What CeramicSpeed bearings are
A bearing is the unit the wheel turns on around its axle — a ring of balls between two races. The rounder, smoother and harder those balls are, the less friction there is.
CeramicSpeed is a Danish company that makes balls from silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), a ceramic far harder than steel, which can be produced rounder and smoother than steel allows. The result is less rolling resistance and greater resistance to wear.
Why FFWD built custom hubs around them
The RAW range is built on carbon spokes, and those require a different hub design. In FFWD's own words, carbon spokes ask for a special hub design, which is why the company partnered with CeramicSpeed for its custom hubs. The bearings are not an option chosen at order time — they are part of how these wheels are built.
Which wheels have them
| Model | Character | From |
|---|---|---|
| RAW 33 | Climbing and road | ₪9,950 |
| RAW 44 | Everyday road | ₪9,950 |
| RAW 44 TUBULAR | Tubular race tyre | ₪9,950 |
| RAW 55 | Balanced aero | ₪9,950 |
| RAW 55-44 | Mixed front/rear depth | ₪9,950 |
| RAW 77 | Deep section, speed | ₪9,950 |
| RAW 77-55 | Mixed deep section | ₪9,950 |
| RAW CONTROL | Gravel and off-road | ₪10,149 |
| RAW PACE | Fast gravel | ₪10,149 |
| FALCON RS | Rear disc wheel for TT and triathlon | ₪11,999 |
| FALCON RS + RAW 55 | Complete triathlon set | ₪15,699 |
| FALCON RS + RAW 77 | Complete set, deep section | ₪15,699 |
Browse: RAW range · FALCON range · triathlon · road · gravel & off-road
Triathlon and time trial
In a time trial or a triathlon the rider spends a long stretch at high, steady speed, and that is where every reduction in resistance accumulates. Of RAW 55 FFWD writes that the bearings minimise rolling resistance and maximise power transfer; of RAW 77, that they help maintain momentum and speed when it matters most. The FALCON RS is a full rear disc wheel built for exactly that scenario.
Ceramic vs steel — without the overclaiming
It is worth being clear about what you are buying:
- The advantage — lower rolling friction, high resistance to wear, and a longer service life when maintained properly.
- The proportion — the difference belongs to the category of marginal gains. It accumulates on long, fast rides and in racing, and is less noticeable on short, relaxed ones.
- The limit — it costs more, and the benefit disappears with poor maintenance. A neglected ceramic bearing is not faster than a well-kept steel one.
If what you actually want is minimum weight rather than lower friction, the right direction is DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs on the RYOT and DRIFT ranges.
Maintenance
Ceramic bearings want clean, light oil or grease, not a large quantity of heavy grease — excess grease adds drag and defeats the purpose. Avoid pressure-washing towards the hub, which drives water and grit into the bearing. After riding in rain or mud, dry and wipe them; in racing use, check how freely they spin from time to time.
Frequently asked questions
Can CeramicSpeed bearings be added to an existing wheel?
On the FFWD wheels described here the bearings are part of the custom hub, not a retrofit upgrade. For other wheels, bearing kits do exist on the market — it depends entirely on the hub. Send us the details and we will check.
Are ceramic bearings fragile?
Silicon nitride is harder than steel. In normal use and with proper maintenance their service life is long, not short.
CeramicSpeed or DT Swiss 240 — which should I choose?
They solve different problems. CeramicSpeed is about friction (RAW and FALCON RS ranges); DT240 is about weight (RYOT and DRIFT ranges). The wheel-matching questionnaire helps you choose by riding type.
Are there ceramic bearings in the off-road wheels too?
Yes — RAW CONTROL and RAW PACE are the range's gravel and off-road models.