Expensive Chains Suck

[Sombeech]

So I would say I ride pretty often. When I broke my chain at the Snowbasin Race in August, that chain had lasted about 2 years.

I went and paid out the butt $45 for a chain at Binghams because I was in a hurry, and it lasted a month before it broke.

Shawn's opinion is that the XTR chains, or the higher the price, the thinner the metal is because you're "watching your grams".

The next chain I get is going to be from WalMart - they've lasted for years.

Opinions?

[mfshop]

If your chain lasts 2 years, then you're not riding enough:mrgreen:. Don't know what brand wal-mart carries, but I know folks who use the inexpensive kmz chains with good results. Whatever you use, better to replace worn chains more often than wear out your cassette/chainrings.

[tallsteve]

I've had better luck with the SRAM brand. I ride enough that I replace it yearly. Did you also replace the cassette? It will build up a 'memory' to the chain and if it's been that long you may have shifting problems until you do.

[REDFOX]

I agree with everything said here. It is much cheaper to buy a chain yearly like I do than to buy expensive components like rings and cassettes. The only bike maintainance that I do is buy a chain and keep it lubed. Like Justin said, I prefer to buy the cheaper scram or shimano chains because they are heavier and stronger. If I was sponsored by a chain manufacturer, I would race with the lighter weight more expensive chains. Did I mention that I pedal a downhill bike. I definitely care more about durability than watching grams. As was said by tallsteve, if your cassette or chainrings are worn, It won't matter what kind of chain that you buy, it will break frequently along with shifting problems.

[Sombeech]

If your chain lasts 2 years, then you're not riding enough:mrgreen:.

This means that I rode equally in 1 month than I did the last 2 years if my chain lasted the same amount of riding. :lol8:

[cachehiker]

If your chain lasts 2 years, then you're not riding enough:mrgreen:.

I guess that means 4000-5000 miles in a year is for wussies. :roll: I spread my miles across multiple bikes though. It takes the primary commuter about 18 months or 3000 miles and the roadie about 2 years or 4000 miles to stretch a chain by more than 0.5%. It takes about 1500 miles or 3 years on the primary mountain bike and less than 1000 miles or another 3 years on the mudder.

I'll admit to being a spinner and not a masher but I've never had a problem with the performance of a properly installed chain. The cheap ones have either rusted or stretched faster than the good ones though.

I've been using mostly HG-93 chains but will also use Dura-Ace or HG-73 chains when the former is out of stock. They're zinc plated and don't rust quite as fast in less than ideal conditions. IIRC, the HG-73's have zinc plated outer plates but unplated inner plates. I find the 9-speed pins finicky enough that I'll probably switch to SRAM chains after I upgrade to 10-speed though. I've heard the 10-speed pins are a complete PITA.

The cheaper chains I've tried, especially the KMC's, have never cut the mustard. I park the bike inside and wipe it down but the rust starts to take over after just a few rides to work in the rain or on studded tires. After a few months of winter-ish riding, they look like crap. One year I was getting flack for being too proactive with my maintenance so I left it (a KMC) on for another 12 months. At that point I couldn't scrub it or relube it enough to stop the squeaking for more than maybe 5-6 rides. I popped out several pins after removing it and all the surfaces looked totally pitted and rusted in spite of only having stretched about 0.6%. To this day, I swear the new chain got me a half mph overnight.

I, for one, will stick with my nearly but not quite top of the line chains.

[mfshop]

I guess that means 4000-5000 miles in a year is for wussies. :roll: I spread my miles across multiple bikes though. It takes the primary commuter about 18 months or 3000 miles and the roadie about 2 years or 4000 miles to stretch a chain by more than 0.5%. It takes about 1500 miles or 3 years on the primary mountain bike and less than 1000 miles or another 3 years on the mudder.

Hahaha. No offense meant - you ride way,way,way more miles than I do a year. Maybe it's all the dry dusty trails here in StG, but I'm lucky to get 6-9 months on mid-level sram chains. And my chainrings/cassettes don't even last 3 years. Then again, I've never been accused of being a 'smooth' rider...:cry1:

[greyhair biker]

Agreed on all points - and I sell them all. Get a shimano deoreLX chain...beefy and will save you money. Hell, buy several for that $45 and keep a spare!