Jockey wheels

[TC99]

Jockey wheels seem to start at around a quid. Ok fair enough. But they also go for serious cash. Forty quid upwards. I am struggling to understand the price difference and what it may mean. Whats wrong with the ones for a quid?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Problem is you're not paying enough

https://sturdycycles.co.uk/products...uRdc-rwrblYEDhva-fgaCTk6qhH_ueQG6_zZwfTU6iZ-x

 

[oldandslow]

Jockey wheels for what? Shimano ones are often less than a tenner, but not a quid.

 

[Happy_Days]

Jockey wheels … I am struggling to understand the price difference and what it may mean. Whats wrong with the ones for a quid?

The cheaper ones won’t have ceramic bearings, whereas the pricier ones should. I heard that Shimano 105 jockey wheels, which are non-ceramic, waste an entire Watt compared to Ultegra ones. The latter are ceramic.

Plus, the premium jockey wheels will likely be lighter. Think of the weight saving!

NB: I’m not a mechanic, so take my word with a pinch of Silca salt.

 

[a.twiddler]

It's pretty amazing how long they actually last. I think I replaced a set years ago just because the set up had a new chain but it didn't make any difference. I had some spare Shimano ones in my bits box for decades until my bike spat out a jockey wheel (the derailleur must have been donkey's years old) and I took the opportunity to gleefully fit them both just because I had them.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Whats wrong with the ones for a quid?

Think we need a link so we know what you're talking about.
OSPWs are high on the £/w list.
The 'ceramic bearing' thing is complete BS.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

One thing not to do is ride through floods. Your jockey wheels will pass through and a bit more grease will weep and die. If you do, clean and add fresh grease.

 

[Happy_Days]

The 'ceramic bearing' thing is complete BS.

Bikeradar did an interesting article on the pros and cons of ceramic bearings:

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/ceramic-bearings

 

[fossyant]

The standard Shimano ones are good. SRAM bearing ones seize quite quickly so I use BBB on the SRAM bike. Still got the ceramic bushed Ultegras and Dura Ace on my old 35 year old bikes.

 

[fossyant]

PS the ceramic bush jockeys dont spin easier due to the seals, but they dont corrode like the steel bushes. Ultegra had one ceramic and one steel. DA both ceramic. They just last longer.

 

[Exlaser2]

Very interesting thread if slightly confusing for me. My first sport is dinghy sailing and if the words jockey wheel are mentioned my first thought is this …… 😂

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

The cheaper ones won’t have ceramic bearings, whereas the pricier ones should. I heard that Shimano 105 jockey wheels, which are non-ceramic, waste an entire Watt compared to Ultegra ones. The latter are ceramic.

Plus, the premium jockey wheels will likely be lighter. Think of the weight saving!

NB: I’m not a mechanic, so take my word with a pinch of Silca salt.

Neither are ceramic, 105 use a bushing and Ultegra use a sealed cartridge bearing.

IME, bushings don't tend to last anywhere near as long. The jockey wheels on my 12 speed 105 RD lasted less than six months before they resembled a pringle!

Anything with a sealed bearing will likely cost more. Anything with a ceramic bearing will cost triple!