Shimano Dura-Ace BB-7700

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Nashville

Bike Setup:
Look KX light with Ultegra 9

Summary:
Follow up review. I think I have this thing figured out. The keys are (1) as noted previously, setup. Tighten until it drags and then back off 1/4 turn. Use green or blue Loctite when installing the cups, but not on the lockring (grease the threads for the lockring) (2) Grease. I tried Finish Line Teflon grease and it really drags. You have to use a lightweight grease on this critter (Phil Wood, Bullshot, etc.) I'm using Shimano Spin Doctor grease and I really like it, though with any lightweight grease it means teardown, clean and repack at more frequent intervals. If you are looking for every performance edge you can find, it is about $10 more than Ultegra. If you want to ride and forget it, get the Ultegra instead. It will last for years without laying a finger on it if you install correctly (using Loctite and a torque wrench).

Strengths:
Smooth if set up correctly. Fairly low friction if correct grease used. Light (50 gram saving over Ultegra).

Weaknesses:
Lockring does deform and is difficult to use vs. cartridge tools. Very hard to set up correctly and VERY sensitive to grease type. Unknown long term life of light spindle.

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra, XTR, etc.

Price Paid:  $50.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Brown County

Bike Setup:
Look KX light with Ultegra 9.

Summary:
There are still some people out there riding 9, and those are often trying to maximize performance so I'll throw in a review. After years with the venerable Ultegra BB I tried one of these. I am not dissatisfied, but it is a different breed of cat. It is not an install, and forget it, replace if it dies or gets gritty part. This unit will need regular service (about every 4 to 6 months) and it is very tough to install just right. That said, when installed correctly it does seem to be very light and very smooth.

Strengths:
Very light. Seems to be exceptionally well engineered.

Weaknesses:
A roaring pain in the butt to adjust correctly. If you are not a seasoned mechanic who has correct tools for such things, go with the Ultegra. It is a little heavier, but you can pretty much just ride it and forget about it.

Similar Products Used:
Almost every other cartridge BB Shimano makes, plus a lot of other BBs on my other bikes, including BMX.

Price Paid:  $60.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Enchanted Circle, NM

Bike Setup:
Cervelo R25, carbon frame.

Summary:
Generally a solid bottom bracket. However, it requires a lot of maintenance in order to keep it working properly.

The biggest problem with this bottom bracket is that the water seals do not do a very good job of keeping water out of the bottom bracket. However, they do a nice job of holding moisture in. As a result, if you get caught out in the rain and water seeps into your bottom bracket, you will have to remove the bottom bracket and let it dry out and then repack the grease. Otherwise, moisture will end up being retained and the bearings and spindle will end up rusting. Just as a note, I have used a World Class bottom bracket for over 20,000 miles and have had absolutely no problems with durability or water seeping in.

Installing is a little bit tricky as compared to other bottom brackets with traditional cups. With normal bb cups, it is very easy to adjust your chainline for optimal shifting. However, with the Durace Ace bb, you have to purchase and install shims in order to adjust your chainline. Unfortunately, due to the design of the cups, you are limited by the width of your bottom bracket as to how much you can adjust the postion. You man not be able to get the chain line set up in the optimal postion.

And finally, the aluminum lock rings that attach to the bb cups tend to deform and develop sharp edges during installation. You have to be very careful in order to prevent damage to these rings. Also, since these rings sit flush against the frame, and have sharp edges, they will scratch up carbon frames. Granted it is in a spot where it is not noticeable, however I still don't like using part that cause any damage to my frame when installing.

Strengths:
Light weight. No noticeable flex. Octalink design makes intalling and removing crank arms easier.

Weaknesses:
Durability. Seals dont keep completely keep water out, but they do hold moisture in. Outer aluminum rings used to hold bottom bracket in tend to get bent out or shape when installing and removing. They also scrape up the outside of the bb on carbon frames. Not easy to adujst your chainline. Requires a lot of maintenance as compared to other bottom brackets.

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra Octalink. World Class Ti square taper.

Price Paid:  $35.00 at Nashbar

Favorite Ride:
Apline Dam by Mt Tam

Bike Setup:
K2 Mod 5.0, DA 9-Spd, Cane Creek Volos Ti wheels

Summary:
I can't believe some of these reviews. "The plastic wore away the Aluminum"?? Maybe overtightened the aluminum cups into the plastic sleeve?

I've done my own bike work for almost 20 years and remember the days before cassette bottom brackets. It seems like many here do not. This design with the lock-ring was what all BB's were like years ago. Sure it's trickier than the Ultegra, but if adjusted properly, won't need constant attention like many seem to think. Some anti-seize, lock-tite and careful adjustment of bearing pre-load and you're good to go.

Several thousand miles later, no creaks, no grinding. After one year, took it apart to regrease and concluded it could have gone even longer.

Strengths:
Light-weight
Stiff
Rebuidable (not that it's really needed that yet)

Weaknesses:
Tricky to install? Just read the tips on the Park Tools website (and send your mechanics there too!)
Small bearing due to hollow spindle may increase bearing friction compared to tapered designs (i.e. Campy)

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra splined, Deore, DA square taper (loose ball bearings), Phil Wood cassette

Price Paid:  $40.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Garden of the Gods

Bike Setup:
BETTER THAN YOURS!

Summary:
Have it mated to FSA Carbon Superlight crankset. Awsome stiffness, buttery smooth. Have 4,000 miles on it from this summer and works PERFECT!

Strengths:
Very smooth, stiff, and reliable, not to mention very inexpensive. At 40 bucks it's about half the price of top of the line ISIS drive BB's. All of you guys that say it fails is because you all weigh 200 lbs! Cripes man, lose some weight. Of course they failed on you, Dura Ace is designed for pros and I dont know of any that weigh over 165. Idiot.

Weaknesses:
None, unless your body is a bloated over weight carcas, Dumbass.

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra