Okay....so why is BB30 such crap?
 

I have a bike that uses BB30 and I don't understand what the issue is. I hear so many things that I am not sure what to think about it. Is it something i will need to monitor or is it okay?

I am no rookie to riding road bikes but I do not understand much of the mechanics...sad to say.

Cheers,

Brian J.

I don't think BB30 is crap I think most complain about all the different standards. Also not all crank manufacturers make a bb30 crank (shimano is one) so to run a full DA kit you need adapters.... then some choose to run and fsa bb30 crank and their shifting not as crisp instead of using an adapter as an example

For regular riders (who don't love doing maintenance), there are issues like creaks, etc. from improper installation, in which BB30 requires more precision compared to standard outboard cups.

You also need a headset press, mallet, and pliers, as opposed to a $10 tool to maintain the BB.

Otherwise, one can make all those "engineering" arguments for it. Just my opinion.

The need addition of RBA has a article spelling out the differences between the various BBs.

That sounds like a PITA for any rec rider.

I am not sold on BB30 but supposedly it's stiffer.

I think it's mostly marketing hype.

A SRAM Red Crankset (GXP) weighs 760 grams while a BB30 weighs 630 Grams.

The biggest fault I've heard is that true BB30 requires very high tolerances to have a good surface between the frame, bearings and crank. Without this the crank will either not run true to the frame or the bearing will wear prematurely.

The solution was to create PF 30, where the frame tolerances weren't as exacting. The problem is that you add additional parts to the system. This has lead to problems for people with creaking.

Finally, as others have expressed, some people are just disappointed in the wide variety of standards. BB30, PF 30, BB86, BB386, PRessfit, BSA, etc.

BB30 is not inherently bad. Some people just haven't had as good of luck with it.

It's not that BB30's are such crap, it's just that the other kinds are so awesome/simple/trouble-free.

http://www.bikerumor.com/wp-content/...m-bracket1.jpg

It find it so funny that the bike industry FINALLY standardized bottom brackets (aside from English/Italian) with outboard bearing cups that all use the same tool. So of course they invent another 6 or so styles with marginal benefits for all but professional cyclists. The ease of use and within-band interchangeability of BB cups is such a pleasure and I hope threaded BBs never go away.

Humm, I never knew there were any supposed problems with the BB30. I got a 2010 CAAD9 with BB30 not becasue it had or did not have it, but it was a good price. This thread is a bit of a education for me.
I'm not a pro but rather a avid hobbyist/fitness type and cool toys collector. Cool info.

The 41 has spoken

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=BB30

nothing wrong with BB30, its just as good if not better.

I've had creaking problems in the past, but the last few times that I've pulled the crankset, it hasn't been an issue. I'm sure that I just wasn't paying enough attention to the mating surfaces, or something.

It's too bad Cannondale decided to F things up by inventing BB30 just to save 50 grams. Despite what they claim, it is not stiffer in a practical sense. All it did was complicate things for everyone just to save 50 grams. The threaded BB is easier to work with and has much less that can go wrong. Who wants to loc-tite anything if they don't have to? Nobody ever complains about a threaded BB creaking. My '09 Look 595 and '09 CAAD9 have threaded BBs. I bought both as NOS framesets and the threaded BBs were a major reason why I went with these two bikes as opposed to all the newer bikes being offered today. It's too bad they are becoming more rare these days.

I don't want to loc-tite something if I don't have to... fortunately, I don't have to.

BB30 is not inherently bad, but it was not necessary. My take is any new invention should be leaps and bounds better than what it aims to displace (functionally and maintenance-wise). I cannot say that BB30 qualifies per those metrics.

I disagree that outboard bearings were in any way "standardized." Shimano had Mega Exo of straight 24mm spindle, which worked with "some" FSA cranks; FSA cranks were divided in to GXP, Shimano Mega Exo and another slightly different Mega Exo; GXP had a 24mm spindle with some variation that required a different dd; Campy had their own BB; Zipp had a different BB.

The way things are now, BB30 is similar to standard BB in that lots of cranks can work if you have the right adaptive BB/spacers. No different changing spacers than changing actual BB cups.

love my bb30.

There's nothing wrong with BB30, I love it.

That's terribly inaccurate. Bottom bracket creaks can happen with any type of bottom bracket, and they do. More often than not, grease between the frame and whatever type of bottom bracket is in use will solve the creaking problem. BB30 bb's do have a high likelihood of needing grease between the cartridges and the frame's bb shell to keep from creaking, IME.

Of the many new bb types, I like PressFit 30; uses BB30 type bearings but sealed in nylon cups. Uses no circlips to install, just an interference fit in the shell. Because of the nylon cups, the tolerances are a bit more forgiving than with BB30, the bearings are sealed better because they're enclosed in the nylon cups, which should help with durability, and they seem to be inclined to stay quiet IME.

I like a good quality, threaded bb, too. But believe me, they can creak. A good bit of grease on the threads is usually the answer, maybe even a bit of plumber's tape if grease alone doesn't do the trick.

Won't comment, I still prefer squaretaper.

Thanks guys. I did not get my bike because it had BB30, but I have seen some negative things posted about it. Got a bit of an education...you guys rule:thumb:

Cheers,

Brian J.

this is a thread on a bb30. kind of an oxymoron.

Good one. :thumb:

I have BB30, weigh 205 and no problems so far.

Also, it is more than a 50 gram savings. Red BB30 is 78 grams less and Force is 94 grams less. I have also read that there is weight savings in the frames. So all totaled, you are probably looking at 1/4lb.

Not too shabby for no extra cost.