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| Bottom Bracket Check |
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So you're looking to buy a new frame and want know what type of bottom bracket to choose… you've come to the right place…
Up until recently you only had just two options - American (US) or Euro. However, recently the range has expanded from two to four, with the introduction of the new Spanish and Mid Bottom Brackets. On the face of things your bottom bracket choice may seem trivial, but given that your frame will probably be with you for a few years its worth considering when buying a new one.
Most frames will not be available in all four varieties of BB that have been mentioned, in fact most come with an option of two and some give you a choice of just one. Therefore, the frame you choose will dictate which options you have, so it's wise to pick a frame first and then look at its possible options rather than deciding which BB is for you and then fitting a frame around it.
So let's look at the different types of BB in a bit more detail:
American (US) Bottom Bracket
The good old US BB has been the industry standard for more than 15 years now and it is only recently that its status as top bottom bracket has come into question. The US BB using the largest cups and bearings of all the Bottom Brackets in BMX which give it the more strength and longevity than its competitors.
Pros: A strong, proven design which has been the industry standard for more than 15 years.
Cons: Heavy (if you're a weight weenie) and pretty difficult to install.
Euro Bottom Bracket
The Euro BB is another bottom bracket which has stood the test of time. The standard BB for mountain bikes and road bikes, the Euro BB has also proved a popular choice in BMX. The Euro BB using small bearings in threaded cups which thread directly in the frame, making them very easy to install.
Pros: Small bearings - making them lighter, and very easy to install. Another proven design.
Cons: Small bearings - making them weaker. There is a possibility of stripping the thread on the frame with a Euro BB. On the rare occasion that this happens you can say goodbye to your frame.
Spanish Bottom Bracket
Pioneered by Fly Bikes, the Spanish Bottom Bracket is now giving the US and Euro BBs a run for their money as the top BB in BMX. The Spanish BB uses bearings in between the size of US and Euro and has no cups. Instead the bearings push directly into the frame. It is fast gaining popularity and is now used by Fly, Proper, Hoffman, Mongoose, Sputnik, Macneil and several others.
Pros: Larger bearings than a Euro BB so pretty strong and because of it's push fit install system, easy to get into your frame.
Cons: Still new and relatively untested (when compared to US and Euro). Not compatible with every crank and most cranks still only come with the choice of Euro or US bearings, however, we do expect this to change soon.
Mid Bottom Bracket
This is another new bottom bracket and is very much like the Spanish BB - using a press fit system, just with bigger bearings - these bearings are the same bearings as those used in a 19mm US BB, but the Mid BB uses them without the cups. The least common of the bottom brackets at the current time, and currently being used by just three companies - Fit, S&M and FBM.
Pros: The strongest of the press fit BBs due to its larger bearings.
Cons: Only 19mm (Profile size) bearings readily available - 22mm have been made by S&M but are in short supply (the 22mm size are not the same as standard US BB bearings, and have to be specially made). As with the Spanish BB, the Mid BB is still relatively untested.
So there are you choices - US, Euro, Spanish and Mid - easy isn't it? No, not really, I agree.
The Bottom Bracket situation seems mad at the moment. Four choices with very little between them - which at least means you can hardly go wrong.
No-one seemed to have a problem with US and Euro BBs, but the powers who be decided that we every frame needed to come with the same BB throughout BMX. The result - everyone went off and designed a Bottom Bracket that they believed could become the new "Industry Standard". Luckily a few of them fell by the wayside, and we are left with just four choices. When it comes down to it, they all do the same job and from what we've seen so far, they all do it well.
So when choosing the bottom bracket for you, simply weigh up the pros, cons and minor differences between the choices you have, and go for the one that suits you best. Easy.
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