Ceramic Vs Steel Bearings Cycling

The silicon nitride used to make ceramic bearings combines a set of material properties that makes it perfect for bicycle bearings.

Ceramic vs steel bearings cycling.

The only real big noticeable difference between the two is the bearing clearance. Ceramic bearings are often represented as the ultimate way to minimize rolling friction on your bike. This is mostly due to the additional time spent to perfect a quality ceramic ball. Most sealed ceramic bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings which combine a steel race with ceramic ball bearings.

Ceramicspeed has been one of the leading manufacturers of high performance bearings for the cycling industry since 2000. Cost of purchase for ceramic and steel bearings. Every single bearing is hand built in denmark under laminar flow clean room conditions learn more keep up. Most cycling bearings feature a steel race though some do use a ceramic race which we will briefly touch on later.

The influx of ceramic bearing development into the bike industry sparked needed focus on reducing rolling friction in bearings. In our higher end cult bearings ceramic balls and races lighter lubrication is needed so they roll much quicker with less drag than standard steel bearings. Lubricants vary greatly in viscosity thickness finding varying points in a trade off between bearing protection and lower friction. The first thing that strikes the eye when looking at bicycle bearings is the difference in price between steel bearings and hybrid ceramic bearings.

However the reality of why some bearing designs are faster than others doesn t always align with what is presented. On the one hand much of the cycling public associates bearing upgrades with going ceramic and on the other hand there is a healthy chunk of cyclists from all demographics who believe ceramic bearings are just marketing hype and a waste of money. A ceramic bearing is also harder than steel bearings up to 30 which improves durability and they also don t rust so less maintenance should be required. Ceramic bicycle bearings in all our products at kogel bearings we believe ceramic bearings set the gold standard for your bicycle bottom bracket derailleur pulleys and wheel bearings.

Next there is the lubricant. Hybrid ceramic vs steel bearings. Ceramic deals with heat better so. This article to try to assist with this fun little area.

Geometrically the contact points inner and outer dimensions and thickness between steel and ceramic bearings is the same so they are interchangeable.