The end of UN 55's??
07-30-20, 06:44 AM
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The end of UN 55's??
The other day, while working at the bike shop, I needed to order a UN55 for a repair. As most bike shops order from QBP I was surprised that they are discontinuing carrying this BB.
Does anyone have any idea why? And what would be a good substitute?
Does anyone have any idea why? And what would be a good substitute?
07-30-20, 07:00 AM
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Well, the BB-UN26 is pretty much the same except for having a plastic non-drive side adapter as opposed to the metal one on the BB-UN55. I have never had an issue with the plastic ones.
It may be available from other distributors even though QBP has discontinued them, although a couple of retailers also say they are discontinued.
It would really suck of Shimano to discontinue such a commonly-used part. Time to start hoarding I guess.
It may be available from other distributors even though QBP has discontinued them, although a couple of retailers also say they are discontinued.
It would really suck of Shimano to discontinue such a commonly-used part. Time to start hoarding I guess.
07-30-20, 07:09 AM
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The un-26 is also OB.
the replacement for both (from Shimano’s B2B site) is the UN-300. Tourney series, ugh.
Fortunately, Tange, IRD, and a few others make good square taper BBs, but none at the low price point of the venerable UN55.
the replacement for both (from Shimano’s B2B site) is the UN-300. Tourney series, ugh.
Fortunately, Tange, IRD, and a few others make good square taper BBs, but none at the low price point of the venerable UN55.
07-30-20, 08:11 AM
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Well, the BB-UN26 is pretty much the same except for having a plastic non-drive side adapter as opposed to the metal one on the BB-UN55. I have never had an issue with the plastic ones.
It may be available from other distributors even though QBP has discontinued them, although a couple of retailers also say they are discontinued.
It would really suck of Shimano to discontinue such a commonly-used part. Time to start hoarding I guess.
It may be available from other distributors even though QBP has discontinued them, although a couple of retailers also say they are discontinued.
It would really suck of Shimano to discontinue such a commonly-used part. Time to start hoarding I guess.
07-30-20, 08:29 AM
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Well, the BB-UN300 has an aluminum NDS adapter, at least. At least they haven't totally abandoned the square taper BB.
07-30-20, 05:03 PM
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I didn't know they are discontinuing it. Certainly they are out of stock for a long time until the boat gets here from Signapore with more but I am quite surprised they might be discontinuing it. I will ask my rep at Q and see if he knows anything. They could have taken stuff down due to COVID. Personally though I would go IRD, they make some of the finest and smoothest JIS BB's
07-30-20, 06:46 PM
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07-30-20, 07:43 PM
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I am skeptical that the UN55 is discontinued. Q shows only two versions of this bb at the moment, (one is a 68mm version, one a 73mm version), and both are out of stock, with a limit of 3 if they were indeed available, which they are not.. Which isn't good, but there is no indication on the Q site that the UN55 is discontinued.
Square taper bb's are prime territiory at the moment for the supply chain breakdown that has occurred among the most common "repair parts" in the bike industry. Hell, we can't get some of the most common inner tubes at the moment.
Maybe the UN55 is discontinued, maybe it's not. But there's a lot of weirdness in terms of availability/eta's/products even having an actual part # right now. Demand has been unprecedented, and "supply" can't come close to keeping up (at the moment).
These are crazy times.
Square taper bb's are prime territiory at the moment for the supply chain breakdown that has occurred among the most common "repair parts" in the bike industry. Hell, we can't get some of the most common inner tubes at the moment.
Maybe the UN55 is discontinued, maybe it's not. But there's a lot of weirdness in terms of availability/eta's/products even having an actual part # right now. Demand has been unprecedented, and "supply" can't come close to keeping up (at the moment).
These are crazy times.
Last edited by well biked; 07-30-20 at 07:47 PM.
07-30-20, 08:58 PM
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Likely the same pandemic virus issues slowing bike shipments across the pacific , parts containers also slow to ship. ;;
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07-30-20, 11:38 PM
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Yeah, I was surprised to see REI blowing out UN55's at half price so I bought a few just in case.
"Discontinued" may translate to a transient supply chain problem. Economists have been speculating about this since the pandemic started.
If there's enough demand for these bottom brackets chances are production will resume when it's cost effective to do so.
"Discontinued" may translate to a transient supply chain problem. Economists have been speculating about this since the pandemic started.
If there's enough demand for these bottom brackets chances are production will resume when it's cost effective to do so.
07-31-20, 10:29 AM
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I just bought two - one English, one Italian, in 107 - from XXCycle - very cheap too. These are ideal for the Stronglight Impact Cranksets I just bought from them too.
07-31-20, 09:20 PM
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I may not put that into it but I have put more into zero dollar bikes granted they had some value once built up or fixed up.
