive side is kinda stiff when rotating comparing the other side which is smooth.. I know it's the bearing so I greased them but nothing happened.

Just curious, I want to replace it with something more durable. I have 73 BSA BB.

Is Shimano SM-BB93 durable or good enough for long distance ride? Or need to look for something else? I don't want to replace BB every year or so.

How bout ceramic bb ? Any feedback ?

 

Wheels Manufacturing Angular Contact. Don't think ceramic is is worth it but the angular contact spins like butter.

 

Another vote for wheels manufacturing. They've been fail proof for me.

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For PF92, a thread together shell with NTN bearings.

 

Depends on the criteria for "best"...and as Harold says, the type of BB shell

In my small experience

Best cheapest fit and forget = Deore
Best fit and forget in colours (but $$) = Hope
Best fit and service = King

 

Im eyeing on Shimano XTR BB93, any experience with this brand/model ?

 

I have been using Shimano XT and XTR BBs for many years. Usually in 1.5 years one of the bearings gets water and goes bad. But they are cheap and good when new, so I continue to use them.

 

I've ran the hope bb and while it's better than the like of raceface and has nice durability but I found it to not spin that well. I thought the shimano bb spun better.

 

interesting

 

The Hope BB install process is a bit more complicated than one from any of the big brands, especially if you're planning to use a GXP crank, based on my experience with their thread-together model for pressfit BBs.

 

Always used XT, and considered them disposable but when my last went kaput, I threw a hope on there. It was pricey and is sure pretty but I haven't seen any advantage to paying $3X+ for a bottom bracket. Bike doesn't get ridden as much anymore since I upgraded so it will probably last the life of the bike.

 

I put 34k hard SS miles on my King BB....finally the bearings are starting to feel crunchy. I may send it back to King for new bearings.

 

I think you got your money's worth. Don't be one of "those" guys.

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Given that King offers service on their products it seems a little silly to just throw it away.

 

I'm curious, what is the best bottom bracket brand/model you've used so far ?

I've never had a "bad" BB. None that have failed unexpectedly. To be honest, I've replaced most BB's only because I couldn't get them to stop creaking, versus because of excessive wear. But there has been one BB that I have to label best due to it's service life. I have a 2003 Fisher that had its BB replaced ~2 years ago for the first time. That bike was abused on a daily basis (I bought it new in '03) for over 10 years, has who knows how many 1,000's of miles on it, and never had its BB serviced. I replaced it because it started creaking. No bearing roughness, no play. It was (drum roll...) a Truvativ. Don't remember the model, but when I replaced it ~2 years ago, it was something like $15 US. Funny thing is, I've never considered a Truvativ for any other bike I've replaced a BB on. Not sure why not considering the success I had with the one Truvativ I've ridden.

 

Wheels Manufacturing with angular bearings (internally threaded for retrofit in press fit BB’s) are the best for that asinine and crappy BB design.

I’ve crushed bearings in Shimano and SRAM PF’s within ~6 months.

Unless I service Chris King (external/threaded) BB’s every year or so, I’d crush those bearings as well.

Old SRAM external threaded BB’s are awesome as are square taper Shimano BB-UN-72 and Octalink V1. I’ve crushed Phil Wood (square taper) bearings too.



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Fine Tuned Bottom Bracket

 

That or completely worn out bb

 

^^^ Not worn out, but regularly serviced. In this case, I was striving for low coefficient of friction given we're experiencing ideal trail conditions where dust and water was a non-issue. Minimal Slick honey in bearings to reduce friction coupled with increased service intervals to ensure adequate lubrication. It's not a normally advised service unless you're willing to increase service intervals. BSA Wheels Manufacturing BB.

 

Hawk racing is proven to be a top 3 spinner and doesn't cost a ridiculous amount of money.
I bought mine with the HD seals.


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