CeramicSpeed BB ALPHA for PF30 Shimano Road
$3,280.00
Color Options
BlackSize Options
Danish-made CeramicSpeed flagship ceramic bottom bracket for PF30 pressfit frames (46mm bore, 68mm shell width) paired with Shimano 24mm axle road cranksets. Bearings placed outboard. Grade-3 Silicon Nitride ceramic balls, hardened stainless-steel races, 28-iteration seal and dust cover design, 500% improved moisture protection, 102g net weight. Hand-built in Denmark. Lifetime warranty. Black finish.
BB ALPHA is CeramicSpeed's latest flagship bottom bracket series, engineered with one uncompromising goal: to outlast your frame. This model is purpose-built for PF30 pressfit frames (46mm bore, 68mm shell width) paired with Shimano 24mm axle cranksets, with bearings placed outboard. It is suitable for road cycling, triathlon, and track disciplines.
About the PF30 Standard
PF30 (Pressfit 30) is a widely adopted pressfit bottom bracket standard used across modern road, triathlon, and track frames. Unlike traditional threaded bottom brackets, PF30 uses a smooth (unthreaded) shell with a 46mm bore diameter. Bearing cups are pressed into the frame shell via precision interference fit. The standard PF30 shell width is 68mm, symmetric left to right.
PF30 was originally designed for 30mm axle cranksets (from brands such as SRAM, FSA, Rotor, and others), but through the use of adapter bottom brackets — such as this product — it can also accommodate Shimano and other cranksets utilising a 24mm axle. This product integrates a precision conversion structure that perfectly adapts the PF30 46mm shell to Shimano's 24mm axle, ensuring correct bearing spacing and crankset alignment without the need for separate third-party adapter sleeves.
Why Does a PF30 Frame Need a Dedicated Bottom Bracket for Shimano Cranks?
Shimano road cranksets (such as Dura-Ace, Ultegra, and 105 series) use a 24mm diameter axle, while PF30 frames are natively designed for 30mm axles. A standard 30mm bottom bracket cannot accept a 24mm crankset; conversely, a standard Shimano BB86/BB92 bottom bracket cannot fit a PF30 frame's 46mm bore. A purpose-designed "PF30 for Shimano" bottom bracket is therefore required — its external dimensions match the PF30 frame's 46mm bore and 68mm shell width, while the internal bearings precisely accommodate Shimano's 24mm axle for optimal alignment and performance.
Core Technology
Grade-3 Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls (Si₃N₄) — Exceptionally high spherical precision, approximately twice the hardness of steel balls at only 41% of the density. Smoother surface and inherent corrosion resistance dramatically reduce rolling friction and inertia losses. Grade-3 designation indicates strict manufacturing tolerances ensuring top-tier roundness and dimensional consistency across every ball.
Hardened Stainless-Steel Races — Inherently corrosion-resistant at the material level, preventing rust or pitting even in wet riding conditions or humid environments. Hardening treatment ensures the races maintain precise raceway geometry under high loads such as out-of-saddle efforts or sprint forces.
Custom-Engineered Seal System (28 Iterations) — CeramicSpeed's engineering team developed precision dust covers and multi-barrier seal structures through 28 design iterations, optimising fitment and protection. Moisture and contamination protection is improved by 500% over the previous generation, while precisely controlled seal contact pressure ensures no sacrifice in rotational performance.
Simplified Spacer Tube Design — A new super-light spacer tube structure with fewer variants ensures faster, more intuitive installation. Cup material and geometry have been optimised for strength and reduced weight, achieving a 10% overall weight reduction while facilitating future maintenance.
Hand-Built in Denmark — Every BB ALPHA is individually assembled and spin-tested by technicians at CeramicSpeed's Holstebro factory, ensuring quality consistency far beyond mechanised mass production.
Key Features
- Lifetime Warranty — CeramicSpeed's lifetime warranty programme ensures long-term performance under normal use — invest once, ride with confidence
- Low Friction — Grade-3 Silicon Nitride ceramic balls with hardened stainless-steel races for supremely smooth rotation, converting more pedalling force into forward motion
- Corrosion Resistant by Design — Hardened stainless steel and ceramic materials inherently resist corrosion, extending service life — particularly suited to humid climates
- Exceptional Bearing Protection — Seal system and dust covers refined through 28 design iterations deliver 500% improved moisture and contamination resistance, significantly extending maintenance intervals
- Lightweight & Serviceable Design — 10% lighter than previous generation (102g net), pressfit installation with simplified spacer tube for clean, efficient assembly and easy future maintenance
Specifications
The SKU is 115426, part of the BB ALPHA flagship series in black. It is designed for road cycling, triathlon, and track disciplines. The BB type is PF30 pressfit (46mm bore), symmetric design with a 68mm shell width. It is compatible with Shimano cranksets featuring a 24.0mm axle diameter, with a crank width of 68.0mm.
Bearing balls are Grade-3 Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄) ceramic, paired with hardened stainless-steel races. The cup design is optimised for strength and weight. The seal system features custom-engineered seals with precision dust covers developed through 28 design iterations, delivering 500% improved moisture and contamination protection over the previous generation.
Net weight is 102g (10% lighter than the previous generation), with a gross weight of 218g including packaging. Hand-built in Denmark with a lifetime warranty. The EAN/Barcode is 5711050143023.
In the Box
One BB ALPHA for PF30 Shimano Road ceramic bottom bracket, one 5ml tube of UFO TECH All Round Bearing Grease, and one CeramicSpeed decal.
Compatible Frames
This product is designed for PF30 pressfit frames with a 46mm bore and 68mm shell width, symmetric design. PF30 is widely used across road, triathlon, and track frames from numerous manufacturers, including but not limited to: Specialized (such as Tarmac SL6 and earlier, select Venge models), Cannondale (select SuperSix EVO and CAAD versions), Wilier (Zero SLR, Cento10, etc.), Argon 18 (Nitrogen series), Pinarello (select models), BH (G8, etc.), Factor (select models), and many other manufacturers using the PF30 standard.
Note: PF30 (symmetric 68mm shell, 46mm bore) is a different specification from BB30 (symmetric 68mm shell, bearings pressed directly without cups, native 30mm axle), BBright (asymmetric 79mm shell, 46mm bore), EVO386 (symmetric 86.5mm shell, 46mm bore), and BB86/PF86 (41mm bore, 86.5mm shell, Shimano's native standard). Please confirm your frame's bottom bracket shell specifications are PF30 (46mm bore, 68mm shell) before purchase.
Important: If your frame uses the BB86/PF86 standard (41mm bore, 86.5mm shell), this product is NOT compatible — even if you use Shimano cranksets. BB86 is Shimano's native pressfit standard and requires a BB86-specific bottom bracket.
Compatible Cranksets
This product is specifically designed for Shimano 24mm axle road cranksets, including Shimano Dura-Ace (FC-R9200, FC-R9100, etc.), Shimano Ultegra (FC-R8100, FC-R8000, etc.), Shimano 105 (FC-R7100 24mm version, FC-R7000, etc.), and all road cranksets using the Shimano Hollowtech II standard (24mm axle).
Not compatible with: SRAM DUB 28.99mm axle cranksets, SRAM/FSA/Rotor and other brands' 30mm axle cranksets (use the PF30 30mm version instead), Campagnolo Ultra-Torque 25mm axle cranksets, or any crankset with an axle diameter other than 24mm.
Installation Notes
Use the correct tool: PF30 is a pressfit standard requiring dedicated pressfit bottom bracket installation tools (CeramicSpeed Bottom Bracket Tool Kit recommended). Ensure cups are perfectly aligned with the frame shell during pressing — avoid angled insertion which may cause damage.
Clean the shell: Thoroughly clean the inside of the frame's bottom bracket shell before installation, removing old adhesive, residue, or metal debris.
Apply retaining compound or grease: Following your frame manufacturer's recommendations, apply appropriate retaining compound (e.g. Loctite 641) or the included UFO TECH grease to the shell interior and cup exterior to prevent creaking and ensure secure fitment.
Preload adjustment: When installing Shimano Hollowtech II cranksets, use the Shimano factory preload cap or CeramicSpeed Alloy Preload Bolt for Shimano Cranks (sold separately) to adjust axial play. Ensure no lateral movement while maintaining smooth rotation, then tighten the left-arm pinch bolts to Shimano's recommended torque (typically 12–14 Nm).
Removal note: Use a dedicated removal tool when extracting pressfit bottom brackets. Never use screwdrivers or metal rods to hammer cups out, as this may damage the frame shell.
Professional installation: If unfamiliar with pressfit bottom bracket procedures, professional workshop installation is recommended. CeramicSpeed provides an official installation video covering BB ALPHA for pressfit 46mm frames, including BBright, EVO386, and PF30.
Suggested Accessories
CeramicSpeed Bottom Bracket Tool Kit — Pressfit bottom bracket installation and removal tool kit.
CeramicSpeed Alloy Preload Bolt for Shimano Cranks — Aluminium alloy preload bolt designed specifically for Shimano cranksets, replacing the factory plastic preload cap for more precise adjustment and improved durability.
Bottom Bracket Seal and Dust Cover Service Tool — Seal and dust cover maintenance tool for convenient disassembly and reassembly of seal components during cleaning and service.
BB ALPHA vs Previous Generation
BB ALPHA surpasses the previous generation across multiple dimensions. Race material has been upgraded from stainless steel to hardened stainless steel, with moisture and contamination protection improved by 500%. Dust covers feature a precision design refined through 28 iterations, replacing the previous standard design. Weight has been reduced by 10% (net 102g), and the spacer tube uses a new simplified super-light design for more intuitive installation. The warranty has also been upgraded from a limited warranty to a lifetime warranty.
