Ceramic Bottom Brackets
Most people come to the "about us" page to learn more about a company and people involved. The story of our humble beginnings can be found here.
What truly defines Kogel Bearings is our commitment to Guaranteed Performance, the end-to-end cycling experience.
Guaranteed performance means working hard to make your experience with Kogel Bearings the best possible, every step of the way.
We guarantee the performance of our company and products from your initial research throughout the lifecycle of your Kogel product.
Guaranteed Performance while shopping - we have an entire team dedicated to ensuring your regret-free purchase. If at any point during the buying process you require assistance, we are available via chat, phone, or email to help ensure you're getting the right part for your bike.
Guaranteed Performance while shipping – We keep all our products in stock and ship them the day we receive your order. Orders received after our shipping deadline will be shipped next business day. Overnight shipping is available at a reasonable price if your situation requires it.
Guaranteed Performance while installing – We've built a library of installation manuals, bearing drifts for safe installation and offer expert advice whenever needed.
Whether you choose to install parts in your garage, or hire a professional bicycle mechanic, Kogel employees pride themselves in picking up the phone or returning your calls any time you need help.
Guaranteed Performance Warranty – Our Guaranteed Performance Warranty is the best-in-industry. Use the heck out of your Kogel products, if they fail in the first year we will send you a new set. A bearing service will extend this warranty for the second year.
Guaranteed Performance while riding – We design our products to get you across the finish line, not just once, but many times. Let’s face it: most of us do not travel with a personal mechanic. What is the point of fragile race-day-only parts if you ride your bike for training, racing and in all kinds of weather? Kogel products are designed to perform every single day.
Kogel's end-to-end Guaranteed Performance experience is guaranteed to serve your cycling activities today and for years to come. From the minute you start exploring our products and throughout the service life of your parts.
Sincerely,
Ard Kessels
Owner/Founder
Description
This bottom bracket fits a Shimano crank on a classic BSA threaded road frame.
For road bikes, choose road seals, for CX and commuter bikes, or if you frequently ride on wet roads, choose cross seals.
"First ride yesterday and today and honestly i felt the difference.Given my non pro built the Kogel ceramic BB made life easier on the road.Smoother pedal strokes.It is indeed watts saving! Adding the Kogel OSPW to my bike was another factor too.I felt a smoother ride and shifting gears was so quiet.Highly recommended."
"Man i love the QUALITY of the Kogel ceramic bottom bracket, now the cranks roll so smooth ! I can't understand how a top of the line bike comes with a cheap $30 bottom bracket "
"If a BB could be described as luxurious this is it. I’ve installed a lot of BBs, and this was a pleasure. So so smooth."
"When I first built my new super-bike with the sole intent on going as fast as possible, I decided to save a few bucks by not spec-ing a ceramic BB despite running one successfully on its predecessor for several years. That was a mistake. I could clearly feel how "sticky" the stock bb was whenever I removed the chain for cleaning and waxing. Having just recently installed a new Kogel BB, there are now truly, "no excuses.""
"These bottom brackets don’t quit! I’ve run this PF30 with CX seals on two generations of cyclocross race bikes - two matching bikes per year across four years. Demanding use, lots of washing, AND riding over winter in Eastern Canada, which involves snow, ice, and salt. Every BB held up without issue; set and forget. Amazing!"
Experience the ceramic difference
Every pedal stroke counts whether your aiming for a podium on the world stage or a PR on a local segment. Why settle for anything less than the best? Kogel Ceramic Bottom Brackets redefine your riding experience by offering unmatched efficiency and reliability. Engineered to perfection, our bottom brackets feature ceramic bearings that are more symmetrical and held to stricter tolerances than standard steel bearings. This precision leads to reduced friction, better power transfer, and a smoother ride that lasts.
CHOOSE YOUR SEAL TYPE
Kogel Bearings offers precision-engineered ceramic bottom brackets designed to suit any riding condition, each featuring specifically tailored seal options to maximize performance and durability. Choose the perfect seal type for your riding environment:
Road Seals
Ideal for road cyclists who demand the utmost in efficiency and minimal resistance, Kogel's Road Seals are engineered to offer the lowest friction. These seals reduce drag to a minimum, ensuring every ounce of energy is translated directly to forward motion. Perfect for those who count every watt and seek performance without compromise.
Cross Seals
Built for the rigors of cyclocross and off-road adventures, the Cross Seals provide enhanced protection against dirt, water, and mud. These seals are robust and designed to withstand harsh conditions without sacrificing performance. If your rides often take you off the beaten path, or if you revel in the challenge of adverse weather, these seals ensure long-lasting performance and reliability.
Built by hand in texas
Kogel's industry-leading durability comes from our meticulous selection and assembly processes, ensuring that every component performs at its peak long into its lifecycle. Whether you're climbing steep hills or sprinting on flat terrains, our bottom brackets are designed to withstand the rigors of any ride without deforming or losing efficiency.
Frequently asked questions
What is the warranty on Kogel Bottom Brackets?
Guaranteed Performance means working hard to make your experience with Kogel Bearings the best possible, every step of the way.
Kogel Bearings takes pride in delivering a best-in-industry warranty. Our 2-year warranty means you can feel confident and secure about your next two seasons of riding.
If a product fails in the first year, we will replace it. The second year requires an annual bearing service. A manual for that service can be found here.
How can I tell if my Bottom Bracket is worn out?
Bottom brackets fail for many reasons. The most common being contamination and neglect. Remove the crank set, spin the bearings to check if the bearings feel rough. If they do, a bearing service should bring them back to life. If the service does not help and the bearings still feel gritty, it is time to replace them.
Proper care is key to longevity. We recommend annual service to stay within the Guaranteed Performance Warranty, or sooner if your bearings feel rough. The current recorded mileage record is set at 28.000 miles on a single bottom bracket. What. Does your BB odometer tell you?
How hard is it to to replace a Bottom Bracket?
While the procedure is not too complicated, the job is almost impossible to do without very specific and potentially costly tools. A wood block and hammer are not a bottom bracket press, neither is a threaded rod from the hardware store and a stack of washers. (here is a link to the procedure)
If you regularly replace bottom brackets on multiple bikes, it might be worth investing in the tools. If you only perform this procedure occasionally, it’s probably better to carry $50 and a six pack to your local bike shop and let the professionals take care of it.
How do I fix a creaky Bottom Bracket?
While we do not require to use our Aqua Proof Installation Paste, we call it Shut Up Grease for a reason. Pick up a jar or a single use syringe here. A simple remove and reinstall with all contact areas greased (most crucial are the BB shell, BB cup and crank spindle)
If that did not fix the problem, here are links to two blog posts on 1) fixing bottom bracket creaks and 2) finding and fixing creaks that sound like a bottom bracket, but actually come from somewhere else.
Are there any benefits to using cross seals on my road bike?
The cross seals are built for best protection. The difference in friction between the road and cross seals are around 0.5W on a bottom bracket. On the upside, bearings with cross seals are close to waterproof. If your road rides include gravel roads or if you regularly ride on wet roads, the cross seals will buy you some peace of mind.
How much do bike shops charge to install a bottom bracket?
The hourly rate varies from one shop to the next, mostly based on their expenses for real estate and the cost of finding good mechanics in the area. For this reason it is hard to put an exact dollar amount on the procedure. It would be reasonable to expect an installation to take around 30 minutes, so half of your local shop’s hourly rate is a good benchmark.
How can I tell if my bottom bracket needs servicing?
Just like your chain and cables, bearings need to be regularly serviced and work MUCH better when properly lubricated.
Inspect your bearings at least every few months (always after extreme wet muddy rides) and service your bearings at least once a year.
Easiest way to inspect a bearing is by removing the chain from the crank and spinning it using your fingers. The bearing will fall somewhere between these three conditions:
- Clean - feels like it’s spinning effortlessly in fresh grease
- Dirty - feels like it’s spinning with some grit in the grease
- Dry - feels like it’s spinning effortlessly, but it’s making more noise than usual
With this simple test, you can get a good sense of your bearings being contaminated, damaged or good for another ride.
If they feel gritty, you'll want to service them. Here is a link to the best practice in pulley service. And at a minimum, they’ll need to be serviced a year from their install date or last service.
