After riding second-hand bikes for over 10 years, I finally treated myself to a brand new Specialized Tarmac SL8. While setting it up, I noticed the crank feels unusually stiff.
I loosened the preload bolt, which helped slightly, but it's still nowhere near as smooth as my 8-year-old bike — on that one, a firm spin with the chain off gives several full rotations. On the SL8 it barely makes it past one or two.
Is this normal for a new threaded BB that just needs to break in, or could something be off with the bottom bracket? I've read something that there are some problems with the bb of the SL8….
What are you guys thinking?
by haiduuken
14 Comments
Looks normal to me. The super spinny ones look cool on social media but that’s not what you want. Shimano BBs don’t spin freely but they’re bombproof.
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It’s a quirk of the Ultegra crank, it will settle in.
How long it spins unloaded does not equate to a better bearing. When a load is applied ones like your old one don’t spin as well due to the loose bearing tolerances. Your new bb is just fine and a significant upgrade from your old worn out bb. Preload the bearings and go ride it!
Brand new bottom brackets can seem stiff initially but once they have had chance to bed in a little they will free up.
Just go ride it.
too much preload
BB30s need to be tight on spacers like this or they end up getting creaky fast. Thats about how it should be in my experience
Totally normal.
Normal. Seal drag.
Yes normal. Love the champagne pink.
Sorry I cant help you, but can you send me the link to that stand?
Normal, give it a few hundred miles and check back.
that’s how it is supposed to be. if it spins super free then it needs servicing. i know it seems opposite logic, but it is the truth.