What proportion of bicycles still use servicable cup and cone bearings?

Question

I am interested in the decline in the traditonal style assemblies. I would love to see them make a comeback - I hope they are not too rare, are they? Can you still buy them in shops?

Answer 1

Sure you can...local bike shops still carry those.

Answer 2

All Shimano hubs still use cup and cone assemblies. Low end hubs and one piece cranks are usually cup and cone as well. Stronglight and a couple of Euro crank manufacturers still make 'em this way... mostly those that are continuing with square taper spindles.

Many headset makers dropped cup and cone long ago but this application actually benefits from sealed bearing technology so far that sealed bearings generally have precision hardened races and very little play.

Depending on the model, Wellgo uses cup and cone in platform type pedals but most clipless models use cartridges.

Unfortunately, we will not see a comeback. The cost of making high tolerance bearing surfaces is extremely expensive compared to drilling a hole and press fitting a bearing that has already been made. I can only hope that Shimano maintains their hub designs.

The art of rebuilding and adjusting to perfection is fading, I fear.

Answer 3

Still to this day over 90% of the bicycles[yet probaby more] still use that style woldwide.

High end bicycles make up just a small fraction of worldwide bike use.

Bearings can and always will be available to you.

All I can say is'trust me'

I hope one persons opinion can be of help to you.