SKF bottom brackets

[UrbanPrimitive]

I was just poking around and came across a company name I've not heard before. SKF Group, which is evidently a German company that specializes in the production of industrial bearings of various descriptions, makes some interesting looking bottom brackets. The fact that they use roller bearings on the drive side and oversized bearings on the non-drive side interests me, as well as the guarantee for not only bottom bracket life, but bearing life! All in all it looks and sounds pretty cool. That said, there are lots of things out there that look pretty cool at first blush but don't hold up under further scrutiny. So I present for your consideration the SKF bottom bracket. Any one have any experience with them? Any thoughts on the design? I can't use one on my current bike as it requires a 103mm spindle and it seems they don't make one that short. However I'm considering it for the frame I'm going to be building shortly.

Compass Cycles write up on them. Naturally biased since they're the only source I've found so far (with admittedly little searching).

SKF USA company website.

Another seller with some different information but largely the same "we're selling these" bias.

Those are the only vaguely useful sites I've found so far.

[Kerry Irons]

I was just poking around and came across a company name I've not heard before. SKF Group, which is evidently a German company that specializes in the production of industrial bearings of various descriptions, makes some interesting looking bottom brackets. The fact that they use roller bearings on the drive side and oversized bearings on the non-drive side interests me, as well as the guarantee for not only bottom bracket life, but bearing life! All in all it looks and sounds pretty cool. That said, there are lots of things out there that look pretty cool at first blush but don't hold up under further scrutiny. So I present for your consideration the SKF bottom bracket. Any one have any experience with them? Any thoughts on the design? I can't use one on my current bike as it requires a 103mm spindle and it seems they don't make one that short. However I'm considering it for the frame I'm going to be building shortly.

Can't comment on that specific BB, but you might be interested to know that SKF is a high end bearing supplier and has been for a long time. Campy sourced their loose ball bearings from SKF for decades.

[frdfandc]

As Kerry said, SKF is a high end bearing supply. I've used SKF bearings in all types of automotive applications when Timkin bearings (another bearing company) were not avail.

[SilverStar]

+1 for me, too. No experience with their BBs, but the bearings themselves are superlative. They made (and perhaps still do make) really high-end skateboard bearings in addition to many others. I had some of the skateboard bearings, and they were great.

[wim]

From the Department of Useless Knowledge:
SKF, headquartered in Sweden, is now the largest bearing manufacturer in the world. The company used to own Volvo (which is Latin for "I roll") until 1935.

[dualpivot]

I use an SKF square taper BB on one bike. It spins nice and smooth but I haven't used it long enough to be able to judge its longevity. Go for it!

[DIRT BOY]

The best ISIS BBs I have ever used. Get one!