I think ceramic bearings are overrated for most riders

I've been turning wrenches at a shop in Austin for 12 years now, and last month I had a customer insist on dropping $300 into ceramic bearings for his weekend road bike. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was convinced they'd shave minutes off his commute. Three weeks later he came back complaining about a gritty feeling, and I found dirt had worked its way past the seals already. Am I the only mechanic here who thinks standard steel bearings are plenty good for anyone not racing at a pro level? What do you tell customers who ask about them?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cameron6d ago

Yeah, buddy had the same issue with a ceramic bb last year.

bettywood5d agoTop Commenter

Had the same thing happen with mine. Swapped it out and it's been fine since, but man what a headache.

adamgreen5d ago

Yeah, buddy had the same issue with a ceramic bb last year" - that's exactly what I was wondering about. Most people focus on the bearing itself but nobody talks about how the installation torque on those ceramic ones can cause micro fractures if you overdo it. A couple ft-lbs too much and that bearing is toast before it ever sees a trail.