Preffered BB

[comish83]

After reading a bunch of forums I was trying to find what the preferred BB is so I can do my bike shopping accordingly. People appear to not prefer a BB30. Is a dura ace 7800 BB more ideal? What BB should I be looking for when shopping for a used bike from 2009-2015?

[thegunner]

bb30 is a bottom bracket spec, shimano 7800 uses something that's called BSA or english (which is a thread-in type BB rather than a pressed in one).

There's the opposite threaded way (reverse-threaded which is ita / italian).

then there's PF30, BB86, BB92, BBRight, PF46(?).

if you want the most compatibility, go with BSA/english, it'll leave you with the least heartache / creaking.

[ColonelJLloyd]

BSA threaded has never left me wanting. My custom will be spec'd with this shell.

[John M]

They all work well when properly maintained. For my money, I prefer threaded BBs as they are easily serviced by any shop and the marginally competent home mechanic with readily available tools, work fine, and replacement parts are readily available. However, if you found the right frame at the right price, I wouldn't let BB platform influence the choice that much.

[livingminimal]

If it aint threaded, it aint much. (or dutch).

[Jad]

Originally Posted by John M

However, if you found the right frame at the right price, I wouldn't let BB platform influence the choice that much.

+1 on this.

That said, I've had BB30 and English/Sram GXP, and prefer the threaded. I got some creaking in the BB30 and reinstalled a new one--it's been fine--great even-- but I find the threaded more accessible.

[David Tollefson]

I will only build with BSA threaded (though the T47 looks like it might eventually find its way into my queue).

[livingminimal]

Originally Posted by David Tollefson

(though the T47 looks like it might eventually find its way into my queue).

I had the option of this on my incoming custom build, but it seemed, when the conversation was happening for it, that BBs were actually barely available for the design...so I said **** it and stayed with my tried and true CK threaded.

[Matthew]

Threaded. Period.

[jtbadge]

I have bikes with English/BSA threading, Italian threading, and PF30. It doesn't make a difference, given a decent enough BB.

Currently have: SRAM GXP, FSA MegaEvo, Shimano Ultegra, Wheels Mfg. All good. All painless to install and service. All quiet.

[FlashUNC]

Threaded. Italian just to be contrary.

[classtimesailer]

Threaded. 09-15? Italian is ok if it is a Pegoretti.

[bikinchris]

Originally Posted by comish83

After reading a bunch of forums I was trying to find what the preferred BB is so I can do my bike shopping accordingly. People appear to not prefer a BB30. Is a dura ace 7800 BB more ideal? What BB should I be looking for when shopping for a used bike from 2009-2015?

BB30 is a type of bottom bracket specification, not a model. Dura Ace is a brand of bottom bracket that has to go on certain types of bottom bracket specs.

The BB30, PF30, BB86, BB92, BB121, BBRight, PF46, 386EVO and others I can't think of are all pressed in bottom bracket styles, which I spend a LOT of time trying to talk people out of getting. ANY type of damage to these style bottom brackets is a damage to your frame. So if a ham handed mechanic presses in the bearings crooked, your frame is screwed. If you are lucky, you can mount the replacement bearings with a Loctite style compound. If not, well get used to the creak.

Threaded seems to be a best method of mounting a bottom bracket in a frame and having it remain solidly mounted. Those are typically are designated by the type of threading. British Standard C and Italian threaded are the most common styles of those. (But in years past, there were several other styles) .

You can get the threaded bottom brackets in two main types: Those with square tapered spindles that the crankset bolts to and those with cranks that include a built in hollow spindle that slides through the bottom bracket cups and bearings. That spindle is mounted on the drive side crankarm and the bearings are oversized and they fit outside of the bottom bracket shell on threaded cups. The main two specs are the Shimano sized spindle and the GXP sized. They are only a few mm different, but they are not interchangeable.

The T47 is a new threaded oversized spec. I will learn more about that one when I build my next custom bike for a customer. It uses a threaded cup and you mount one of the oversized spindle crankarms like a BB30. (or so I am told).

This article has photos:
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...icle-section-2

[regularguy412]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Threaded. Period.

^This.

Any other is a solution looking for a non-existent problem.

Mike in AR

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by regularguy412

^This.

Any other is a solution looking for a non-existent problem.

Mike in AR

No doubt. Builders love it as it easier to 'hook' fat tubes to fat tubes.

BB 'standards', what a hoot.