Ride Beyond Limits
Introducing SLT: the secret ingredient behind our toughest bearings to date. Featuring an oil-encapsulated solid plastic polymer and stainless-steel materials these bearings are self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant, and maintenance-free – making them more resilient than ever.
Guaranteed to last
Our SLT (Solid Lubrication Technology) Bearings for Headsets and Rear Suspension Pivots are designed to be ridden in the most grueling conditions. In the lab and out on the trails we’ve done our very best to push these bearings to failure, but our efforts have ultimately been unsuccessful. This gives us the confidence to back all our SLT Bearings with a lifetime warranty.
Maintenance-free Durability
The unique solid polymer of our SLT Bearings remedies two of the most common causes behind bearing failure: the absence of lubrication and grease contamination through dirt ingress. The micropores in the otherwise solid polymer evenly distribute just enough oil to keep the bearing well-lubricated, while also containing sufficient oil for it to be self-lubricating over the lifespan of the bearing – even when ridden in the harshest of conditions.
Keeping Corrosion at Bay
Even though an iconic Canadian folk singer once claimed that “Rust Never Sleeps”, we feel confident that we’ve put it down for the count. The combination of an outer seal and the solid polymer makes it almost impossible for water and contaminants to penetrate our SLT Bearings. If moisture should get inside, the stainless steel material of the bearing races and balls turns worries about corrosion into yesterday’s fears.
Taking Durability to New Heights
At first the promise of self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant, and maintenance-free bearings might sound too good to be true, but we assure you there’s no witchcraft involved here. Our SLT Bearings are based on a proven technology, but even though it’s well-proven, it’s getting it right that’s the tricky part.
Keep Your Head(set)
Headset bearings are burdened with the unforgiving task of sitting in one of the most exposed areas on a bike, making them especially vulnerable to external contaminants that’ll eventually wear them out. To add to the hardship, the trend of modern-day bike design to feature fully integrated cockpits has turned a once-simple maintenance job into a tricky and laborious task.
Our OHD (Optimized Headset Design) SLT Bearings will not only protect and prolong the lifespan of your bearings, but they’ll also make sure you don’t break the bank with workshop bills.
"With the advent of internal cable routing on road bikes, the demands on the longevity of headsets have become critical. After thoroughly testing CeramicSpeed SLT Headsets under the most demanding of conditions, and validating at the World Tour, we were convinced that these headsets should be included on Factor bikes" - Rob Gitelis, Owner Factor Bikes
No Room For Play
When you’re ripping down a rugged trail at full speed trying to maneuver between rocks and roots, the last thing you want to feel is the rear end of your bike wobbling away underneath you. The extreme durability and self-lubricating capabilities of our OPD (Optimized Pivot Design) SLT Bearings leave no room for axial play to occur, keeping you in a state of control and safety when you need it the most.
Tested to the limit (and beyond)
At CeramicSpeed our internal testing plays a crucial part in our manufacturing process. We know that our products' exceptional performance and durability come down to us having thoroughly tested them time and time again. With this in mind, our SLT Bearings are no exception.
FAQ
If I have a compatible bike/frame, can I order SLT bearings now?
No, not yet. Production is currently fulfilling the orders for our launch partners. As soon as we have stock availability we will release information for how to identify compatibility and order SLT products.
What about wheel or BB bearings?
SLT has enormous protection benefits that are exceptionally well suited for reciprocating movements – such as those found in headsets and suspension pivots. Since the balls in these bearings never continually rotate, traditional grease gets pushed aside and away from where it is needed. The constant contact of the SLT polymer encapsulating the balls solves this issue, albeit with a trade-off of efficiency. For fully rotating bearings, where grease constantly contacts new surfaces on the balls, our traditional hybrid ceramic approach is best suited, and our coated bearings deliver the same Lifetime Warranty as SLT. When considering the use of SLT, it is important to consider how different uses result in different challenges for bearing performance and lifetime.
Wait, ‘stainless steel materials’?
Yes, our OPD (Optimized Pivot Design) and OHD (Optimized Headset Design) bearings use stainless steel races and balls. As with all of our product development choices, when possible we follow what the data supports for the best possible solution. Since pivots and headsets do not continually rotate, matching the material characteristics between the balls and races lends to a more even wear over the hundreds of thousands of cycles tested. Matched with the SLT polymer, these bearings produce the longest lifetime we have been able to test for these reciprocating movements – triple the lifespan of the current bike industry stated ‘leader’ for pivot bearings.
