Are Shimano Hollowtech II BBs interchangeable?

Droops
Droops Posts: 204
edited December 2008 in Workshop
There is an eBay store advertising an Ultegra 6600 external BB, saying that it can be used with ANY Shimano hollowtech II chainset.
Has anyone got experience of this? Does this mean that an Ultegra BB will be OK with a Tiagra or 105 chainset?

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Yes - FSA Megaexo works too
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    I think I've seen the same store. They have 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace BBs from between £15 and £23. Given the interchangeablity, does any one know what, if any, advantage could be had by fitting the DuraAce bracket vs the 105? Very little if any I presume.
  • Droops
    Droops Posts: 204
    Good question, Gav, but if you look at what this guy says about his ceramic BB then it seems that there may be a difference...
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12594570
    However, that's top of the range ceramic.

    Back to Gav's question: any noticeable difference within Taigra, 105, Ult and D/A?
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    AFAIK they are fully interchangeable

    the mtb BBs are a tad wider though, so stick to road if you run a road c/set.

    can't see much benefit in shelling out for a high grade myself - they weigh very little anyway, so it can only be bearing life that would swing it, and I doubt there's much in it in reality. I've run my ultegra cups for well over a year and they're still running fine.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Simon Notley
    Simon Notley Posts: 1,263
    Yep, they're interchangeable, but I don't know about the differences. I have a 105 and an Ultegra and I haven't noticed any difference. They do tend to need taking out and cleaning periodically to stop them creaking, so if the D/A version was more resistant to dirt, it would be well worth it, got no idea if this is the case though.
  • woody-som
    woody-som Posts: 1,001
    I've heard that the 105's last longer than the DA version. DA is always built to suit the weight wenies, so if you want fit and forget go for 105 or ultegra.

    I had my bike built with 105BB with ultegra everything else 2 years ago, no probs, but someone I know with DA BB's has had problems and only just over a year old.
  • normanp
    normanp Posts: 279
    Has anyone tried the Hope ceramic BB?
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Hope_Bottom_Bracket_Ceramic/5360036484/

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