chain upgrade...are Shimano chains bad?

[Mushroomgodmat]

My current chain (105 Super Narrow Chain 10-Speed) has done 3000 miles and I think I should probably change it!

On this forum (and others) Iv head mention that Shimano chain are pretty poor in comparison to other manufacturers...Is this true and would someone mind suggest a replacement chain, as iv paid no attention as to who these other manufacturers are ?

cheers!

 

[ianrauk]

Shimano chains....are not very good.
KMC or SRAM are the way to go.

At 3000 miles and dependent on how stretched your chain is you may need a new cassette too.

 

[Mushroomgodmat]

At 3000 miles and dependent on how stretched your chain is you may need a new cassette too.

Im hoping - that because I live in the flat lands of Norfolk as as such dont do much hill work that my cassette is still okay (fingers crossed)

So i assume all 10 speed chains are compatible with all 10 speed cassettes etc?

cheers for the advice!

 

[Rob3rt]

Only 3000 miles out of a chain and cassette? That is like 3-4 months for me. Call me nuts but I don't even bother to start checking the wear until about that point, lol!

Except during winter where the wear is magnified by road grit!

 

[Mushroomgodmat]

Only 3000 miles out of a chain and cassette? That is like 3-4 months for me. Call me nuts but I don't even bother to start checking the wear until about that point, lol!

Except during winter where the wear is magnified by road grit!

the 3000 miles is a years worth for me, but the bike has been out of commutes almost every day of the year - though out winter. But Ill probably head down to the local bike shop and pick up a chain ware device thing

 

[gbb]

3000 miles is good. i replace mine (possibly slightly early) at circa 1200 miles, SRAM, Shimano, KMC, they all perform about the same. At 1200 miles, mine are showing stretch, but not quite at 0.75%.

Shimano chains quality ?...IIRC there was an issue with cracking side plates on 105 chains, havnt heard anything else (barring a few reports lately of snapping chains, but i don't know who's)

 

[GentlyBenevolent]

If a newbie was to be looking around for a chain to buy and keep "in stock", how do you identify what will fit your bike? How do you identify the correct split links for your manufacturer fitted chain?

I was looking around, but got baffled by the array of models and shied away from it all.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Get the basic 10 speed KMC.
Fancy finishes aren't worth a dime.

 

[Rob3rt]

3000 miles is good. i replace mine (possibly slightly early) at circa 1200 miles, SRAM, Shimano, KMC, they all perform about the same. At 1200 miles, mine are showing stretch, but not quite at 0.75%.

Shimano chains quality ?...IIRC there was an issue with cracking side plates on 105 chains, havnt heard anything else (barring a few reports lately of snapping chains, but i don't know who's)

I would go through a chain every 6-8 weeks, 6-9 chains a year! I do clean the chain and running gear after every ride though so maybe that is why I seem to get a good lifespan from mine.

 

[Sittingduck]

Shimano chains are rust magnets. KMC / SRAM / Mavic are winners.

 

[bobones]

On my winter bike, I replaced a KMC X10-93, which had broken 3 times due to cracked side plates, with a Shimano Ultegra 6701 chain. The KMC had done only 750 miles. The Shimano chain is absolutely great, and doesn't rust at all, whereas the KMC showed rust when wet. I used the KMC missing link to join the chain instead of the Shimano pin, which is one of the main criticism of Shimano chains.

I use a KMC X10-SL in gold on my good bike and it has been perfectly fine: not showing wear at 2500 miles. Before this chain I had a X10-L, which is a cheaper chain, and it only lasted 1200 miles before it needed replaced. Admittedly, the X10-L was used in worse conditions that the SL.

I also had a SRAM PC-850, but found it was noisy compared to KMC and the finish was dull and ugly.

So, given my experiences, I would avoid cheap KMC chains and SRAM chains, and would recommend the KMC-10SL and the Shimano Ultegra chains. In case you didn't know, KMC manufacture chains for Shimano.

 

[buddha]

What I don't understand is, why Shimano make such rubbish chains?
I've tried the grey, half-silver and full silver KMC 10sp chains. And IME they all last as long as each other - if you clean+lube. So it's been the X10.73 for me.

 

[PpPete]

If a newbie was to be looking around for a chain to buy and keep "in stock", how do you identify what will fit your bike? How do you identify the correct split links for your manufacturer fitted chain?
I was looking around, but got baffled by the array of models and shied away from it all.

How many sprockets on your cassette ? That determines what "speed" chain you want - in KMC language that's the number after the "X"
Beyond that it's just a question of how deep your pockets are.

Split links:
For a given manufacturer and number of speeds the split links are the same whatever "quality" of chain you bought.
So these will fit any KMC/SRAM/Shimano 10 speed chain
The only 10 speed chain they don't fit is Campag.... for which you need this one
(Note that some bikes equipped with a full Campag groupset are actually fitted with a non-Campag chain so you need the first of those)
All 9 speed use this
All 11 speed use this
All 6, 7, 8 speed use this