Originally Posted by
HillRider
Interesting. I'll have to tell my BB-6500 Octalink bottom bracket that it should be dead way before now.
Seriously, I've had excellent service from Shimano and Campy sealed cartridge bbs. The Octalink mentioned above has 32,300 miles on it and is still smooth and free of any play. It is the longest lived (so far) but I've gotten over 30,000 miles on two UN-XX square taper bottom brackets and retired them for crank upgrades, not because they failed in service and have 19,000 miles and counting on a Campy Chorus square taper bb.
Just based on my unscientific experience. In buying and selling several hundred used bikes, out of the bikes I have acquired with spindle and cup bb, 5% or less are worn out. Meanwhile, when I find a bike with a cartridge bb, 75% or more are shot. Most of the ones I find are Shimano UN-xx square taper. No Campy cartridge bbs, an occasional Octalink.