Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Which type of bottom bracket to pick

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Which type of bottom bracket to pick

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-21-17 | 06:29 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Which type of bottom bracket to pick

I am buying a frame with option of BSA or BB30 or BB86. Which one should I pick?

I have been reading through many articles, but I couldn't help me decide.

virtualchuta is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 07:13 PM
  #2  
agmetal's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 28
From: Boston, MA

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, ANT 3-speed roadster, New Albion Privateer singlespeed, Raleigh One Way singlespeed, Raleigh Professional "retro roadie" rebuild, 198? Fuji(?) franken-5-speed, 1937 Raleigh Tourist, 1952 Raleigh Sports, 1966 Raleigh Sports step-through

BSA....it's been around for a million years, won't give you the creaking issues common with press fit cups, and gives you the option of a few different types of spindle
agmetal is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 07:33 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 17
From: Upstate NY

Bikes: Bianchi San Mateo and a few others

There are plenty of good cranksets made for all three, but I'd personally opt for the English threaded bottom bracket. Reliable and easily serviceable. No pressing bearings in our out, or paying someone else to do it. If you've got a wrench and a cheap bottom bracket tool, you can easily do all the common work yourself.
SkyDog75 is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 07:35 PM
  #4  
Dan Burkhart's Avatar
Senior member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,368
Likes: 886
From: Oakville Ontario
+1 to the above. BSA will be supported for many years to come. lots of choices for bottom brackets and cranks, and it just plain works.
Dan Burkhart is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 09:15 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Another vote for BSA. It's simple, strong, reliable, quiet and cranks and bottom brackets for it are readily available. It's about the only bottom bracket "standard" that really is standard.
HillRider is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 09:48 PM
  #6  
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,352
Likes: 5,469
From: Rochester, NY

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

And it's a win for a decades old design that has been used on thousands of race winners and common riders. BSA! We, the riding public, have a chance every time we purchase to send the industry a message that change for marketing sense is not common sense. Andy
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 10:55 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 4,400
Likes: 106
From: SF Bay Area

Bikes: Bianchi Infinito (Celeste, of course)

BSA with an external bearing bottom bracket, best of both worlds.

The main advantage of BB30 is a few grams lighter and better single speed conversion options.
gsa103 is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 10:57 PM
  #8  
DrIsotope's Avatar
Non omnino gravis
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8,552
Likes: 1,739
From: SoCal, USA!

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

BSA, all day, every day. Any frame with a press-fit BB is an automatic dealbreaker for me. I will not lower myself to gluing oversize bearings into a plastic frame.
__________________
DrIsotope is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-17 | 11:57 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 323
From: Mt Shasta, CA, USA

Bikes: Too many. Giant Trance X 29, Surly Midnight Special get the most time.

I'd be fine with all three on well executed frames. If you're buying a generic frame, I'd check reviews on any pressfit bb frames before getting one. BB30, in particular, requires very tight tolerances for the bearing bores. BB86 (and PF30)are a little more forgiving because the bearings are pressed into plastic cups.

If you want to run a Shimano crank, avoid a BB designed for a 30mm spindle if possible, so either BSA or BB86 (or Trek BB90) If you're going to be running a crank with BB30/PF30/BB386/BBright/OSBB/BB30A et et etc options then the 30mm spindle pressfit bottom bracket will be a lighter inofitself, be stiffer, and may allow for a lighter and stiffer frame design. Some of these designs can be very dependent on tight tolerances, and some do develop problems, but truthfully mostly they work well and aren't crazily difficult to work on. Probably the scariest thing is the potential to damage a BB shell if the bearings are pressed in crooked.

So yeah, BSA, unless you are really into a super light build (which is fine).
cpach is offline  
Reply
Old 02-22-17 | 02:11 AM
  #10  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Thank you very much for your recommendations. BSA it is.
virtualchuta is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
keroque
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
5
02-09-18 02:40 PM
identityrichie
Bicycle Mechanics
4
10-12-14 10:47 AM
jlipinski3
Bicycle Mechanics
8
07-24-13 12:54 PM
Reeses
Bicycle Mechanics
1
07-01-12 10:00 PM
Tarsyn
Mountain Biking
1
05-07-11 09:48 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.