Today we officially launch Kogel CR, the new corrosion resistant bearings by Kogel Bearings.
When I started this company, my goal was to develop the best possible bearings for bicycles. Whether you’re a weekend warrior enthusiast who just wants to go faster, or a pro racing at the highest level, Kogel delivers. And we have Rainbow Jerseys, Olympic Gold Medals and hundreds of glowing online reviews to show for it.
Now, we’re making them even better. Kogel CR is our first proprietary bearing and the first step in our brand’s evolution.
What could improve our current bearings?
Kogel Bearings are known for their durability and low friction. But, the one thing I always wanted to improve was to make them less susceptible to rust.
Kogel is the only major brand offering unique seal options, letting you choose tighter seals for better protection in wet, muddy conditions (MTB, cyclocross) or less friction in dry, clean conditions (road, some gravel).
It’s important to note that the seal’s job isn’t just to keep water, dust, and dirt out. It also keeps grease in. And our condition-specific seals work well in most situations, but still leave two issues:
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A little bit of water can get in under the covers during heavy wet-weather use, causing visible surface rust on the outside of the bearing. This does not affect performance, but it doesn’t look good.
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If wet dirt works its way into the bearings on an extremely sloppy ride, this grit can wear down the bearings and/or races and degrade performance.
Now, I’ve found a way to make the metal itself better, stronger, and more resistant to the elements!
The challenges to improvement
Traditional bearing races are made from either Chrome Steel (aka Bearing Steel) or Stainless Steel.
Chrome Steel is extremely hard, great for handling the increased hardness of ceramic balls. The downside is it’s not very rust resistant.
On the other hand, Stainless Steel is basically impervious to moisture, but it’s about 20% softer than Chrome Steel, so the bearings wear out more quickly.
When it comes to rust, Enduro Bearing’s Fish Tank display shows off the differences quite well:
Admittedly, you’re not likely to be riding your bearings through a constant bath of salt water, but it’s a great tool for accelerating and showcasing what moisture does to various bearing materials.
The video (courtesy of The Gravel Cyclist) shows perfectly how different types of steel and even the quality of the steel each brand chooses affects their durability - BBinfinite looked like a mess on day 1, while Kogel and Ceramicspeed are affected far less after three full days of swimming in salt water.
The Solution
The obvious solution is to combine the hard wearing nature of Chrome Steel with the rust-proof qualities of Stainless, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.
The new Kogel CR bearings are the result of two years of development, yielding a custom stainless steel race that’s specially treated and hardened to match the strength and toughness of Kogel’s original bearings.
As always, it’s paired with our custom ceramic bearings for the smoothest possible rolling.
The result is our signature low friction performance in a more durable bearing impervious to foul conditions. Now you can have your cake and eat it, too!
Should I switch to Kogel CR bearings?
Not only will riders in wet climates (Hello, Seattle, UK, and Belgium!) or anyone living in a coastal area with high humidity and salty air (Shoutout to Florida!) benefit from these, but anyone who regularly rides in wet, rainy, or muddy conditions now has one less component to worry about.
The new CR line is also perfect for indoor riders. I have spoken about toxic sweat before. Indoor riding is often more damaging to your bike, and particularly the bottom bracket, because sweat drips down the frame, straight into your bearings.
While there’s no downside to switching your current bearings to Kogel CR, if you live in the desert, like our hometown of El Paso, TX, the classic Kogel products will keep serving you well.
What else is new about Kogel CR?
Kogel CR bearings have new red and white seals to differentiate them visually. Just like our originals, we’ll offer Road (white) and Cross (red) bearing seals so you can optimize your components for your local conditions.
These new seal colors have the same functionality as our original Blue (road) and Green (cross) seals, and the shape is the same for all of them so you can swap and service your new or existing Kogel bearings with any of them.
PRO TIP: Put Road seals on for drier summer months, then swap to Cross seals for winter!
We’re so excited about the new Kogel CR bearings that we’re introducing them on every pulley set and Kolossos cage starting January of 2025 as a free upgrade.
Already have a Kogel bottom bracket, pulleys, or derailleur cage? A CR bearing upgrade service is available for existing parts, too, through your local Kogel dealer or direct.
You’ll find the new Kogel CR products in glossy new white packaging w/ blue graphics. We’re launching these for bottom brackets, derailleur pulleys, and our Kolossos pulley cages first, available mid-January
Our warranty now lasts longer, too!
The new Kogel CR are so durable that we’ve extended our best in industry warranty policy to THREE years of coverage! We know there are companies out there offering much longer warranty terms, but please have a close look at the fine print. See if they offer corrosion coverage and if they put any roadblocks in the way of you claiming your warranty once you need it.
If you are unhappy about a Kogel product, please call our sales team, you will get to speak to a real human being. If you keep up with the annual service requirement, we have got your back. Even if a part is damaged in an accident (or your bike flies off your car on the highway), we have a discounted crash replacement program, too!
Ready for a serious upgrade to your bike? Check out our Bottom Brackets, Pulleys, and Kollosos derailleur cages.
