caloso

After several years and 20K miles or so, I've got quite a bit of play in my bottom bracket. Ultegra (6500) triple for those of you scoring at home. So, I've got to replace it.

Is there any reason in the world to spend an extra $20 or $30 to get the Ultegra instead of the 105 BB?

mlts22 

If it were I were making this decision, I'd go for the Ultegra, just because BBs are so infrequently replaced, so might as well go with a good one.

barba

Man am I glad I squirled away an Ultegra BB a bit back. The price they have on them at Nashbar is at least $20 more than I paid. I would go with 105 for that price difference. I doubt you will notice a big difference.

capwater

Nashbar was selling the BB-5500s for about 20 bucks a few months ago and I snagged a couple for the tool box. Agreed, you don't change them too often, but few people will b able to tell the diff between a 6500 and a 5500. It's more about weight than quality. A few grams here or there to 99% of riders is immaterial.

caloso

Yeah. That's my feeling too. If I were building up a superblingy race bike, I'd care about the weight. Of course if I cared so much about the weight, I wouldn't have seconds on pie.

'nother

I have serious doubts that there is $20 worth of "quality difference" between 105 and Ultegra (or Ultegra and DuraAce, or even between 105 and DuraAce for that matter). Go for 105 and get yourself another pie with the $$ you save

xeney

Be careful, though, because I ordered that $20 105 BB and it is backordered with no expected ship date. They already charged my credit card, too.

bikemeister

I heard that the only real difference in many of the mid range gruppos is the attention to the bearing surfaces. 105 got adequate race grinding, Ultegra got more attention, and Dura - Ace got the primo treatment. Weights are not all that different, but the prices is. At least, that's what I've heard.

capwater

DA 9 is also not a sealed bearing cartirdge, a consideration.