Best Ceramic Bike Bottom Brackets of 2026
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Ceramic bike bottom brackets are a popular choice among cycling enthusiasts due to their superior performance and durability. Made from high-quality ceramic materials, these bottom brackets are designed to withstand the rigors of intense cycling and provide a smooth and efficient ride. They offer excellent resistance to wear and tear, as well as corrosion, making them ideal for use in all weather conditions. Additionally, ceramic bike bottom brackets are known for their low friction and reduced noise levels, ensuring a quiet and comfortable ride. Whether you're a professional cyclist or a weekend warrior, ceramic bike bottom brackets are a smart investment for any serious rider.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Ceramic Bike Bottom Brackets
Shimano SM-BBR60 Ultegra / FC-CX70 / 105 Bottom Bracket
The Shimano SM-BBR60 Bottom Bracket is 14 g lighter and 50% less friction than the SM-BB6700. With small ball bearings to reduce weight, the anodized bearing cups provide a smoother ride. This bottom bracket is recommended for Ultegra FC-R8000, FC-6800, 105 FC-5800, Metrea FC-U5000, FC-CX70, and is an excellent choice for bike enthusiasts.
SHIMANO Square Type Bicycle Bottom Bracket
This bottom bracket is designed to fit JIS square-taper cranksets. It is a durable and reliable option for bike enthusiasts looking to replace their current bottom bracket.
SHIMANO BB-UN300 Bottom Bracket
The SHIMANO BB-UN300 Bottom Bracket is designed for JIS square-taper cranksets and offers a spindle length of 113mm. It has a BB shell width of 68mm and a bottom bracket shell I.D. of 1.37, making it a great choice for many bike models. Please note that the crankarm fixing bolts are sold separately.
SHIMANO BB-RS501 Bottom Bracket
The SHIMANO BB-RS501 is designed specifically for English thread bottom bracket frames, ensuring a seamless fit with Hollowtech II 24mm crank spindles. This product features anodized aluminum cups, which provide both strength and lightweight performance, making it an excellent choice for cyclists who prioritize efficiency. Weighing in at just 93 grams, it helps keep your bike light and agile. By integrating perfectly with your crankset, the BB-RS501 enhances your bike's overall performance and durability, allowing you to enjoy a smoother and more reliable ride.
SHIMANO BB-MT501 English Bottom Bracket
The SHIMANO Bottom Bracket is a threaded bottom bracket designed for MTB use. It features an English (BSA) thread and is compatible with a Hollowtech II spindle. The bottom bracket is made with aluminum threaded cups and comes in black color. The English thread makes the installation process easier for you, while the compatibility with Hollowtech II spindle ensures a smooth ride. The aluminum threaded cups make the bottom bracket lightweight and durable, and the black color adds a sleek look to your bike.
BUCKLOS Threaded/PressFit Bottom Bracket BSA 68-73mm/86-92mm -Ceramic/Steel Bearings
BUCKLOS Bike Square Taper Bottom Bracket
Shimano Bb-Un300 Standard Bottom Bracket 73mm x 118mm
SHIMANO BB-UN300 Bottom Bracket
The SHIMANO BB-UN300 is designed to fit JIS square-taper cranksets, making it a reliable choice for your bike. You can easily install it with crankarm fixing bolts, which are sold separately. Its hollow spindle design not only reduces weight but also enhances performance, allowing for smoother pedaling. With a spindle length of 110mm and a BB shell width of 68mm, it provides the perfect fit for various bike frames, ensuring stability and efficiency during rides.
Shimano BB-UN300 Bottom Bracket
The Shimano BB-UN300 is a reliable bottom bracket designed for your bike. It features a hollow spindle, which is lighter and helps improve your bike's performance. The square taper JIS interface ensures a secure fit for your crank arms, enhancing stability during rides. Additionally, the bottom bracket shell has a standard inner diameter of 1.37 inches, making it compatible with various bike frames. Keep in mind that crankarm fixing bolts are sold separately, allowing you to choose the best option for your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do ceramic bottom brackets make a difference?
Yes, ceramic bottom brackets offer several advantages over steel bearings. They have rounder balls for lower resistance, better races for lower resistance, and are grease-efficient in low RPM and low heat environments. This results in lower resistance and improved performance in bicycle bottom bracket applications.
2. How long do ceramic bottom brackets last?
Ceramic bottom brackets, like those from CeramicSpeed, generally last five times longer than standard bearings. They should be maintained every 5,000-8,000 km or 3,000-5,000 miles. For most riders, CeramicSpeed headset bearings can be maintained once per year.
3. What are the benefits of ceramic speed bottom brackets?
CeramicSpeed bottom brackets offer several benefits. They come in a coated version for even longer lifetime and lower friction. The coating is a thin metallic layer that is 75% harder than hardened-steel races, providing improved performance compared to non-coated ceramic bottom brackets.
4. What is a disadvantage of ceramic bearings?
One disadvantage of ceramic bearings is their brittleness. They can be prone to sudden failure caused by cracking at higher speeds. This limits their maximum speed to 20-25% lower than all-steel equivalents. Sudden shocks on ceramic bearings can cause brinelling.
5. Why do bikers carry ceramic ball bearings?
Bikers carry ceramic ball bearings because they offer lower friction at high RPM. The smooth surface and uniform size of ceramic bearings distribute the load evenly across the balls, reducing friction caused by imperfections. This translates to less power needed to spin the bearing.
6. Why are ceramic bearings so expensive?
The cost difference between ceramic and steel bearings is mainly due to the additional time spent perfecting a quality ceramic ball. Ceramic balls go through a polishing process that takes weeks to achieve a smooth and polished surface, resulting in higher manufacturing costs.
7. How many watts does a ceramic bottom bracket save?
Ceramic bottom brackets, like those from CeramicSpeed, offer power savings of between 10-12 watts. This translates to a more efficient transfer of power from the pedals to the wheels, resulting in improved performance and faster speeds.
8. Does CeramicSpeed make you faster?
Yes, CeramicSpeed can make you faster. The smooth and uniform surface of ceramic bearings creates less resistance compared to steel bearings, allowing for a more efficient transfer of power. This means less energy expended by the rider and ultimately faster speeds.
9. Do full ceramic bearings need lubrication?
No, full ceramic bearings do not need lubrication to run. Ceramic is non-porous and virtually frictionless, unlike steel. It also dissipates heat quickly. Therefore, full ceramic bearings can be run completely dry without the need for lubrication.
During our ceramic bike bottom bracket research, we found 24 ceramic bike bottom bracket products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 20,831 customer reviews through our big data system to write the ceramic bike bottom brackets list. We found that most customers choose ceramic bike bottom brackets with an average price of $17.89.
The ceramic bike bottom brackets are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of ceramic bike bottom brackets, including SHIMANO, BUCKLOS. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 654 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.
Jason Kiser is an editor who lives in California, he previously worked in a travel agency for ten years, which enabled him to travel a number of interesting countries and experience several different cultures along the way. His range of job and travel experiences grant him expertise in hiking, camping, outdoors and fitness.