I've been wanting swept handles for my reels since way back when, when I got my Sol. I ended up calling Daiwa, and here is where I'm at....

1)

  a) I can get a Zillion handle for $28, "adjust" the drag star, and have a non ball bearing swept handle on the Sol.

    I can buy an aftermarket BB handle in the $70 range and do the same thing.

2)

  a) I can get all the Zillion parts needed to switch the Fuegos to swept handles for $68.

    I can go aftermarket for $105 and get the fancy 4 ball bearing handle.

Are the BB handles solid feeling compared to the factory non BB handles, or are they just smoother??? I really don't want to sink a lot of money into this project, but I am very willing to spend some money to get the swept handles. I just don't want to get the non BB handles and wish I got the BB ones, yet I don't want to sink the extra $$$ into BB handles and find they are not really that much better.

Are the BB handles solid feeling compared to the factory non BB handles, or are they just smoother??? I really don't want to sink a lot of money into this project, but I am very willing to spend some money to get the swept handles. I just don't want to get the non BB handles and wish I got the BB ones, yet I don't want to sink the extra $$$ into BB handles and find they are not really that much better.

For me they are worth every penny, they are as solid as any other handle, make you retrieve super smooth and you can take apart the knobs to do proper cleaning.

You can sweep the handle in your Fuego with a TD-Z, it is lighter, has 4 bearing and knobs x $ 40.00.

I believe that the TD Advantage®-HSTA is a compatible with the Zillion

( I don't know it for sure ) but Daiwa may be able to help you there.

Another option is to buy a JDM Zillion handle, it comes with 4 bushings that are easily sweep to bearings.

Best luck

Here's my take on it. IMHO, the non BB handles are no more solid than the BB ones if they have teflon spacers in place of bearings. (i.e. handles that are able to be bearing supported.) Such as JDM Zillions, Alphas, some Vientos. However, handles that have bearings are a lot smoother than those without, especially 4 bearing versions.  As Lubina said, they are easier to clean.

I don't think so but that's just one guy's opinion.

Are the BB handles solid feeling compared to the factory non BB handles, or are they just smoother??? I really don't want to sink a lot of money into this project, but I am very willing to spend some money to get the swept handles. I just don't want to get the non BB handles and wish I got the BB ones, yet I don't want to sink the extra $$$ into BB handles and find they are not really that much better.

For me they are worth every penny, they are as solid as any other handle, make you retrieve super smooth and you can take apart the knobs to do proper cleaning.

You can sweep the handle in your Fuego with a TD-Z, it is lighter, has 4 bearing and knobs x $ 40.00.

I believe that the TD Advantage®-HSTA is a compatible with the Zillion

( I don't know it for sure ) but Daiwa may be able to help you there.

Another option is to buy a JDM Zillion handle, it comes with 4 bushings that are easily sweep to bearings.

Best luck

TD Advantage®-HSTA has the same handle as the Zillion, but, it does look like the Advantage handle has bearings in the knobs. The Zillion must have bushings??? I'll have to call Daiwa back and find out. Come to think of it, I didn't ask if the handle came with knobs either. I just figured it came ready to bolt on. If the price is much more, I might as well go with the I' ZE handle kit for the Fuegos. More to think about I guess. Still 3 months before there is any chance of having the ice off the lakes anyway's, I have a little time to shop around.