When upgrading Mtb, we often start with the bottom bracket or ‘the bb’ as it is an essential component of any bike. It connects the crankset to the bike, which allows it to rotate easily and smoothly.
Bottom brackets are replaceable, so they give you a chance of upgrading your bike. There are plenty of available bottom brackets, so choosing the right one can be a real challenge. Thus, we curated a list of the best mtb bottom brackets to make it easier for you to narrow down your bb options.
Our Top Picks
1. SHIMANO BBUN55B13 Bottom Bracket
The top in our list is the Shimano Square Taper Bottom Bracket. It is a high-quality bottom bracket for a conventional chainset. The bracket is easy to install, so it will take you no longer than 10 minutes! The product has a simple silver bracket design with the company name printed on it.
This bottom bracket will give you durability and strength. It is made of a hard-wearing sealed cartridge that can last for a very long time. It has impressively accurate bearings for smooth riding as well. Since it is a square taper bottom bracket, it has a square tapered spindle fitting that guarantees a smooth and light bike ride.
You will be impressed by how you can easily install this bottom bracket into your bike. The bracket may be heavier than the standard weight, but it can still fit your bike perfectly. It is an ideal replacement for any old BBs because of its sealed cassette bearings that are superior to traditional exposed cartridge bearings. I am sure you will come to appreciate this feature as much as I do.
- Easy installation
- Made of hard-wearing sealed cartridge
- Little adjustment upon installation
- Provide smooth and fast riding experience
- Tends to be heavy
2. SRAM GXP 134610 Bottom Bracket
If you are looking for the best bottom bracket that can support SRAM road or Truvativ mountain crankset, look no further as the SRAM GXP bottom bracket is the perfect fit.
This bottom bracket is reliable, durable, and extremely lightweight. It is composed of alloy cups and comes with sealed cartridge bearings to leave your crankset unexposed. The alloy cups will keep your bearings out of dirt and water making your bottom bracket maintenance free.
This bottom bracket has shells with 68 and 73mm in size. The 73mm shell provides allowance for better fitting upon installation. You can use this bottom bracket in both Force and X0 groups.
Since it is one of the best bb in this list, it has a gutter seal technology that deliberately decreases friction and enhances coverage. Once you install this bottom bracket onto your bike, you will notice an impressive boost of smooth spinning.
Aside from its GXP’s gutter seal design, using this bottom bracket can noticeably improve your riding performance. You can feel that the sealed cartridge bearings significantly reduce friction while you are riding on your bike. You will never regret replacing your old bottom bracket, as this product can perform a solid job.
- Has special gutter seal technology
- Can significantly reduce friction when riding
- Provides smooth riding performance
- Lightweight and durable
- Limited to English threading only
3. SHIMANO Bottom Bracket
Shimano is a manufacturing brand that produces a wide range of products including bike parts. The company makes mid to high range bike accessories for every bike enthusiast.
As a Japanese brand, it already manufactured different models of bottom brackets for every kind of bike. This UN26 bottom bracket is another release from the brand.
This cartridge bottom bracket is specifically made for English thread. If you are only interested in the English thread, this bottom bracket is created especially for you. It has some features which you will appreciate for your bike. You can easily tighten the non-drive side bracket clockwise and counterclockwise for the drive side.
The design of this bottom bracket is pretty straightforward. Unlike other bottom brackets in this list, it has a simple industrial look. It will surely complement your bike upon installation. The device itself is a hardware piece, which adds to the durability of the bracket as a whole.
- Straightforward design
- Hardware material
- Durable
- Easy to install
- Made for English threading only
4. SRAM BBDUB5000 Threaded Bottom Bracket
SRAM has been manufacturing bike accessories and parts since 1987. This bike bottom bracket is another best-selling product from the renowned company.
It has an uncomplicated installation process that takes just a few minutes, even if you are a rookie or first-time buyer. After attaching it to your bike, you will observe a favorable, long term application of power toward your drive-train. This bottom bracket offers a strong, smooth, and simple transfer of power during rides. So, I am confident to say that you will definitely not be disappointed with this bottom bracket.
Another thing that can impress you about this bottom bracket is the DUB technology that comes with it. It builds a strong relationship between the bottom bracket spindle and bearing to combine stiffness and durability. As a result, you will notice a full integration of the chain ring, bottom bracket, and spindle. In the end, your bike riding experience is smooth and easy. I wouldn’t trade that for the world!
- Made by reputable brand
- Special DUB technology applied
- Fast transfer of energy
- Better longevity
- Required a professional mechanic for installation
5. Fuerdi Bike Bottom Bracket
If you are looking for a high-quality square taper bottom bracket, this Fuerdi bike bottom bracket is a great choice. It comes with phosphate cups, which makes the entire product strong and durable. It also has a silver case coupled with conventional English threading at both ends.
You can easily install this bottom bracket because of its traditional English threading system. You just need to rotate clockwise on one end and counterclockwise on the other. The bottom bracket has added features, including one sealed bottom bracket and two waterproof screws.
Both features feature fine functionality, and thus make the overall product last for a longer period of time. Hence, you don’t have to worry about replacing this bottom bracket any time soon. This product is definitely worthy of your money. Moreover, the product is impressively durable with a sealed cartridge bearing and cold-forged steel cups.
Upon installation, you will observe that its 68 x 118mm size is ideal for both mountain bikes and regular road bikes. You just need to make sure that the size of the bracket is a perfect fit for your bike.
- High-quality square bottom bracket
- Easy to install
- Durable with its sealed cartridge bracket
- Waterproof
- Made specifically for English threading system
6. SHIMANO XT BB-MT800-PA Bottom Bracket
Shimano is one of the finest brands that specialize in bike accessories. It has been in business for more than nine decades. The brand has expanded in different continents across the globe. It has stations in North America, Asia, and Europe. It is a well-established brand in terms of manufacturing bike components and parts.
This bottom bracket is an impressive product released by the brand. It has a solid black appearance in matte finish. The bottom bracket is made of high-quality materials, making it extremely durable. It has sealed cups to keep the product from dirt and water as well.
Upon purchasing this bottom bracket, you will get a set of left and right cups. You will also have a 2.5mm spacer, inner cover, and O-rings. It is a complete package which you can already install in your bike. Installing may be difficult but you will never have to worry about an incomplete set upon installation. It is compatible with 89.5 and 93mm wide shells and effectively pairs with 24 Hollowtech cranksets.
- Extremely durable
- Rust-free
- Compatible with 89.5 and 93mm wide shells
- 11-speed game bearings
- Difficult to install
7. Wheels Manufacturing 210567 Bottom Bracket
If you are looking for a high-quality PressFit bb, this wheels manufacturing bottom bracket is the perfect one for you. Wheels Manufacturing is a well-known company – the world’s largest supplier of high-rated bicycle derailleur hangers, accessories, and special tools. So, you are guaranteed that this bracket bottom product passed strict quality screening and is up to par.
This bottom bracket is a PressFit 30 bottom bracket with cups made of aluminum alloy that gives durability and strength to the overall product. The aluminum cups thread ensures that the bracket is stable when it is attached to the frame. It may not be the most superior bracket in our list, but it does its job well. I can promise you that you will not be disappointed with this bottom bracket.
With this bottom bracket, you can easily replace all of your old OEM PF30 brackets. It is highly compatible with PF30 brackets featuring 68/73mm shells and BB30 spindles. Once installed, you will notice that your bike no longer makes a lot of irritating creaking sounds.
- Durable and strong
- Stable bracket
- Compatible with 68/73mm shells
- Reduce irritating bike creaking sound
- Not the most superior bracket in the list
8. Token Threaded-Press Fit Bottom Bracket
If you have been looking for a conventional Press-Fit bottom bracket, then this item may be ideal for you. Afterall, it is a threaded press-fit bottom bracket from Token that delivers good performance and minimizes creaking from your bike.
However, this Token bottom bracket goes beyond as an improved version of a Press-fit type to significantly solve any creaking issues, enhance the life of your bike bearing, and give more stiffness to the bike. What more can you ask for?
The company incorporated a special Fusion technology that combines plastic and fibre to give the bottom bracket shell full coverage. As such, the bearings are not compressed and your bike runs smoothly. In addition, you are ensured that this bottom bracket reduces creaking when you are biking. Your biking experience, will henceforth, be delightful.
- Minimizes creaking sound
- Enhances bike’s bearing life
- Comes with an impressive fusion technology
- Greater longevity
- Only compatible with 24mm Shimano cranks
9. SHIMANO BB-UN300 Bottom Bracket
Another product that Shimano prides itself with is this best-selling BB-UN300 bottom bracket. It is a JIS square-taper bottom bracket that is made of tough aluminum steel. It is one of Shimano’s best bottom brackets after the BB-UN26 and BB-UN55 models for its reliability.
This bottom bracket is also highly versatile with its BSA threads and various axle lengths. It works for both touring bikes and mountain bikes! You can be amazed to find that you can easily install this bb to your bike to enhance speed and performance. Your biking adventures will be game-changing with this bottom bracket from SHIMANO.
It comes with a high-rated cartridge bearing and a neat chain line stabilizer. There will be no noticeable creaking once you install this bottom bracket onto your bike. Without a doubt, this is one of the best bottom brackets that I have come across. So, give it a try, it may turn out to be the most suitable one for your bike.
- Versatile
- Easy to install
- Improve bike speed and performance
- High-performing cartridge bearing
- Traditional square taper design
10. GOLDEAL Bottom Bracket
If you are looking for an affordable bottom bracket that can provide your bike with a basic upgrade, you should give this GOLDEAL bottom bracket product a try. This bottom bracket is made of tough aluminum alloy that is compressed through CNC machining. Thus, it offers both strength and durability. You get the best of both worlds!
This bracket can fit with 68 or 73mm bracket shells and comes with 73mm spacers for better fitting. You are guaranteed that this bottom bracket lasts long because of its waterproof feature and sealed bearing, which keeps nasty dirt and unnecessary particles away.
Owning a bike means upgrading it from time to time. If you are looking for an affordable bike upgrade, this bottom bracket is a great pick. You will not have to worry about spending too much money on a bottom bracket if you opt for this because it offers solid performance while being affordable. You also get peace of mind thanks to its money-back guarantee.
- Durable
- Comes with 73mm spacer
- Waterproof
- Money-back guarantee
- Can only provide basic upgrade to the bike
11. Mantal Bottom Bracket BB92
Another bottom bracket that made it to our list is the professional Mantal bottom bracket that can easily fit both BB92 cranksets and Shimano hollow cranks.
It is finely engineered to be strong and durable using a top-notch CNC aluminum construction technology. You will also appreciate that the metal of this bottom bracket is hardly compressed to provide the much-needed stability to your bike.
It is a press-fit bottom bracket that works well with 86-92mm BB92 cranksets. You can install it to both your regular road bikes and mountain bikes. Moreover, it is lightweight, so you can easily use it as a replacement for any of your heavier ageing bottom brackets. I am sure you will love once you have given it a try.
If you are looking for an easy upgrade that can effectively improve your bike riding experience, you should try this bottom bracket. Made of high-grade material, this is one of the best bike bottom bracket options to consider.
- Professional-grade bottom bracket
- Made through CNC aluminum construction process
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Only compatible with BB92 crankset
12. RaceFace BBXTTM Bottom Bracket
If you own a 24mm spindle external mountain bike BB system, this RaceFace bottom bracket is the best fit for it. You can install it to your bike without having a hard time. This bottom bracket product is made specifically to upgrade and customize your riding experience.
Moreover, the Cinch system that is provided by the brand offers riders a simple solution to upgrade the performance of their bikes. Once you get the right Cinch bottom bracket, you can readily install it to the bike. Upon pedaling, you will notice that your bike’s stiffness improves as a result of better transfer of energy.
This superb bb is compatible with any 68/77mm bottom bracket shells. Besides, it employs the conventional English threading system where you can rotate clockwise for tightening and counterclockwise for installing.
- Improves bike stiffness
- Provides better transfer of energy
- Easy Installation
- Enhance bike riding performance
- Installation by hand
When looking for a good upgrade for your bike, you can consider purchasing this amazing bottom bracket with a well-designed, excellent-performing Cinch system.
You will never have a hard time putting this bottom bracket to your bike, as you will just need to clean, grease, and tighten the attachment to the bike. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a well-performing bottom bracket that freshens up their bike.
What is the Best Bottom Bracket for a Mountain Bike
The best bottom bracket is the one that fits your bike perfectly. Even the most expensive bottom bracket like the enduro xd-15 bottom bracket won’t do you justice if its fitting is poor. It must be made of high-quality material to ensure durability and longevity of use as well. You should also ensure that the bearings provide enough stability to guarantee a smooth transfer of energy when pedaling.
What to Look for When Buying MTB Bottom Brackets
Size
The most crucial thing to consider when finding bottom brackets is the size. Before you purchase, you should know what size of bracket your bike needs. You can measure the current bottom bracket of your bike and find corresponding sizes.
As bottom brackets from various brands are not alike, such as the enduro bottom bracket or chris king bottom bracket, you need to thoroughly assess the brackets to get the best fit. You should never prioritize the brackets’ fitting over price. Trust me, you do not want to end up with a useless bracket in the long run.
Type
Regardless of whether you are looking for mountain bike bottom bracket types or ceramic bottom brackets, you should consider what type to get for your bike. There are three major types of the bottom bracket – cartridge type, conventional thread type, and press-fit type.
The cartridge bottom bracket is smaller and has internal bearings. It is compact and sealed in a metal cylinder screwed into the bracket shell to make it a whole unit. However, this cartridge type will not last for long, and once it starts to wear off, you need to replace it.
The external bb or the conventional threaded bottom brackets have a larger diameter. It has cartridge bearings covered by an exterior shell made of aluminum. With this kind of bracket, you can use a larger-diameter axle around 24mm that can also improve power transfer. It has greater stiffness but is more lightweight.
Press-fit bottom bracket type is widely used today. The press-fit type can be used in carbon fiber MTB and road bikes. With this type, you can use wider shells without affecting the width of the axle. When you use this type, you will be able to enjoy an enhanced power transfer for better pedaling.
Bearings
Even when you are buying a threaded or press-fit bottom bracket, you should always consider the bearings of the bottom bracket. It is one of the most crucial bottom bracket features to watch out for.
The bearings provide stability when you are pedaling, especially in hope bottom brackets. Look for bearings that use the best material. You can opt for steel or ceramic bearings depending on your budget. Ceramic bearings can be a bit pricey compared to steel ones. However, it offers numerous advantages compared to steel ones.
Ceramic bearings can give you lower friction that significantly smoothens your pedaling experience. It can also hold its shape for a longer period compared to bearings made of steel. In this way, it can give a smoother transfer of energy.
Is Hollowtech Better than Square Taper
Hollowtech bottom brackets bike are better than square tapers. The cranks of a hollowtech bottom bracket are stiffer and lighter. Square taper bottom brackets have been around for many years but it creates a creaking sound that most bikers find disturbing.
This type is also heavier than modern bottom brackets. Bikers prefer lighter bottom brackets, as it makes your bike smoother and easier when in use.
Conclusion
Upgrading your bike is a difficult task, as it comes with the challenge of finding the perfect bike part and accessories. You may end up with a product that is not compatible with your bike.
Thus, the list of the best mtb bottom brackets we provided here ensures that you get the most suitable product for your bike. The bottom brackets we mentioned come in different sizes and types, providing you with a wider selection of products your bike needs.
- English (BSA) threaded bottom bracket
- For use with MTB
- Defined Color: Black
- Aluminum threaded cups
- Material:Sealed ceramic bearing inside, low centrifugal force, more durable, more lubricating, high temperature resistance, high speed.Precision...
- Shell width:Width 68-73mm, english BSA thread,works for any kind of MTB and road bike frame with thread.
- Crankset Spindle diameter, left and right are both 24mm.
- Compatibility:If your MTB and road bike is metal frame with thread, usually it works. For crankset, works for Shimano, Prowheel, IXF, and any...
- Package content: 1 set bottom bracket and 3pcs width adjust washer.
- Upgrade your MTB with the SRAM DUB Cartridge Bearings BSA 73mm Bottom Bracket for Cannondale Ai Cranks, designed to deliver smooth and long-lasting...
- Engineered with Gutter Seal Technology, this bottom bracket offers superior protection against the elements, ensuring reliable performance in any...
- With sealed cartridge bearings and an oversized spindle, this bottom bracket is compatible with every bottom bracket standard, providing versatility...
- Experience a significant reduction in weight compared to the GXP system, allowing for improved agility and responsiveness on the trails.
- Designed for English BSA thread and a 73mm BB shell width, this bottom bracket is the perfect choice for riders looking to enhance the performance of...
- 【Brand New】：100% brand new and high quality. Made of high quality material, durable and practical to use.
- 【Suitable Bike】：3S/3T/3P/5S different size for mountain bikes.
- 【Size】：5S whole length: 14.8cm, 3S whole length: 14.5cm, 3P whole length: 14cm, 3T whole length: 14cm.
- 【Package Included】：Package comes included with 1 Axle stick, 2 screws, 1 ring, 2 bowls and 2 ball bearing retainer.
- 【Tips】：We offer different size of the bottom bracket sets for you to choose, please measure your old ones before purchasing. If you're not...
- Connect your crankarms with confidence and protect the smooth, long-lasting application of power to your drivetrain with the SRAM DUB Sealed Cartridge...
- Gutter Seal Technology drastically improves sealing against the elements, ensuring durability and reliability in any riding conditions.
- Enjoy the convenience of sealed cartridge bearings and the versatility of one oversized spindle that works across every bottom bracket standard.
- Experience a significant reduction in weight compared to the GXP system, enhancing the overall performance of your MTB cranks.
- With a bottom bracket shell I.D. of 41, BB/Frame Interface options of BB89.5 and BB92, and a weight of just 110 grams, this bottom bracket is designed...
- its JIS square-taper cranksets