Any of you Bike Enthusiasts know anything about...

[DaShen]

I am getting a bottom bracket, but I am unsure of which type to get. These are the things I figured out.

Dura Ace Pros
- Dura Ace BB is smoother and about the same stiffness as Ultegra
- Dura Ace requires more maintainence to run smoothly
- It weighs less than Ultegra + it is DA

Ultegra Pros
- Ultegra is slightly stiffer than Dura Ace
- It doesn't require maintainence after riding through rain or something of that nature
- it is cheaper than DA

My question is, how much maintainence does DA BB require? I mean do I have to take out the crank and BB to maintain it? How frequent is this? Thanks, in advance for any help.

After reading this Review, I may just buy the Ultegra BB.

 

[DaShen]

**BUMP**

 

[Fausto]

Just go Ultegra. You get 95% of the DA performance at 50% of the price. They'll both last forever and weight that low on the frame and rotating that slowly doesn't make much difference.

 

[cyclistca]

Which year are we talking? Both have changed recently.

Most BB are cartridge until. That is they are sealed so there is not maintenance required.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: cyclistca
Which year are we talking? Both have changed recently.

Most BB are cartridge until. That is they are sealed so there is not maintenance required.

Yep. And most of the differences in DA vs. Ultegra these days are cosmetic.

 

[DaShen]

hmmmm... I am going for the BB Ultegra 6500 or the Dura Ace 7700

I just dropped a whole bunch of money on DA parts. (9 speed Double 53-42 & 11-23 cassette)
I am really excited. I just got a slight raise, so I was leaning toward getting a whole DA groupo.

 

[DaShen]

Read the maintenance review

I might just get the Ultegra part, but I heard the DA is so much smoother.

 

[qaa541]

Ultegra is plenty good enough. I mean now you are talking about shaving grams off your bike, but are those grams really going to be worth the extra $$$? I mean unless you race seriously, an Ultregra gearset is more than enough unless you want to get into the bling factor.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Both of the new Dura-Ace and Ultegra BB aren't really BB in the traditional sense. They are just bearing cups. I would get whatever matches the crankset though. The BB cups themselves are only a few dollars different in price.

If you're talking about older crank/BB I don't think Ultegra would be stiffer or require less maint. It is probably just a little heavier is all.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: qaa541
Ultegra is plenty good enough. I mean now you are talking about shaving grams off your bike, but are those grams really going to be worth the extra $$$? I mean unless you race seriously, an Ultregra gearset is more than enough unless you want to get into the bling factor.

I have old rusted Sora Parts right now, and the front derailer just snapped, so I think anything would be an upgrade.

I have heard that the DA is smoother though, but for the maintenance alone, I am going to get the Ultegra BB.

The thing is, I am planning on doing a half-Triath next year, and I want to do Cat-3 in the future, too. I am a big guy though. (I am about 195 lbs) But most of that weight is good weight because I am an active fellow.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: qaa541
Ultegra is plenty good enough. I mean now you are talking about shaving grams off your bike, but are those grams really going to be worth the extra $$$? I mean unless you race seriously, an Ultregra gearset is more than enough unless you want to get into the bling factor.

I have old rusted Sora Parts right now, and the front derailer just snapped, so I think anything would be an upgrade.

I have heard that the DA is smoother though, but for the maintenance alone, I am going to get the Ultegra BB.

The thing is, I am planning on doing a half-Triath next year, and I want to do Cat-3 in the future, too. I am a big guy though. (I am about 195 lbs) But most of that weight is good weight because I am an active fellow.

I've owned bikes for 15 years and never done any maint on the bottom bracket. What needs to be done to it? Maybe have it checked every year or so or regreased if you put a lot of miles on it but other than that what can you do to it?

BTW-The new Dura-Ace crankset is really stiff and smooth. I bought mine on nashbar.com for $294 + $31 for the BB cups.

 

[Homerboy]

you're putting new DA/Ultegra on a 15yr old bike that has seen minimal maintenance? You could likely buy an entire new bike with Ultegra for the cost of just the Ultegra ala cart.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

I'm a weight weenie and I admit, a bit of a bike snob, so I would suggest DA, although bang for the buck would definately be Ultegra. I would say there are certain parts that you will want to spend the extra $$$ on. For example, I bought a Chris King headset and I've taken that over with me on 3 different frames over 8 years.

What Jules said on BB maintenance. I've been seriously riding since about 1991 myself and put myself through college working at a bike shop, and short of swimming with your bike (even then questionable as all BB's nowadays are sealed), your BB should last your lifetime.

 

[boyRacer]

I bought a BB-7700 when it was still around $70, it's around $50 now .

If you ride in any kind of wet weather, I would rather get the Ultgera. But if you work on your own bike and you're very anal about having a full DA group then go for it. Difference between the 2 is $10.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: qaa541
Ultegra is plenty good enough. I mean now you are talking about shaving grams off your bike, but are those grams really going to be worth the extra $$$? I mean unless you race seriously, an Ultregra gearset is more than enough unless you want to get into the bling factor.

I have old rusted Sora Parts right now, and the front derailer just snapped, so I think anything would be an upgrade.

I have heard that the DA is smoother though, but for the maintenance alone, I am going to get the Ultegra BB.

The thing is, I am planning on doing a half-Triath next year, and I want to do Cat-3 in the future, too. I am a big guy though. (I am about 195 lbs) But most of that weight is good weight because I am an active fellow.

I've owned bikes for 15 years and never done any maint on the bottom bracket. What needs to be done to it? Maybe have it checked every year or so or regreased if you put a lot of miles on it but other than that what can you do to it?

BTW-The new Dura-Ace crankset is really stiff and smooth. I bought mine on nashbar.com for $294 + $31 for the BB cups.

You upgraded your bike already? lol

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: bR

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: qaa541
Ultegra is plenty good enough. I mean now you are talking about shaving grams off your bike, but are those grams really going to be worth the extra $$$? I mean unless you race seriously, an Ultregra gearset is more than enough unless you want to get into the bling factor.

I have old rusted Sora Parts right now, and the front derailer just snapped, so I think anything would be an upgrade.

I have heard that the DA is smoother though, but for the maintenance alone, I am going to get the Ultegra BB.

The thing is, I am planning on doing a half-Triath next year, and I want to do Cat-3 in the future, too. I am a big guy though. (I am about 195 lbs) But most of that weight is good weight because I am an active fellow.

I've owned bikes for 15 years and never done any maint on the bottom bracket. What needs to be done to it? Maybe have it checked every year or so or regreased if you put a lot of miles on it but other than that what can you do to it?

BTW-The new Dura-Ace crankset is really stiff and smooth. I bought mine on nashbar.com for $294 + $31 for the BB cups.

You upgraded your bike already? lol

Yeah, I went crazy when I saw that Dura-Ace crankset on sale and bought it. I'd have to say I'm very happy with it though. It shifts much better than the FSA Gossamer cranks did (if my bike had come with Ultegra cranks I wouldn't have upgraded).

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: bR
I bought a BB-7700 when it was still around $70, it's around $50 now .

If you ride in any kind of wet weather, I would rather get the Ultgera. But if you work on your own bike and you're very anal about having a full DA group then go for it. Difference between the 2 is $10.

I ride in all kinds of weather. I bought a frame off of ebay though and the BB came with it. I believe it is DA, so I might just stick with that, but the rain worries me. BB cleaning is a real pain.

 

[Brutuskend]

What Fausto said

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: bR
I bought a BB-7700 when it was still around $70, it's around $50 now .

If you ride in any kind of wet weather, I would rather get the Ultgera. But if you work on your own bike and you're very anal about having a full DA group then go for it. Difference between the 2 is $10.

I ride in all kinds of weather. I bought a frame off of ebay though and the BB came with it. I believe it is DA, so I might just stick with that, but the rain worries me. BB cleaning is a real pain.

errr... you don't tend to "clean" cartridge BB's