Ceramic Ball Bearings For Bicycles

Fitting ceramic bearings on your bike may be a bit like fitting a formula one gearbox in your ford fiesta and expecting it to perform as well after 100 000 miles.

Ceramic ball bearings for bicycles. Bicycles usually use ball bearings. Two types of ceramic materials there are two materials that are common for use on bikes. The silicon nitride used in kogel ceramic bearing balls has a set of material properties making them perfect for bicycle wheel bearings. The material can be polished smoother than any metal reducing friction and wear.

Additionally silicon nitride does not deform under load keeping contact points with the bearing races to a minimum. On a bicycle which is considered a low speed application compared to a formula 1 car or motorcycle engine for example the ball bearing material itself steel or ceramic has little to no effect on the friction of the bearing assembly. This is the case with most shimano hubs wheels they still use the cup and cone system. Make offer 1 pcs zro2 20mm ceramic zirconia oxide bearing balls ball bearings g5 6000rs 10x26x8 mm ceramic bearing si3n4 bicycle ball bearings 6000 2rs abec 5 14 35.

This is different from a full ceramic bearing which would have both the balls and the races made of ceramics. Silicon nitride a dark grey material and zirconium a bone colored material. Hand built in denmark. When a bike with ceramic bearings goes over a bump the ball bearing which is harder than the steel race that contains it strikes the inner surface of the race.

Most sealed ceramic bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings which combine a steel race with ceramic ball bearings. The folks at enduro bearings argue that for bicycles the materials are far more important than abec ratings and that for most applications abec 3 and 5 are appropriate. Crafting the fastest bearing products for cycling and industry since 2004. Cutting to the chase on ceramic bearings on a bicycle.

Modern cartridge bearings come as a closed unit with balls and races packed in a single unit. However many bicycles still use older cup and cone system where balls can and should be replaced with new ones when servicing bearings.