The Worst Place to Save Money on a Bike
Trace Velo
28 de febrero de 2026
For the last 5 years I’ve built many budget road and gravel bikes, almost exclusively using cheaper Chinese parts from AliExpress, and other direct to consumer brands. Not just using cheap carbon frames and wheels, but full groupsets, integrated carbon cockpits, cranksets, cassettes, chains, all as cheap as possible. And honestly? Most of it works surprisingly well.
But there’s one component where I’ve repeatedly faced issues, the bottom bracket.
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In this video I break down why cheap bottom brackets, especially external BSA units, have consistently failed on me in real-world British weather. We’ll compare budget AliExpress options against OEM units from Shimano and SRAM, look at bearing quality, seal design, weatherproofing, and why some designs last dramatically longer than others.
I’ll also cover:
- Why dust cap tolerances matter more than you think
- The difference between generic cartridge bearings and custom lip-sealed designs
- Why cheap BSA DUB bottom brackets keep seizing on me
- Why T47 bottom brackets are such a good design
- Whether facing and chasing your bottom bracket shell is really essential
If you ride in dry conditions only, your experience might be different. But if you’re riding through UK rain, grit, and winter roads, this might save you some frustration.
A few of my preferred internal bottom brackets from AliExpress
(these are affiliate links btw):
T47
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4CDJtXz
BB386
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c43ujKgL
Also if you can find them, a brand called Gineyea do some great BB’s for the money!
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:56 – Intro
01:43 – How cheap are AliExpress BB’s?
02:30 – Weatherproofing on cheap BB’s
04:11 – Seized bottom bracket
07:01 – A false economy
08:07 – When do cheap BB’s make sense?
09:19 – Bearing alignment
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk
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Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
Piezas mencionadas
Pedalier (eje)ZTTO BB386 Press Fit Bicycle Bottom Bracket And Install Tool Steel Ceramic Bearing 24 30mm MTB Road Bike BB DUB GXP Crankset
Creado: 1 de marzo de 2026The reviewer briefly mentions the ZTTO BB386 Press Fit Bicycle Bottom Bracket And Install Tool Steel Ceramic Bearing 24 30mm MTB Road Bike BB DUB GXP Crankset but does not provide detailed analysis.
Resumen IA
Pros
- The reviewer states that a ZTTO T47 bottom bracket (an internal design) has lasted 5-6,000 miles with minimal maintenance in all weathers and is still smooth.
Key Points
- The reviewer's positive experience is with a ZTTO T47 internal bottom bracket, not the specific BB386 Press Fit model mentioned. The reviewer generalizes that cheaper bottom brackets in internal, threaded designs (like T47) are more viable as they are better shielded and have a stiffer design.
Enlaces del creador
ZTTO T47 Bike Bottom Bracket 47mm Width 68-86.5-92MM Frame shell Ceramic Bearing BB For 24 28.99mm 30mm Cranksets Central Axis
Creado: 1 de marzo de 2026The reviewer mentions using a ZTTO T47 bottom bracket on a bike for about 5-6,000 miles with minimal maintenance in all weathers, and it remains smooth. They note it contains unbranded, no-name bearings, but the internal T47 design provides a more forgiving environment.
Resumen IA
Pros
- Has lasted 5-6,000 miles in all weathers with minimal maintenance
- Still spins nice and smooth after that distance
- The internal T47 design shields the bearings better from spray and grime, leading to a longer lifespan for cheap bearings in this format.
Cons
- Contains completely unbranded, no-name bearings
- The bearings themselves are not of higher quality; their longevity is attributed to the frame design.
Key Points
- Used in an internal T47 bottom bracket design
- The internal, threaded T47 design is chunkier, stiffer, and sits inside the frame, reducing flex and axial load on the bearings.
- The design better shields bearings from spray and grime.
- The reviewer states cheaper bottom brackets are more viable in internal, threaded designs like T47.
Enlaces del creador