9 Speed Chain Lifetime Expectancy

[Deleted member 35268]

Hi there

How many miles should I expect to get out of a Shimano HG53 9 speed chain
Mine's just dropped a link on one side so it's dead.
I reckon it has done 2500 miles (in 6 months) and through winter.
I do a lot of hills.

Sound about right?

 

[Drago]

2500 miles sounds good. How much has it 'stretched'? It may have been worn beyond its wear limit some miles ago.

 

[Eribiste]

My Boarder is still on its original 9 speed drive train but I will be replacing the chain and cassette in the spring. It's done about 6300 kms and although due for replacement still works fine.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I dont have a gauge unfortunately, though I am tempted to get one.
New chain ordered from Ribble, they are the cheapest at the moment £6.99 for the HG53

 

[Drago]

Shimano chains are OK, but aren't top flight. KMC are highly rated, and SRAM tend to be longer lived than their equivalent Shimano rivals.

 

[byegad]

A gauge will save you money if you use it and replace at 0.75% worn. I get 3-4 chains to one cassette and need to replace the most often used chainring every couple of cassettes. A worn out chain will wreck your cassette and chainrings in no time at all.

 

[I like Skol]

A gauge will save you money if you use it and replace at 0.75% worn. I get 3-4 chains to one cassette and need to replace the most often used chainring every couple of cassettes. A worn out chain will wreck your cassette and chainrings in no time at all.

Pretty much agree with this philosophy^^^^

I feel like I have done well if I get 2000 miles out of a chain on my commuter before it fails the 0.75% test

 

[Schneil]

I'm on 2100 miles on my KMC 9 speed chain. It's starting to get worn, but it's not on the 0.75 yet.

 

[numbnuts]

Sit and spin and give the chain TLC with WD40 and you will get 6500 miles

 

[Bodhbh]

I never remember to check till around 2000 miles, but it's already too late to change by then.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Chain life cannot really be measured in miles. Chain life is a function of distance, load, hygiene, lubrication and gearing.
1) Distance: I think that is obvious because it relates to how much the chain was used.
2) Load: this relates to under how much friction the chain enters and exits the various sprockets. It only wears at the moment that it articulates and, increased chain tension increases the amount of friction taking place during articulation.
3) Hygiene: The cleaner the chain, the less grit inside and thus the less friction and wear per articulated movement.
4) Gearing: The smaller the sprocket, the more the chain articulates and the more it wears.

Further, "end of life" is such a vague concept on top of the other variables, that you will get the sort of wildly-fluctuating figures seen in this very thread.

 

[the_mikey]

Approximately 2500km for most 9sp chains I use, sometimes they last a little bit longer, sometimes less if they've done some long rides in rotten weather.

 

[Tynan]

That all? I rue the day i chose ten speed as the running gear doesn't last long enough for me but I can still coax a year of commuting out of set before it's unrideable, so about 5,000 miles

 

[boydj]

2.5k miles is pretty good going for winter riding where water and grit play havoc with chains - especially for all-weather commuters who might get less than 1k miles.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

OK, for my new chain - I will treat it like gold. I promise.