Best Value Square Taper Bottom Bracket in 2022?
#26
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My impression of the UN300 is that Shimano decided they weren't beating the rest of the market with their more complicated (and I'm sure more expensive to make) design anymore, so they decided to join them in putting cartridge bearings on a simpler spindle. It does seem to be well-sealed, so maybe they'll hold up well in the real world...
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#27
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I have this generic Chinese Titanium BB on my Nishiki:
It works fine. These Ti BB’s are around 150-160g , vs 300+ g for your typical Shimano UN300 etc. It’s a no-brainer weight saver for me.
It works fine. These Ti BB’s are around 150-160g , vs 300+ g for your typical Shimano UN300 etc. It’s a no-brainer weight saver for me.
#28
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Titanium is not as strong as steel, and Ti bottom brackets have a history of breaking. But maybe you are light enough or easy enough on components that it doesn't matter.
#29
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IRD has a really nice finish, IDK if they paid Tange extra for the finish work but they're real sharp. Other small volume brands are probably rebadged Tange as well, but no-name Chinese BBs are a crapshoot. I got one with nice anodized cups but it had a lot of extra play, like it already had 20k on it. Sugino still exist I guess, not sure if they make their own or contract them out. I got an SKF to use with a Campy Mirage group, but I can't for the life of me remember which bike it's on right now. It was a lower end model with plastic cups and that Campy style interface and BSC threading, but the tolerances seemed pretty excellent.
#30
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I've got a drawer full of UN26s from my flipping days. I also save BBs from part outs. An old cup and spindle BB can live again as long as it does not have fatal wear. Added benefit when I find one with French or Swiss threading.
#31
Mulk Hogan
Yes, Tange Seiki. But $30. Inflation, you know.
Tange LN-3922 Square Taper Bottom Bracket – The Bikesmiths
Tange LN-3922 Bottom Bracket | - Ben's Cycle (benscycle.com)
Tange LN-3922 Square Taper Bottom Bracket – The Bikesmiths
Tange LN-3922 Bottom Bracket | - Ben's Cycle (benscycle.com)
#32
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Nothing wrong with BBs with nylon cups. They don't seize, corrode or gall. I put one in my Lite speed MTB in 1996 and it is still working.
I recently bought some sub$20 Chin Haur bbs. They mounted easily, produced perfect chainline and spin well. I don't know how complicated a disposable BB needs to be. Seems about as critical as buying name brand butyl tubes.
I recently bought some sub$20 Chin Haur bbs. They mounted easily, produced perfect chainline and spin well. I don't know how complicated a disposable BB needs to be. Seems about as critical as buying name brand butyl tubes.
#34
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I'm pretty sure Ti is strong enough for that task. From what I've seen alloy certainly is.
Regarding a square-taper cartridge BB: I second the Tange recommendation. Tange products are generally of great quality and don't tend to "break the bank".
Last edited by Hondo6; 03-27-24 at 08:30 PM. Reason: Strike thru to correct monumental brain cramp.
#35
Senior Member
Pretty sure the BB in @icemilkcoffee 's post above doesn't have a spindle - it appears to be for a GRX/Hollowtech2/other kind of 24mm diameter spindle crankset having the crank spindle permanently attached to the DS crank. This type of BB doesn't do anything except provide press-fit housings for a pair of bearings. Those bearing housings are then screwed into the BB shell.
I'm pretty sure Ti is strong enough for that task. From what I've seen alloy certainly is.
Regarding a square-taper cartridge BB: I second the Tange recommendation. Tange products are generally of great quality and don't tend to "break the bank".
I'm pretty sure Ti is strong enough for that task. From what I've seen alloy certainly is.
Regarding a square-taper cartridge BB: I second the Tange recommendation. Tange products are generally of great quality and don't tend to "break the bank".
Titanium spindle... tough to say; Good steel has higher strength than you can achieve with titanium, but titanium is known for superior fatigue strength. SKF warns against using their stainless steel BB in racing applications, only certified for recreational and city bikes; They say the stainless is more brittle, so no good for hard hammering racers. But they use stainless because for the average joe/jane, a spindle that doesn't rust won't chew up the seals in that way. Same for titanium. It would be good to know if the Ti spindle is rated for racer use.
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have titanium (spindle) bottom brackets in a few bikes
a number of my friends also had / have titanium bottom brackets
road and off road use - some of the riders fairly large / heavy
no issues
early on - many of the bottom brackets were Action Tec - then later World Class (primarily) and Race Face (I believe) when titanium cartridge bottom brackets became available
plan to install a World Class on a bike / frame currently in build stage
still have one bike with an Action Tec BB (pictured above)
many other square taper bikes we have are fitted with UN 71/72 or UN90/91 bottom brackets (which are great)
Last edited by t2p; 03-28-24 at 09:07 AM.
#38
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would be a challenge to snap that 6-4 titanium spindle