Originally Posted by
Bob Dopolina
Any "modern" BB design that places the cups and bearings outside the BB shell needs to be faced. It is NOT done during manufacturing. You may get lucky but if your BB shell isn't faced properly you will certainly decrease the life of your bearings.
I don't buy it. Where's your proof? (Proof that the BB shell on an OEM frame isn't faced to close enough tolerances for adequate bearing life)
There are tens of thousands of production bikes out there with external bottom brackets mounted from the factory.