Investing in BB30 PM a bad idea?

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AW84
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 7:04 am

by AW84

Looking at investing in a BB30 crankset/power meter (Quarq) for my Tarmac, but it seems that manufacturers are transitioning away from BB30/OSBB/PF30 bottom brackets. With the cost of one of these things, I intend it to be a long-term item, but are there going to be any bikes left to put it on when I buy my next steed in 2-3 years? Seems like we're down to Cannondale and maybe some Specialized models going forward?

by Weenie


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sungod
Posts: 1702
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:37 pm

by sungod

i've got a sram/srm one from 2010

the spider is compatible with s900 series cranks so it can work with bb30/pf30 as well as gxp, makes it pretty future proof (as long as you can get the cranks of course, but these are still being produced),

and, yes, it really does work as i've used my srm on both, even though the bb30 version has the spindle as part of the nds crank, and the gxp cranks have the spindle part of the drive side

s900 series cranks are carbon fibre, very stiff, reportedly stiffer than original red cranks, sram uses the same mounting across several products, not just the s900

if the quarq is using the s900 series/similar, it should have the same adaptability

i found some images (not mine)

first shows a bb30 crank on an srm, the silver splined part with three bolts is part of the crank (btw if the three bolts are moved then it needs recalibrating, so swapping cranks is not something you want to do often)

Image

here you see a gxp nds crank and a bb30 ds crank...

Image

AW84
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 7:04 am

by AW84

sungod wrote:the spider is compatible with s900 series cranks so it can work with bb30/pf30 as well as gxp, makes it pretty future proof (as long as you can get the cranks of course, but these are still being produced),


I could certainly switch crank arms in that event, but you're still talking a few hundred dollar expense.

sungod
Posts: 1702
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:37 pm

by sungod

cheaper than buying a new pm though isn't it!

topflightpro
Posts: 829
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:35 am

by topflightpro

Sram SRMs also are compatible with either GXP or BB30.

The other option is you go non-BB30 crank and pair it with a BB-adapter or adapted BB.

Daniel1975
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:46 pm

by Daniel1975

Buy GPX; that will fit any BB with the right adapter.

dudemanppl
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Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:09 am

by dudemanppl

Buy BB30, that will fit any BB except Trek BB90.

RyanH
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by RyanH

Quarq is not really BB30, it's BB386 and technically fits every frame. I say technically because 30mm spindle on BB90/BB86 can be done but bearing life suffers. However, I was running the Quarq arms just fine on a BSA frame, as an example. Even if you did end up with something like a Scott or Trek which required the use of a 24mm spindle, replacement arms pull up on ebay relatively frequently for $100 or so. You can sell your old arms and it's mostly a cost neutral transition.

Daniel1975
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:46 pm

by Daniel1975

dudemanppl wrote:Buy BB30, that will fit any BB except Trek BB90.

First one the pops up in my head: no Pinarello will ever fit with a BB30 crank!


Daniel1975
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Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:46 pm

by Daniel1975

Oops.....didn't know those....

AW84
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 7:04 am

by AW84

dudemanppl wrote:Buy BB30, that will fit any BB except Trek BB90.


I thought BB30 wouldn't fit the majority of frames because the spindle is physically too large. Am I incorrect?

jobvisser
Posts: 120
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 10:24 am

by jobvisser

AW84 wrote:
dudemanppl wrote:Buy BB30, that will fit any BB except Trek BB90.


I thought BB30 wouldn't fit the majority of frames because the spindle is physically too large. Am I incorrect?

they dont fit the majority of the frames because the spindle is too short, you can just take cups with a 30 mm innerdiameter but a bsa BB is much wider with the cups installed than a regular bb30. im not sure but i think you could get an aftermarket spindle
---> :oops: Send me a pm to order world's lightest low carbon fiber dust covers! (1g) :oops: <---

dudemanppl
Posts: 1262
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:09 am

by dudemanppl

Quarq doesn't make a BB30 PM. They make a BB386 PM. Long spindle 30mm crank. Trust me, I've used it on ITA, BSA, BB86, PF30, PF30a, BB30.

But yes, regular BB30 cranksets will not work. This includes first gen SRAM Force and all Red, FSA, Cannondale, and Specialized. I think those are it.

by Weenie


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AW84
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 7:04 am

by AW84

dudemanppl wrote:Quarq doesn't make a BB30 PM. They make a BB386 PM. Long spindle 30mm crank. Trust me, I've used it on ITA, BSA, BB86, PF30, PF30a, BB30.

But yes, regular BB30 cranksets will not work. This includes first gen SRAM Force and all Red, FSA, Cannondale, and Specialized. I think those are it.


This BB30 isn't BB30?

https://www.quarq.com/product/quarq-dze ... cberk6e7wc

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