[Electric_City]

I fear 10+ speed chains. I used to break 9 speed chains on a somewhat frequent basis. When I built up my Remedy (Sold it bitchez!) I built it with a 2x8 drivetrain and never broke a chain in the 7 years I rode it. I replaced the entire drivetrain after a year or two, but that was for reasons unexplained.

Now I'm looking for a new frame to build up my new ride. One is built in Canada, Aye! The other by potheads in a mountainous state! Neither of these bikes can accommodate a front derailleur.

My 2x8 drivetrain consisted of a $30 front derailleur, $80 rear derailleur, $30 8 speed steel cassette, $40 set of shifters and $60 for 2 chainrings. ($240). I'm not interested in replacing a $400 cassette every year. I don't even wanna replace it once every 3 years.

Are these drivetrains holding up or are they in need of replacing them every year?

How are chains holding up? I hulk up stuff in harder gears cause high cadence makes my heart rate skyrocket.

Thanks

 

[jonKranked]

the first few years of 9spd chains were problematic. i broke a bunch of them too. anything you can get nowadays from a major brand is fine (9spd). haven't heard of any chronic chain break issues with 10 or 11 speed stuff.

 

[StiHacka]

We clearly need crabon chains.

 

[Udi]

Shimano beats SRAM for chains, particularly in terms of resistance to breakage.

11-12sp cassettes are going to wear out faster, the teeth are narrower and hardened steel hasn't changed a whole lot in the last two decades - so either get used to the idea of replacing expensive parts more often or enjoy your front derailleur (kidding, no one enjoys front derailleurs).

In honesty I don't care for the new stuff either, so my trailbike has an 11-34 XTR 9spd cassette and a 32T front ring coupled with a golden oldschool 9spd XO shifter/mech and a chainguide (top guide and bottom roller). Modern 11sp chains work great on it. If there's a hill I can't climb I reconsider my life choices instead of considering a dinnerplate cassette.

 

[jonKranked]

If there's a hill I can't climb I reconsider my life choices instead of considering a dinnerplate cassette.

 

[kickstand]

Shimano beats SRAM for chains, particularly in terms of resistance to breakage.

Disagree, I had problems with KMC and Shimano 10 speed chains, that went away when I went back to SRAM.

I haven't had any problems with my 11 speed chains, but I'm a wee average sized lad.

 

[blindboxx2334]

(kidding, no one enjoys front derailleurs).

I love you, Udi

 

[slimshady]

Disagree, I had problems with KMC and Shimano 10 speed chains, that went away when I went back to SRAM.

I haven't had any problems with my 11 speed chains, but I'm a wee average sized lad.

This. Plus, KMC IS Shimano. They do the chains for the Japs.

SRAM chains are laterally stiffer than their Oriental counterparts, which leads to less breakage.

 

[mrgto]

This. Plus, KMC IS Shimano. They do the chains for the Japs.

SRAM chains are laterally stiffer than their Oriental counterparts, which leads to less breakage.

I need moar charts and graphs before I can believe this!

 

[slimshady]

I need moar charts and graphs before I can believe this!

Chart taken from a study commissioned by UCLA/MIT/CALTECH.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

I fear 10+ speed chains. I used to break 9 speed chains on a somewhat frequent basis.

I used to break a lot of Shimano chains, but switched to Sram and have only broken a few in 27 years. The cheap Sram 10 spd 1051 is the one I broke recently, but I'm pretty sure it was just worn.

You can find them online for $21. At that rate you can change them frequently.

One thing though is the newer Sram quick links require a special tool to open. The KMC links can be reused multiple time without a tool and work fine with Sram chains.

 

[6thElement]

One thing though is the newer Sram quick links require a special tool to open. The KMC links can be reused multiple time without a tool and work fine with Sram chains.

Anything after the SRAM 9 speeds are powerlock not powerlink and per SRAM not designed to be opened and reused.

 

[slimshady]

One thing though is the newer Sram quick links require a special tool to open. The KMC links can be reused multiple time without a tool and work fine with Sram chains.

I just use my multitool to whack it a bit:

 

[jonKranked]

Anything after the SRAM 9 speeds are powerlock not powerlink and per SRAM not designed to be opened and reused.

Kill list.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Kill list.

yes

 

[ChrisRobin]

I feel like I'll have a heart attack or brain aneurysm before I'm able to put down enough power to break a 10spd chain.

 

[djjohnr]

I just use my multitool to whack it a bit:

Snap ring pliers will pop them right apart also.

 

[slimshady]

Snap ring pliers will pop them right apart also.

Not fanny pack friendly enough for these times we live in.

 

[troy]

I've been riding Connex / Wippermann chains for years now, and they are top notch IMHO. Here is some actual data:

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2010/04/bicycle-chain-wear-test-from-wippermann.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2011/05/bicycle-chain-stretch-test-results.html

 

[jonKranked]

I've been riding Connex / Wippermann chains for years now, and they are top notch IMHO. Here is some actual data:

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2010/04/bicycle-chain-wear-test-from-wippermann.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2011/05/bicycle-chain-stretch-test-results.html

wippermann = dentist status

 

[troy]

I would rather pay extra, than snap some another shitty shimano chain and pay the dentist for my new set of teeth, so he can buy his new 142,4 boost, enderpo, carbon bike. #butterflydentisteffect


Anyway, is Connex much more expensive in the US? They are similarly priced to KMC and other stuff in Europe (sometimes even cheaper).

 

[Lelandjt]

SLX, NX, and GX parts are nearly as cheap as your old 8 speed. I haven't seen any more snapped 11 speed chains than 8 speed. At our ship we have yet to see a customer disappointed in the change to 1x11.

 

[Udi]

For whatever it's worth I only use the top-end chains from any brand (i.e. Dura Ace / XTR only from Shimano), I've found them generally more durable but there's also the instantaneous benefit of nickel plated inner/outer links resulting in lower maintenance intervals, particularly in wet conditions. I'd do the same with SRAM/KMC.

Chains are relatively cheap so I don't think there's any point saving a few bucks.

I've been riding Connex / Wippermann chains for years now, and they are top notch IMHO.

For at least a few years Wippermann chains were notorious for breakage, with photos from broken chains showing numerous cracked links in the rest of the chain. The same brand had the "bright" idea of using stainless steel for a chain - they all broke too. I wouldn't touch a Connex personally (I like their joiner link design though). Keep in mind there's also way more Shimano/SRAM chains out there.

It seems there's mixed data on chain breakage with most people using pretty small sample sizes for gauging them (me included), so I think this discussion is a waste of time - let's just all run what we perceive as the greatest.

 

[canadmos]

Anything after the SRAM 9 speeds are powerlock not powerlink and per SRAM not designed to be opened and reused.

What is the actual difference with these? Do they say not to reuse them, because they have a greater chance of opening or because they'll break?

I've personally reused all of mine, in terms of if I take the chain off the bike I will put it back on with the quick link (new chain equals new quick link). That's from 9, 10 and 11 speed chains and all Sram. None have ever broken and I think they are actually kind of useless out on the trail. I usually can't get them apart or back together fully without help of some pliers.

 

[Gary]

Shimano beats SRAM for chains, particularly in terms of resistance to breakage.

EXACT OPPOSITE findings personally.

In honesty I don't care for the new stuff either, so my trailbike has an 11-34 XTR 9spd cassette and a 32T front ring coupled with a golden oldschool 9spd XO shifter/mech and a chainguide (top guide and bottom roller). Modern 11sp chains work great on it. If there's a hill I can't climb I reconsider my life choices instead of considering a dinnerplate cassette.

 

[allsk8sno]

Just zerode taniwha and don't look back

 

[HAB]

I usually can't get them apart or back together fully without help of some pliers.

That's the difference. You're supposed to be able to get the 8 and 9 speed ones apart, but the 10/11/12 ones are designed to be single use, get the chain together without tools, but then not come back apart.

But yes, you can get the 10/11/12 ones apart if you believe in yourself and have pliers.

 

[canadmos]

That's the difference. You're supposed to be able to get the 8 and 9 speed ones apart, but the 10/11/12 ones are designed to be single use, get the chain together without tools, but then not come back apart.

But yes, you can get the 10/11/12 ones apart if you believe in yourself and have pliers.

My 9 speed quick link plier things seem to work fine on 11 speed.

I also carry a set of pliers (leatherman) with me on every ride, including the road/gravel ride I just finished. All thanks to this thread; http://ridemonkey.bikemag.com/threads/long-rides-what-to-bring.274982/

 

[HAB]

My 9 speed quick link plier things seem to work fine on 11 speed.

I also carry a set of pliers (leatherman) with me on every ride, including the road/gravel ride I just finished. All thanks to this thread; http://ridemonkey.bikemag.com/threads/long-rides-what-to-bring.274982/

Yeah, hence my last line.

If you ask Sram, they'll still tell you that you're not supposed to take them apart. Which, again, does not in any way mean that you can't.

 

[jstuhlman]

lulz. i've never broken a 10sp chain (either kmc or sram) and i've reused powerlinks multiple times. perhaps i'm not laying down the wattage of a cat 1 racer

and whenever i see the title of this thread my first thought is always "why is there a thread about a fat guy in a onesie?"

 

[Jm_]

We clearly need crabon chains.

With magnets to keep them on the rings,

 

[Jm_]

So my chain story is that back in the late 90s I broke quite a few shimano chains on my 9spd setup. I switched to Sram, which were Sachs chains, some not even re-branded. These worked much better, but I still broke a few. Then a few years later shimano came out with the CN7701, which used a mushroom shaped pin, so the links couldn't "slide off". In the following years, they trickled this down to all of their mountain chains. SRAM eventually picked up the technology and called it "crosstep", except they kept it at the high levels for much longer and charged more for the technology. I've used the shimano chains ever since the CN7701 and I've never broken one due to pedaling like a jackass, and I stopped using granny gears back in about 2007-2008 or so, torquing so much that I stripped out the DT star-ratchet, breaking several other freehub mechs. I like to get at least ultegra/xt level for corrosion resistance (which is very good). I seem to always be able to find a good deal on something like an ultegra/xt and the performance hasn't let me down. I do try to change my chains to keep them from wearing the cogs excessively, so at peak times I may get no more than 4 months out of a chain, but it's more cost effective than cassettes and narrow-wide cogs.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

That's the difference. You're supposed to be able to get the 8 and 9 speed ones apart, but the 10/11/12 ones are designed to be single use, get the chain together without tools, but then not come back apart.

But yes, you can get the 10/11/12 ones apart if you believe in yourself and have pliers.

Or just use the KMC ones. I reuse them several times since I remove the chain to lube it. Can't stand gunky drivetrains. No problems at all.

 

[slyfink]

Or just use the KMC ones. I reuse them several times since I remove the chain to lube it. Can't stand gunky drivetrains. No problems at all.

I've had good luck with the KMC chains too. I can't recall ever snapping one. I used to snap SRAM chains all the time. I've never used Shimano chains due to lack of quick links.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

I've had good luck with the KMC chains too. I can't recall ever snapping one. I used to snap SRAM chains all the time. I've never used Shimano chains due to lack of quick links.

I should clarify; I'm using KMC quick-links on Sram chains.