[suga_stie]

i have been reading some bad reviews on the SRAM PC59 chain on MTBR. but i don't know if i find all of those reviews to be reliable.

just got one to go with my SRAM 7.0 cassette... Should i go with something else? Should I go with a different cassette? I wanted to just go with XT, but SRAM seems to also have a good product..

here is my drivetrain set up (on my 2002 gary fisher sugar 2+):

XT front deraiuler
XTR rear
SRAM 7.0 cassette
SRAM PC59 chain

any advice?

 

[indieboy]

Originally posted by suga_stie
i have been reading some bad reviews on the SRAM PC59 chain on MTBR. but i don't know if i find all of those reviews to be reliable.

just got one to go with my SRAM 7.0 cassette... Should i go with something else? Should I go with a different cassette? I wanted to just go with XT, but SRAM seems to also have a good product..

here is my drivetrain set up (on my 2002 gary fisher sugar 2+):

XT front deraiuler
XTR rear
SRAM 7.0 cassette
SRAM PC59 chain

any advice?

those guys on that site are a bit odd i've run sram chains for an extremely long time and never had any real problems out of them. can't exactly same the same for shimano. i'd go w/ the PC59, it's cheap, and pretty reliable.

 

[suga_stie]

thanks!

i figure i will give the SRAM components a whirl...

i find that alot the major complaint posts on MTBR seem to be from people who possibly don't maintain their bikes properly/reguarly, or are riding setups that are not appropriate for their ability/size/weight....

 

[Drunken_Ninja]

I have used pc 59 chains for a couple of years. In that time my first one (just over 2 years) hasn't broken once. I do very bad things to it that no one should ever do. I ride the winter in the city. It gets coated in sand and salt daily. I put on a drop of oil and it doesn't rust except where its worn, that leaves when I put new oil on. That one is on a campy road crank and an ultegra road cassette. It is tough as nuts.

The other one I broke once offroading. I still carry a chaintool with me after that.

The replacable link is great for when it is time for chain cleaning. I HAVE to take it off the bike to clean it.

From temperatures near -20 to -25 degrees celsius there have been no problems.

I used to have a 7.o cassette. I found that if I over shifted in low gear the chain screwed up a few spokes from gettting caught inbetween.

Now I have 9.o and it is hollowed out in the back so it doesn't happen anymore. Sram upgraded their chains this year so they stopped making pc59 they now use pc69 on 7.o. Your chain is a little old but I still swear by it. PC 99 is what I have for my 9.o it is really pretty. New chain rings too at the same time.

My 7.o cassette and pc59 chain lasted 2 years before I had to swap it out. I think my Race Face race rings wore out quick which caused the problem in part. Chainstretch occurred eventually which I don't think I will get with the 9.o chains.

The price is right and I think that you purchased a quality cogset and chain. I never would have thought of upgrading except my bike had weight issues when I added mechanical discs so I felt it would be a good idea to get a lighter fork and a lighter cassette.

I haven't ridden all my new stuff yet. I just got the fork.

The weird part of knowing when it was time to switch chain and cassette came for me. I noticed my knees were aching below the kneecaps while I was swimming breast stroke. I stopped riding right then until I had switched it out. The knee problem went away instantly. Most people just use a chainwear tool.

 

[SwisSlesS]

My shop sells PC-59 chains, and I have used a lot of them in my day. They've always worked fine for me, no complaints here.

 

[suga_stie]

thank you for all of that good information!

you know, i think i might return the PC59 and get the PC69. I did not realize that it was last year's ... hmm!!!

I didn't really look into the SRAM9.0... how much did it cost ya? i got the 7.0 for about 45 bux, which is just about the same as Shimano XT 9spd ... The XTR goes for around $100 ... If the 9.0 is under $100, maybe I will look into it.

Basically, I need high quality/durable, but light(er) components for racing. I don't want to be dealing with mechanicals all of the time which I could forsee happening with some of the higher end stuff (XTR!). But from what I am hearing SRAM makes a reliable product all around...

Maybe I will keep shopping around a little, but I am glad to know that my SRAM 7.0 set up should be plenty good!

 

[Drunken_Ninja]

For racing I have been recommended the 9.o. Stretch may occur in a lesser chain. I would reccomend returning it then.

XT chain isn't bad to get, it is just alittle heavier than the sram chain. (5grams)

The cassettes weigh the same. The sram is a steel cogset and I have heard that the xt cassettes wear too fast.

The costs of chains are usually in favor of sram being the cheapest. The costs of cassettes should be the same for xt and sram.

My cassette was $100 Canadian and the chain was $50 Canadian for the sram 9.o.

 

[D_D]

The chain will wear and elongate no matter which one it is. I doubt the more expensive ones actually last longer.

 

[indieboy]

Originally posted by suga_stie
thank you for all of that good information!

you know, i think i might return the PC59 and get the PC69. I did not realize that it was last year's ... hmm!!!

I didn't really look into the SRAM9.0... how much did it cost ya? i got the 7.0 for about 45 bux, which is just about the same as Shimano XT 9spd ... The XTR goes for around $100 ... If the 9.0 is under $100, maybe I will look into it.

Basically, I need high quality/durable, but light(er) components for racing. I don't want to be dealing with mechanicals all of the time which I could forsee happening with some of the higher end stuff (XTR!). But from what I am hearing SRAM makes a reliable product all around...

Maybe I will keep shopping around a little, but I am glad to know that my SRAM 7.0 set up should be plenty good!

i've run all the cassettes you have thought of and mentioned. the sram 9.0 cassettes work stellar, the only thing i didn't like was the big ass drop from the 34t to the i think it's a 29t? the xtr works well and lasts a long time, the spacing is a bit more even w/ this cassette. i am now running road cassettes w/ a 42t big ring and a 30t middle ring (11-27) cassette, this set up is extremely nice. and the high end parts so i wouldn't worry about that all that much....