Is It Worth Buying a Bottom Bracket with Ceramic Bearings?
Is Ceramic Bottom Bracket Worth It?
Published on Jun 4, 2024
By Markus from SUMLON

Ceramic Bottom Bracket works, but not that much tho

Ceramic bearings boast numerous advantages. The hardness of ceramic balls is higher, making the entire bottom bracket lighter with lower friction. Bearings with ceramic balls do not produce debris like all-steel bearings do after friction, making them more durable. Ceramic balls do not rust or corrode like steel balls. All these claims are correct. However, you should be aware that most ceramic bearings only replace the steel balls with ceramic ones, while the inner and outer races of the bearing are still steel races. This means that debris will still be there during operation, and the bearing can still rust and seize. In other words, when discussing these advantages, ceramic bearings only optimize certain performance aspects without completely avoiding these issues.

Ceramic Bottom Bracket with ceramic bearings
Ceramic Bottom Bracket with ceramic bearings

Cost efficiency is what you should take into consideration

SUMLON believes that ceramic bottom brackets with ceramic bearings are worth buying, but their cost-effectiveness is extremely poor. We have seen too many enthusiasts who, after purchasing and using bottom brackets with ceramic bearings, did not achieve higher speeds. Theoretically, using ceramic bearings can save you about 2 watts of power. It is insignificant, because overall outputs often exceeding 300 watts. However, you have to pay an extra $200 for this small gain. When you use a bottom bracket with ceramic bearings and manually spin the crank arm, you will feel that the crankset rotates more smoothly. But when you actually ride, almost 95% of riders cannot feel the presence of a bottom bracket with ceramic bearings. SUMLON’s comment on this is that while a bottom bracket with ceramic bearings is a good technological application that can improve riding efficiency, its cost-effectiveness is very, very poor.

Ceramic Bearing
Ceramic Bearing
Ceramic Bottom Bracket
Ceramic Bottom Bracket

Ceramic Bottom brackets and Derailleur Pulleys

Similar products include derailleur pulleys with larger gears. Like ceramic bottom brackets with ceramic bearings, they are expensive and can truly improve riding efficiency, but the improvement is very limited. These might be the new directions for technological development in the future. SUMLON does not oppose the emergence of these new products and technologies. However, from a commercial perspective, if you are not a very passionate enthusiast and if there are other areas in your cycling equipment where you can still achieve improvements, it is better to keep the dollars in your wallet

By the way, SUMLON has been manufacturing bicycle parts for over 15 years. Contact us if you are looking for a bike parts factory or a one-stop wholesaler. Peace

SUMLON manufacturers bottom bracket cup setsheadsets and one-piece cranks. We wholesale crank armscranksets and chainrings as well. We have been making and selling these bicycle parts for over 15 years. In 2022, SUMLON decided to directly offer factory wholesale to potential buyers to minimize your costs. The products are sold to major markets such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. The main buyers include WalmartGiant, and other retailers and bicycle manufacturers. 

SUMLON bicycle parts

Looking for bicycle parts suppliers?

SUMLON might be the very best choice. We provide manufacturing and wholesale services at the same time. We are in the center of the industrial cluster to ensure that we are the “shortest” bridge between you and multiple factories. We provide customers with the most accessible communication, the lowest price and the lowest transportation cost.

Looking for bottom bracket cup set manufacturer or bicycle parts wholesaler? Leave us a message!

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