SHIMANO CURADO I BUDGET BEARING SHOOTOUT!!! SPOOL SPEED VS HEDGEHOG ZR VS STOCK CLEANED BEARINGS

I finally get to do a very relevant budget ball bearing shootout with the stock cleaned bearings, the much hyped spool speed hybrid ceramics, and the most affordable jdm bearings I could find, the Hedgehog Studios ZR stainless steel bearings.
DAIWA, SHIMANO, ABU GARCIA, LEWS, KASTKING, QUANTUM, 13 FISHING, CURADO, CITICA, CASITAS, CAENAN, CHRONARCH, METANIUM, ALDEBARAN, ANTARES, CALAIS, STELLA, CONQUEST, SUSTAIN, STRADIC, EXSENCE, STEEZ, ZILLION, TATULA, FUEGO, ALPHAS, REVO, CONCEPT Z, MGX, LUCKY CRAFT, MEGABASS, EVERGREEN, JACKALL, DEPS, IMA, G LOOMIS, MAJOR CRAFT, MGL, NRX, CRUCIAL, SV, PISCIFUN, BLACK MAX, BASS RISE, RYOGA, BANTAM, ADRENA, GLORIOUS, ULTIMA, EXIST, BALLISTIC, FREAMS, TRUMP, SCORPION, XF 50, BAIT FINESSE, HAIBO, STEED, EXIST, ICAST, SLX, TRANX, POISON

[@THEREELTEST]

The $20 Hedgehogs really disappointed me!

[@LuisPerez-vb3xo]

THE REEL TEST IMG_2848.JPG The ZR Bearings are made for heavier lures, but the results do speak for themselves interesting.

[@Felix-mr1vs]

@@LuisPerez-vb3xo Agree. I think the Air HD bearings would have been better for the 1/4oz test. Probably too expensive to compare them to the others in this test. Still quite disappointing for the ZR's really.

[@maksari7048]

2 drops is a lot of oil and takes quite a few casts to discharge the eccess. after all it only takes a nanobillionsofmillimeter film to run perfectly. Tip a needle in oil to minimize the oil When I started tweaking my baitcasters I blew the bearing race or covers ( cant remember which ) because I almost soaked them in oil. It is a possibility the bearing was defective but more likely the bearing was desperately trying to pump out eccess oil and ”hydraulic pressure” caused the bearing destroyed. Partially due to thai experience I remove the covers ( or shields ) from every set of bearings I get. Downside is more service reguired but that process seems to free some bearings and also it is easier and more effective to flush and lubricate the bearings. This makes it quicker to ”break-in” the bearings as the eccess oil is sprayed out of bearing much quicker. Apologize the lengthy comment but I didn’t find easier way to explain.

[@artemporkhun1407]

Pflueger patriarch xt , lews BB1 pro , Shimano Curado k ? which 1 u pick ?

[@chasing_bends]

What size bearing are the slx is it 1030? Would they be the same size as the skx mgl

[@maqpeezgofishvlog8431]

Stop or low the music volume during test cast. So we can hear difference of the sound between those bearings.

[@nodoubt46able]

yeah, kill the shitty music all together.....wth are you thinking on a damn reel bearing review putting that crap on here....sheesh

[@Rascallucci]

No need to be puzzled. First of all, ceramic bearings were always going to give you the longest casts. Why? The ceramic coating is harder, smoother with tighter tolerances especially if you are talking about ABEC 7. The reason why the distance increased was probably because the bearings weren't yet equally lubed. And once you have run the bearings long enough, the oil was more evenly distributed making it thinner over all bearing balls. The truth of the matter is this, this is what a reel service expert taught me long ago, if you want the very highest performance from your bearings, you should try to run them as dry as you can. Meaning if you lube them, just use 1 drop of a very high quality low viscosity oil. 2 drops is too much already. Or if you are an extreme guy fishing freshwater only, just simply run your ceramic bearings dry. But, here is the thing. While ceramic bearings will help you cast farther, the fact that they are ceramic means your reel will always be noisier. And there is nothing you can do about it. It is simply the characteristics of ceramic. And for that reason alone, I have never gone back to ceramic bearings. And if you are used to using very high end reels, you will never be able to go back to that factory out of the box smoothness. My personal preference is stock bearings. If they get rusty, just buy some new ones, no worries. Don't get all hung up on all these spool spinning tests, they don't matter much when you are out on the water. I would rather cast a tad shorter and enjoy the smoothness of the reel especially if it is an ultra high end smooth reel. If you use it on say a Conquest, it will defeat all purpose of buying such an expensive smooth reel in the first place.

[@THEREELTEST]

Ive ran dry ceramics vs shimano SARB(the expensive ones) and they lost several times. I think Shimano just used cheap bearings on the Curado I and the Hedgehogs werent much better

[@freemyself8223]

I love the way you explained that. I hate how nosey my speed spool bearings are.

[@Rascallucci]

@@freemyself8223 Precisely my point, if is a high end reel, just go back to stock. Or to be honest, it doesn't even need to be a high end reel, if you miss that out-of-the-box feeling of smoothness, just go back to stock.

[@noobpyrotech9991]

@@freemyself8223so what bearings do you prefer for distance. I don’t mind the noise from the bearings I just want distance.

[@freemyself8223]

I got some speed spool bearings a few days ago I hate how loud they are

[@manifestgtr]

In my experience, the only reels that TRULY, dramatically benefit from things like gear and bearing upgrades are older, used reels. For example, I bought an old, 50 sized scorpion xt and it was noisy as hell. I had no idea how well the reel had been maintained or how much more life the crucial components had left. Gear swap and a bearing change later, it’s both quieter and much better performing. Most of shimanos bearings in the last 5 years have been pretty good throughout their entire range so I’m not entirely convinced that it’s worth $40 to squeak a few extra feet out your reel. Unless you just like modding things and making them your own...if that’s the case, do it up

[@zacpdx]

Spool speed 16.99 & for my curado I's and K's, it's a lot easier to cast but where they really shine is pitching ease...

[@notsure8327]

He said “squeak” a few extra feet out 😂

[@BadBoy-so2pq]

Best results to test is.................all Bearings need to break in..................mean run and season it.........will run faster and smoother

[@aqualung1466]

I would do it without the music next time, or lower the volume of the music - it's really distracting and makes it hard to follow what you're saying.

[@smoovefishing]

I have tried about every brand ceramic bearings out there and I like the spool speed bearings the best and it seems more you use them better they get!!

[@noobpyrotech9991]

I got spool speed in my bfs Zephyr. I wanted to get more BFS reels and everyone I see puts Roro bearing in them. Do you think spool speed is better than Roro?

[@smoovefishing]

@@noobpyrotech9991 I sure do!

[@noobpyrotech9991]

@@smoovefishing Thanks, I hear more about Roro, Boca, and other bearings more than Spool Speed.

[@smoovefishing]

@@noobpyrotech9991 thinks that’s because they was first to come out, spool speed are a lot lighter than Boca!! They are heavier bearing and couldn’t stand them! I put them in and went fishing and when I got out took them out! Spool speed bearings has different level of bearings now!

[@blkaudiofan]

I still use the curado I. I mean it’s a great reel!

[@Slazmoservicing4209]

Couldn't agree with you more... But it is still ugly as hell 😐

[@linekerkb]

I had Ceramic hybrid on my Curado E7 and they seem to cast the same as the stock bearing. So not much of a gain in distant.

[@THEREELTEST]

I think that shows the quality of the Shimano bearing more than anything

[@linekerkb]

My thot too. Unless the bearing to old else leave it as it is.

[@michaeldean1985]

Mine is still running strong. It's my cheapest reel but it's one of my go to's. Good vid thanks.

[@robertbentlygeorge8973]

The 2 drops of oil you put in the Spool Speed Bearings spun up and out of the main Channel after a few casts. Every time I lube my Ceramics they take a few casts to spin the excess oil out of the main Channel and cast much better after. Just Sayin' Robert Bently George

[@yyoohh]

Speed spool or boca bearing ? Which one is better ?

[@AntiNoob79]

Great video! Thank you for doing these videos and giving us so much info. I literally base all of my reel purchases on the information you provide, and you have never steered me wrong. I have a quick question, though, what was the rod that you were using for testing. Sorry, if you already stated it in the video, and I missed it.

[@THEREELTEST]

6'6 damiki medium power

[@AntiNoob79]

@@THEREELTEST Thank you!

[@chriskelly9693]

I have ran most of the hedgehog upgrade bearings and in each and every case the hybrid ceramics ran better, however too answer the question i tend too find they take a few casts to bed in, i have to admit the noise does not worry me, in England there is a company that sell them and believe sell worldwide they are known for a lot of competition reels and bearings so have a lot of knowledge, the hedgehogs i have used on curado k,curado 70,chronarch 151mgl,scorpion bfs and a casitas 151 so a wide range of reels all shimano and i find in all cases, even with the air bearings they do no act as well as the hybrid ceramic bearings.

[@chiyang3749]

if you didn't drop oil in the ceramic hybrid bearings, they should cast further than 143 feet because ceramic hybrid is supposed to run dry, no oil in them

[@ddm62571]

I put ceramics bearings in my Curado K and they bearly improved the casting and they gave a raspy kind of loud sound when I casted that just annoyed me cast after cast.

[@THEREELTEST]

With shields and oil I find the Ceramics are alot bearable.

[@ddm62571]

@@THEREELTEST Mine have shields and they were lightly oiled still gave a raspy rev though. To each their own, I guess.

[@NaiemCoolzest]

nice video bro..support u from Malaysia

[@AGAlHafiz]

yaa...sifu kita..haha

[@NaiemCoolzest]

@@AGAlHafiz hahaha..

[@yellowdog762jb]

Still use the Curado I? I still use the green BSF 200s! I use them in fresh and saltwater. Every few years I take them apart and really clean them, including the bearings, in an ultra sonic cleaner. Then I relube the gears and drag. On a couple of the reels I have replaced a couple of bearings that seemed a bit rough. They are good reels and seem to last forever if you take care of then.

[@esoxecosse66]

It's a pity you didn't get the stock bearings cleaned properly prior to the test, I find soaking in WD40 for a while and spinning up the bearings with a drill bit in backwards in a cordless drill helps, start with wd40 and then IPA or Acetone to get rid of any oil residue and then put a couple of drops of your Alchemy oil in after they are spinning smoothly, the stock bearings should spin freely for 15 secs minimum , yours obviuosly weren't properly clean, enjoyed your video though, good stuff

[@Benjamin-S]

Mark Carpenter I think they’re just old. I own a fairly new curado i and they spin much smoother. Now, they don’t beat the spool speed bearings but they cast at least a little longer than the ones in the video. My friend’s fairly old curado i has the exact same spin time on the bearings, he cleans them properly!

[@chiyang3749]

hybrid ceramic bearings are supposed to run dry

[@652barry]

I’ve tried hybrid ceramics in the early beginnings and see very little gains at long distances but do notice the ease of cast at short range but still nothing drastic. Basically a waste of money and a status symbol like the guys that buy strictly Daiwa and install boca bearings in every one they own.

[@THEREELTEST]

I still think the Shimano S-ARBs that cost $20 a piece are the best from the testing ive done.

[@jwiegand1022]

Run them with a complete supertune and no breaks at all. That will give you a better idea. I have about 50 or so reels and half are supertuned. I typically throw light lures 8th to 16th oz and can cast them further than the numbers you were seeing but i run my reels wide open and use my thumb as a break.

[@vire559]

I think the oil did effect that bearing.

[@neihc1589]

them hi-spool ceramic bearings work better once it warms up a bit.

[@tphvictims5101]

You gained distance because the lube in the bearings became evenly dispersed inside of the bearings. You only need 1 drop of the synthetic oil on each bearing.

[@perrycorbett6846]

I have Spool Speed bearings on all my reels, roughly 17 reels, haven't had a problem yet and all of them cast a country mile

[@breakfix9528]

I also have a Curado I among other reels. The reason Shimano greases the bearings like they do is for people like Reel Test that don't maintain the reel regularly. You can get the same good performance with the stock bearings IF you're willing to maintain the reel properly and the bearings are still in good shape. The secret is to remove the bearing shields, clean them out completely with brake and parts cleaner, let them dry and put one drop of low viscosity oil. I put two drops of oil since I like to go a little longer before having to re-oil the bearings and I'm not concerned with losing a foot or two distance. On the first cast a good bit of the oil will fly out anyway and my two drops are as small as possible. Also the oil used will have a big impact on the performance and longevity. I use Ballistol since I already have some and it works great but there are better oils. TSI 321 is a great oil to use. Be warned though once you remove the bearing shields and grease you have to clean and oil the bearings regularly and you have to be careful not to get any dirt or debri in the bearings. Aftermarket bearings are misunderstood. You wont get much if any more performance over stock cleaned bearings with one drop of oil. The only reason to buy other bearings is if your stock bearings are shot. A quality ABEC 3 stainless bearing perfectly clean with one drop of oil will perform as good as any bearing out there. I would take a quality ABEC 3 stainless bearing from a reputable manufacturer over other 'higher' bearings from unknowns from China or elsewhere. With cleaned stock bearings what you'll notice is how smooth the reel casts, not the distance achieved. Casting the same distance requires less effort and the cast will feel butter smooth.

[@THEREELTEST]

cool story kid! on a serious note, I havent had a Shimano with bearings this greasy since the I. I checked about 15 of the over 30 I have. Maybe they realized it was affecting performance.

[@zacpdx]

Now this is a funny post... "Guys like the reel test don't maintain their reels"....you obviously don't watch his videos nor understand what he's about.

[@fgor]

Great video man, very useful for those of us who are considering upgrading our reels

[@tylernegron4131]

His speed spool bearings are temperamental. Never had any luck with any of the sets I’ve had. Reels feel out of control.

[@Utent629.26]

Hello, would you be kind enough to make a video on how to change the bearing present on the reel spool? (metanium 20 mgl). Thank you so much. Merry Christmas.

[@ridered6153]

Thxs for the information

[@marceloflemingues3114]

Assisto e curto todos seus vídeos. Parabéns! Congratulations....!

[@seanarama1234]

If you take the shield retainer clips off and open the bearings up, it would of actually gotten all the grease out. There is probably still tons inside.

[@kenturner3268]

A reel can't even exert the force or reach the rpm to utilize an abec 7 bearing. Abec 3 and 5 are all that reels need. Bearings perform based on lubrication. I would guess 90% or more reels are over lubed therefore decreasing performance. Ceramic bearing come into play on startup. They startup with much less force than steel ball bearings. They should be used in finesse applications. Also Japanese bearings are not abec rated.

[@alejandroquiros2910]

Ihave Daiwa tatula type r i replaced the barring wuith the one you going to used and works very good long casting distance

[@colearmstrong2450]

19:05 are you filming with a potato 😂

[@bellawright4265]

Thats one thing I've seen and like with the Abu Garcia's is that the bearings is not loaded with grease...I'm guessing they use that same lite oil on the bearings that come with the reels from the factory...doesn't seem to b much thicker than w-d 40.

[@lynnmoss1183]

Where can you buy genuine Shimano high quality JDM SARBs bearings? Provide a link if you can. Thx.

[@Chris-fh8uh]

Zr bearings are a true ceramic bearing... so no they won’t perform as a true ceramic bearing

[@lesrinehart933]

It takes about 15 casts before they are broke in

[@colearmstrong2450]

I still run a 201i but I’m not a huge fan of it honestly

[@grandfishing590]

The oil must have spread everywhere evenly?

[@THEREELTEST]

nah, that Hedgehog oil is so thin that 2 drops covered all the balls

[@ryansullivan3081]

Only two drops of oil wouldn't cover my balls. Oh, bearings, yeah.

[@MrBA812]

I have two Curado I they are perfect reels.

[@Benjamin-S]

Nice! I have this reel (fantastic reel btw) so this feels like something that is important to watch:)!

[@vire559]

Better Stainless Steel bearing for silent cast than Ceramic even though Ceramic wont get corrode by Salt Water except Hybrid bearing

[@THEREELTEST]

with the shields and lube the ceramics are not very loud, i was surprised

[@евгенийларин-ю7в]

Tell me on podshibniki callcuta bfs xg from spool hi speed bearings(size marking),or link to them

[@THEREELTEST]

contact spool speed on their website

[@Slazmoservicing4209]

I'm another "stock bearings" is best, flush them and oil sparingly and regularly - maintenance is key and look after them. Have tried aftermarket hybrids but they were noisy and casting distances were overly better than stock flushed bearings. Only bearings worth their weight in gold were the Air BFS installed in my Curado 70i - which gave me a tonne more distance and way down to 3 gr comfortably... The Abec rating is also a scam - hate the system to death... Japan does make the best tollerance bearings and doesn't need the stupid ratings - which to me is more misinformation than any help.

[@eriksalipadang7878]

Maybe ZR is suitable for heavier lure

[@manzokazi]

Glad to see you put them to the test again. Great video man

[@pedroivo6311]

Olá , eu sou brasileiro e assisto bastante seus vídeos. Não vou arriscar contactar em inglês para não passar vergonha, Sorry. Vou direto a minha dúvida: pesco com iscas que variam de 5 a 10 g em regiões com vento bastante considerável e a maioria das vezes o que importa é a distância e não travar. Estou querendo adquirir uma nova baitcasting. Me ajuda : a curado DC funciona bem ?? Uma tatula sv tw serviria ?? Ou devo partir para uma chronarch mgl ?? Thanks 😅

[@THEREELTEST]

The I would pick the Chronarch MGL and and DC reel over the Tatula SV. The SV does not cast as far as the other 2

[@pedroivo6311]

Thanks

[@blkaudiofan]

When’s the Tranx 200 vid coming?

[@THEREELTEST]

so far no need for a Tranx 200. Just a beefed up Curado K. I do have the new Antares coming though

[@peterschafer5642]

As said before you did not clean the stock bearings well. I put them in acetone for only a Minute and then i spin them wet (wet is important!). Do it three or four times, then finally dry them. The bearings should run properly then.

[@Дмитрий-р6ц5в]

Hello. Please tell me how from the coils further throws?

[@THEREELTEST]

the hybrid ceramics casts about 3 meters farther

[@Дмитрий-р6ц5в]

@@THEREELTEST Thank

[@Beimeituweiluya]

the main point is braking system, not bearing. if u want to cast further， just lose brake

[@THEREELTEST]

watch the video again and listen this time

[@OsamaBinDarrel]

First 😝

[@allenclayton7]

Try some boca bearings next time. Orange seals

[@zacpdx]

Did you clean the spool speeds? They recommend cleaning them and either lubing or running dry. Id say there was something inside and it broke loose...

[@THEREELTEST]

They didnt need cleaning. I ran them dry with no shields the 1st time I tested them and they have been sitting ever since.

[@zacpdx]

@@THEREELTEST I understand that, but as spool speed recommends: "Performance note: Although a time consuming process, we find that first oiling our bearings with Spool Speed lube and then flushing them as mentioned above provides the fastest and smoothest bearing available . This is how we get our bearings to free spin for over a minute on a spin stick (Fancy name for a chopstick)" I was answering your question on why they possibly faster after awhile, as the lube may have dislodged something, allowing them to free up

[@grandfishing590]

I got beef with speed bearings they blocked my instagram😂.

[@THEREELTEST]

Lol... I still would buy the high end Shimano SARBs over ceramics

[@psongeorge]

I ordered from them and never received my bearings or my money back

[@dscustomreels7010]

Facking profane ,lhand over bady urine in such jars! Where is professionalism

[@OsamaBinDarrel]

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