At Enduro, we somewhat agree. A 52100 chromium steel ABEC5 hub bearing, for example, spins fast on day one and is very affordable. Frankly, most every quality bearing, regardless of material make-up is quite smooth and efficient when new.It's father time, harsh riding conditions and lack of proper maintenance that destroys bike bearings, sometimes within a few weeks under a high-mileage rider. And this is when and where Enduro's ceramic-hybrid line (XD15 and Zero) shine best.Importantly, not all ceramic bearings are the same, some varieties from other manufacturers deteriorate rather quickly.  Enduro's XD15 bearings actually get smoother and faster over time as a result of our grade 5 ceramic balls spinning within the XD15 nitrogen steel races.  Checkout this hub bearing test comparing Enduro XD15 and Enduro Zero ceramic-hybrid bearings against two leading ceramic bearing competitors. Our bearings show little or no wear, finishing first and second in the test. The other two test participants clearly show premature aging. If you don't like servicing you bike (ever!) and top-end performance is the name of your game, purchase Enduro XD15 bearings and components. They include a lifetime guarantee, get faster the more you ride and are the best bicycle bearings in the world.