Worth it to preemptively pay extra for threaded BB option on new road bike?
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Not that this is an important consideration, but why would Litespeed do this? Just an upsell opportunity, given that people are willing to pay? I read into it, if they offer a standard PF by default, they deem it a good enough experience for their product, even if you do not buy the threaded option?
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Or you had a creaky press fit in the past and are just prejudiced against them so Litespeed wants to offer options.
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Precise language: your Chris King BB was not a 'bunch of parts', but consisted of 2 cups which threaded into the bike frame. In each of those cups, there was a single cartridge bearing that had been pressed in. Your bottom bracket spindle is in contact with and rotates with the inside of each cart.
So your BB is press-fit. Similarly all current BBs are press-fit, regardless of maker or BB specification.
A threaded BB setup does not prevent BB problems if either the threaded BB shell, or the BB itself is out of out of spec. I've seen several frames that were threaded out of spec, and rapid BB wear and creaking resulted.
So your BB is press-fit. Similarly all current BBs are press-fit, regardless of maker or BB specification.
A threaded BB setup does not prevent BB problems if either the threaded BB shell, or the BB itself is out of out of spec. I've seen several frames that were threaded out of spec, and rapid BB wear and creaking resulted.
Based on common discussion from users and industry insiders, tolerance for PF is often too relaxed and threaded BB is rarely so far off.
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But if I had to buy that bike, I would pay the $250 for sure. I do maintenance and the convenience of being able to pull a BB is enough to make the cost worth it.
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Not that this is an important consideration, but why would Litespeed do this? Just an upsell opportunity, given that people are willing to pay? I read into it, if they offer a standard PF by default, they deem it a good enough experience for their product, even if you do not buy the threaded option?
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I’m gonna be laugh my ass off, hard, at the first fool who cross-threads a Litespeed with an optional T47 BB.
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But the real question is, is that $250 for them to thread the BB shell for a T47 BB, or is it a full bike that includes the extra work and the more expensive T47 BB itself? Still seems like an overcharge, but I'd probably do it too if it's the latter.
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#33
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It's the additional $ charge on the full built bike, using T47 BB.
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I’m probably going to pee myself laughing when I first learn some fool’s optioned T47 BB has galled with the Ti BB shell and can’t be removed!
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I would personally go for PF30 + a hambini BB, which would end up being roughly the same price as the T47 but marginally lighter and stiffer. I doubt the galling chaadster mentioned would be an issue either, since the BB is basically a permanent installation.
EDIT: to answer your question "if it were so disadvantageous to have a press fit BB, why would bike manufacturers offer it?". It's not "disadvantageous". It's just easier to get away with horrible manufacturing. PF is lighter, stiffer and cheaper. Threaded is just easier to service at home but more importantly, it forces bike manufacturers to meet a minimum threshold of quality. You can't screw in your BB if the hole is oval.
EDIT: to answer your question "if it were so disadvantageous to have a press fit BB, why would bike manufacturers offer it?". It's not "disadvantageous". It's just easier to get away with horrible manufacturing. PF is lighter, stiffer and cheaper. Threaded is just easier to service at home but more importantly, it forces bike manufacturers to meet a minimum threshold of quality. You can't screw in your BB if the hole is oval.
Last edited by smashndash; 07-20-22 at 11:44 PM.
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My old Litespeed was designed for a threaded BB and I installed it with the anti-seize recommended by the manufacturer. Why do you hate other people so much that you laugh at their misfortune.
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#39
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I have a Merckx Titanium EX built by Litespeed with an Italian-threaded BB that came to me with a shot Octalink BB galled into the threads. After 2 months, the lbs gave up. Took me a lot more time, some nasty home-brewed chemicals (acetone/ATF), a fair bit of heat from multiple applications of a torch, and a helluva lot of torque, but I was able to get it out. Like you, I put in some special anti-seize (and a lot of prayers) before I put the new BB in. Not sure why finding the misfortune of others is funny.
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Moving on to more complex matters, I’d say it’s far more likely that some yahoo who thinks threaded BBs are easy will foul a BB install than it is that Litespeed won’t make an accurate Ti BB shell.
Anyone wanna take a bet on the ratio— just here on BF— of creaky Litespeed Ti pressfit BB complaints to complaints about seized and/or damaged threads on Ti frames and Al BB cups?
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I work on alot of stuff (bikes, cars, motorcycles) .... I doubt that cross-threading a BB is going to be an issue for me (fingers crossed). I have no real prejudice against press fit BB but I don't want to have to buy new tools and learn about them. It's for that reason that I usually rule them out. I already have a few different BB tools for threaded set ups. I suppose if the day comes that I can't pass up a bike with a press fit I will learn.
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Alright ....ya got me .... LOL.
I work on alot of stuff (bikes, cars, motorcycles) .... I doubt that cross-threading a BB is going to be an issue for me (fingers crossed). I have no real prejudice against press fit BB but I don't want to have to buy new tools and learn about them. It's for that reason that I usually rule them out. I already have a few different BB tools for threaded set ups. I suppose if the day comes that I can't pass up a bike with a press fit I will learn.
I work on alot of stuff (bikes, cars, motorcycles) .... I doubt that cross-threading a BB is going to be an issue for me (fingers crossed). I have no real prejudice against press fit BB but I don't want to have to buy new tools and learn about them. It's for that reason that I usually rule them out. I already have a few different BB tools for threaded set ups. I suppose if the day comes that I can't pass up a bike with a press fit I will learn.
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Hope springs eternal. But in this place, not likely.
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#44
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A wheels manufacturing thread together BB with angular contact bearings will spin freely and never creak. I've used then on BB86 and BB386 shells.
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I personally wouldn't pay extra for the threaded BB because I don't think creaking is a problem that can't be easily avoided.
I opted for the PF30 on my wife's Litespeed Watia rather than the substantial upcharge for threaded. I had excellent carefree service on her other PF30 bike (a Jamis CF frame) using a Praxis thread together PF30 bottom bracket and before that the cheap OEM plastic press fit BB it came with. No creaking no drama. I went the same thread together route when I built up the the Watia with Sram DUB, but tried the Wheels Manufacturing version. They're different but same principle. Easy to install and remove.
That said, my Lynskey GR300 came standard with BSA threaded bottom bracket, and BSA threaded is and would have been my preference for all bikes if offered standard. But, I would have still bought the GR300 regardless.
Frankly, this oversized BB thing I think is a bit overkill for me and probably many if not most recreational enthusiasts, even strong amateur racers. I have no need - nor do I think do many riders - for a "more stiff" bottom bracket. I mean, please chime in if you've ever (I mean really, ever) felt the bottom bracket on your modern decent quality bike - aluminum, steel, CF, titanium - is too flexible. Really? Yes maybe for the 1 in a million pro-class sprinters, but for the rest of us 999,999? And the weight? Even when I was afflicted with weight weenism, it was a non-issue.
But I think the creakiness of PF BB's is quite a bit overstated, becoming Urban Legend at this stage of the technology.
I opted for the PF30 on my wife's Litespeed Watia rather than the substantial upcharge for threaded. I had excellent carefree service on her other PF30 bike (a Jamis CF frame) using a Praxis thread together PF30 bottom bracket and before that the cheap OEM plastic press fit BB it came with. No creaking no drama. I went the same thread together route when I built up the the Watia with Sram DUB, but tried the Wheels Manufacturing version. They're different but same principle. Easy to install and remove.
That said, my Lynskey GR300 came standard with BSA threaded bottom bracket, and BSA threaded is and would have been my preference for all bikes if offered standard. But, I would have still bought the GR300 regardless.
Frankly, this oversized BB thing I think is a bit overkill for me and probably many if not most recreational enthusiasts, even strong amateur racers. I have no need - nor do I think do many riders - for a "more stiff" bottom bracket. I mean, please chime in if you've ever (I mean really, ever) felt the bottom bracket on your modern decent quality bike - aluminum, steel, CF, titanium - is too flexible. Really? Yes maybe for the 1 in a million pro-class sprinters, but for the rest of us 999,999? And the weight? Even when I was afflicted with weight weenism, it was a non-issue.
But I think the creakiness of PF BB's is quite a bit overstated, becoming Urban Legend at this stage of the technology.
Last edited by Camilo; 07-22-22 at 12:10 AM.
#47
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Frankly, this oversized BB thing I think is a bit overkill for me and probably many if not most recreational enthusiasts, even strong amateur racers. I have no need - nor do I think do many riders - for a "more stiff" bottom bracket. I mean, please chime in if you've ever (I mean really, ever) felt the bottom bracket on your modern decent quality bike - aluminum, steel, CF, titanium - is too flexible. Really? Yes maybe for the 1 in a million pro-class sprinters, but for the rest of us 999,999? And the weight? Even when I was afflicted with weight weenism, it was a non-issue.
But I think the creakiness of PF BB's is quite a bit overstated, becoming Urban Legend at this stage of the technology.
But I think the creakiness of PF BB's is quite a bit overstated, becoming Urban Legend at this stage of the technology.
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That and the room to run wiring through it internally.
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Why Litespeed? The ‘true’ Litepseeds are made by Lynskey. The track record of Litespeed particularly on warranty issues ever since they were sold to the devil, American Bicycle Group is very poor. So don’t pay anything to ABG, threaded BB or press fit. Instead get a Lynskey or a Moots.
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Why Litespeed? The ‘true’ Litepseeds are made by Lynskey. The track record of Litespeed particularly on warranty issues ever since they were sold to the devil, American Bicycle Group is very poor. So don’t pay anything to ABG, threaded BB or press fit. Instead get a Lynskey or a Moots.
Last edited by Camilo; 07-24-22 at 12:53 AM.