Bottom Bracket

[Simon Head]

Will a new BB, for example to fit a Shimano 105 chainset, fit my 20 year old steel frame?
I think it will but I hate getting caught out!

 

[smokeysmoo]

The short answer is yes.

 

[Racing roadkill]

A threaded Hollowtech II BB with English threads, will fit a threaded BB on your 20 year old bike, as long as it's English thread.

 

[raleighnut]

Here is one fitted to a more than 30yr old frame,

 

[Simon Head]

Thanks Chaps,
I'll post a picture of my bike when it's built it shouldn't be much heavier than an alloy bike, I hope

 

[Simon Head]

Here is one fitted to a more than 30yr old frame,

View attachment 339327

What chainset is fitted to that 30 year old frame?

 

[smokeysmoo]

What chainset is fitted to that 30 year old frame?

It's a Shimano Hollowtech II, possibly 105 but HTII Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace will all fit.

 

[Simon Head]

It's a Shimano Hollowtech II, possibly 105 but HTII Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace will all fit.

Are they all the same apart from the name?

 

[Ajax Bay]

Will a new BB, for example to fit a Shimano 105 chainset, fit my 20 year old steel frame?

To answer this we need to know what model of chainset you are actually aiming to fit (as opposed to 'for example'). It may be that the chainset is 20 years old too and thus needs a UN55 square taper or similar. This assumes the frame is 'English' threaded - it will probably be 68mm wide. If the OP's chainset is Hollowtech II, see rr's and smokey's advice. OP: "Are they all the same?" See Sheldon Brown on bottom brackets (scroll about 1/3rd down).
HTH

 

[raleighnut]

What chainset is fitted to that 30 year old frame?

It's a 105 double but that bike has also in the past had an Ultegra triple fitted (it was removed along with the matching GS rear mech to go onto an aborted Mercian build). But as @smokeysmoo says any HT II will fit a 68mm BSA bottom bracket shell.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Are they all the same apart from the name?

Yes they are, (the only real differences in layman terms are aesthetics and weight). In a nutshell the hierarchy starts from Sora and goes upto Dura-Ace.

105 is a good compromise of weight v function IME.

FWIW my best bike has full DA, but I've also had 105 and Ultegra, and TBH you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference in real world cycling.

A major consideration for most is cost, (initial purchase and replacement cost), and 105 is also arguably the best compromise in this regard too.

 

[raleighnut]

Yes they are, (the only real differences in layman terms are aesthetics and weight). In a nutshell the hierarchy starts from Sora and goes upto Dura-Ace.

105 is a good compromise of weight v function IME.

FWIW my best bike has full DA, but I've also had 105 and Ultegra, and TBH you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference in real world cycling.

A major consideration for most is cost, (initial purchase and replacement cost), and 105 is also arguably the best compromise in this regard too.

105 is where Shimano 'qualiity' starts.

 

[Simon Head]

Can I use my Shimano 600 chainset, or would that make me look too old school especially on my steel Dave Marsh frame?

 

[S-Express]

Can I use my Shimano 600 chainset?

If you have a 68mm threaded BB shell, you can use any compatible chainset with any BB, providing it is compatible with both the chainset and the BB shell. It's not completely clear from this thread exactly what it is you are trying to do.

 

[Simon Head]

I am trying to build my old steel Dave Marsh 753 racing frame up to be a good training bike. The frame is pretty small but I think it will fit with long carbon seatpost and handlebar stem. Due to the frames size and what it's made from, mega thin 753, it should be nearly as light as a properly sized alloy frame.
I have also got loads of components to go on it but I want modern indexing handlebar gearshifts and an aerobar lever on my left handlebar bacause I now can't use my right hand so well. Please look at my website: https://shedsweb.wordpress.com/