Research the crankset you are buying on Sheldon Brown. He lists many of the bb spindle lengths for various cranks.

How do you know FOR SURE bb is right? Its ebay, so you don't. What if seller puts the wrong length bb with the crankset? Suppose seller mixed and matched random parts out of their bin? It happens. Of course, ebay has policies in place to protect the buyer. As long as you mount it shortly after buying it, you should be covered.

Cranks are designed for a specific length bb, and its not bike specific. So as long as the seller includes the right bb, you will be fine.

BB design is also crank specific, I've used square tape, Octalink, external bb, etc., all on the same bike (different cranks).

I like stuff that matches, but on several of my bikes, the cranks do not match. I think they look just fine.


Superbe Pro bike, but it has Campy calipers, and the crankset is not Superbe Pro either. It does have Superbe Pro hubs, shift levers, and derailleurs.




Or this:

Ultegra components, modern Shimano Hollowtech (not Ultegra) compact crankset. I've since rebuilt it with Dura Ace components, still using same crankset.