Originally Posted by
thereedreeder
^it will spin better on a bike stand when the cranks aren't attached to the drivetrain, yes, but i have a hard time believing that there can be a noticeable difference in smoothness when riding. in my opinion, the defining differences between BB's are sealed vs. unsealed, durability, and stiffness.
I think you can tell the diffrence between a ****ty BB and a better one. I know when I repack an old one thats full of ****ty grease and dirt I can tell its easier to pedal. However, I think you reach a point of diminishing gains really fast in regards to smoothness.