I'm getting ready to order up a batch of mountain bike parts, but I never expected to find so many chain options. I'd like to go with a Sram, because I'm using an X7 rear derailleur and a Sram PG-970 nine speed cassette.
What should I look for when ordering the chain?
i went with shimano even though the rest of my groupo was sram... they just tended to fail less... but I did use the sram quick links... goto MTBR and check out the reviews...
the big thing is you MUST use an 8spd chain for 8spd, 9 spd for 9 and 10 for 10...
Use a nice middle of the line 9 speed sram chain.
How do you ride?
I am a larger guy 6' 230 lbs and ride hard. I have broken at least 5 shimano chains.
I only run sachs (back in the day) or sram now. The "middle upper" of the line chain should work perfectly for you or anybody else.
I went with a Sram PC 991.
In reply to wvumtnbkr:
Choose a lower gear. You're putting a LOT of strain on the drivetrain if you're breaking chains.
DaveEstey wrote: In reply to wvumtnbkr: Choose a lower gear. You're putting a LOT of strain on the drivetrain if you're breaking chains.
Yep! I am more of a masher than a spinner.
I have broken chains during downhill races!
I used to race about twice a month on average (dual slalom, downhill and xc on the race weekends).
I went through a LOT of drivetrains.
It's just how I ride.
That being said, I haven't broken a single sram chain!
I'm picky about most parts on my bikes, but for chains I use... whatever... but usually buy SRAM chains.
That said, in 20+ years of riding and racing (XC & lots of DH), I never broke a chain. I'm even one of "those" who re-uses the old pin in Shimano chains. "They" have been telling me for years, 'that's gonna break, ya know..." but it never has... even racing DH on expert East Coast courses. Of course, I also used the same XTR 8 spd rear derailluer on 3 different DH racing bikes over 6 years... I just don't break stuff that much.
And just in case anyone happens by this looking for a chain for a 10-speed drive train (as in a 10 cog cassette - not a Schwinn Varsity) I've had spectacular satisfaction with Wipperman chains and their "Connex" link on a Dura-Ace drive train for the past four years. The Shimano DA chains are hideously expensive, and wear the cassette pretty quickly when they start to stretch. Wipperman shifts great and wears like iron - and I'm an "adult sized" roadie who has tended to push sort of hard.
PC-991 should work well, it's a good chain for the price. My experience (anecdotal) is that when one increases in price with a chain, you'll get lighter weight and perhaps a bit less noise, but little increase in durability (relative to a mid-grade chain, of course). And you're actually sacrificing durability with the hollow pin chains, especially if you're a masher.
As an aside, installed my first 11-speed chain (Campagnolo) today. Time will tell on the longevity of that drivetrain. It's kind of a hassle to install - you have to peen the pin after you install (2 separate tools if using Park Tools).
Do you have a chain tool? Even with the powerlink, you'll likely need to remove a few links from the new chain. I've used a punch before, but it's a lot easier with a chain tool.
donalson wrote: the big thing is you MUST use an 8spd chain for 8spd, 9 spd for 9 and 10 for 10...
Mostly. SRAM makes a chain that works for 6/7/8 speed bikes (cant remember the model name).
9 and 10 and yeah, you have to go way narrower.
gamby wrote:donalson wrote: the big thing is you MUST use an 8spd chain for 8spd, 9 spd for 9 and 10 for 10...Mostly. SRAM makes a chain that works for 6/7/8 speed bikes (cant remember the model name). 9 and 10 and yeah, you have to go way narrower.
Actually, all of teh chains made for 8 speed are backwards compatible for 6/7/8 speeds. Single speed chains are different though.
I was just going through this selection process online and was pretty overwhelemed trying to look at reviews vs prices ect and figure out what I needed. (noob here)
One day I hit up the local bike store, talked with some cool ppl, told them how I ride (slow and easy) and walked out the door with a decent chain for my Kona Scrap. I also picked up some other junk I had forgotten and scored some free swag. Don't be afraid to go talk to the locals.
At 250lbs, I stress the heck out of a chain. get the Sram pc-991 and all will be well. I usually get at least a year out of them with gross neglect, or upwards of 2 yrs with proper care.
wvumtnbkr wrote:gamby wrote:Actually, all of teh chains made for 8 speed are backwards compatible for 6/7/8 speeds. Single speed chains are different though.donalson wrote: the big thing is you MUST use an 8spd chain for 8spd, 9 spd for 9 and 10 for 10...Mostly. SRAM makes a chain that works for 6/7/8 speed bikes (cant remember the model name). 9 and 10 and yeah, you have to go way narrower.
the 6/7 speed is pretty much now defunct so I didn't mention it... but yes the 8spd is with in 0.0x mm of the 8spd as I recall and work just fine... close enough that an 8spd shifter will work with a 7spd cassette (just set limiter screw appropriately) 9spd gets narrower and the 10 narrower still.
as a 300# uber clyd I built my bike around being solid... not light weight... it's a lot more fun to pedal out of the woods then it is to walk it out lol... not to mention dealing with broken stuff...
sadly I sold my surly for a mission trip... so now I've got figure out what to build next doh...
donalson wrote:wvumtnbkr wrote:the 6/7 speed is pretty much now defunct so I didn't mention it... but yes the 8spd is with in 0.0x mm of the 8spd as I recall and work just fine... close enough that an 8spd shifter will work with a 7spd cassette (just set limiter screw appropriately) 9spd gets narrower and the 10 narrower still.gamby wrote:Actually, all of teh chains made for 8 speed are backwards compatible for 6/7/8 speeds. Single speed chains are different though.donalson wrote: the big thing is you MUST use an 8spd chain for 8spd, 9 spd for 9 and 10 for 10...Mostly. SRAM makes a chain that works for 6/7/8 speed bikes (cant remember the model name). 9 and 10 and yeah, you have to go way narrower.
7 speed is FAR from defunct. I'm a bike tech at a big-box retailer and pretty much every bike that is sub-$320 is still 7-speed. Most of Diamondback's low-to-mid range stuff is still 7-speed.
Example--
The DB Response XE--a decent entry-level trail bike--is still 7-speed:
ok i'll correct that statement... it's defunct from anything that someone even remotely serious for trail riding would use... then again I know people that would say the same of 8spd... but I've got friends with large stashes of 8spd xtr bits sitting in boxes as replacement parts because they so don't want to goto 9spd
donalson wrote: ok i'll correct that statement... it's defunct from anything that someone even remotely serious for trail riding would use... then again I know people that would say the same of 8spd... but I've got friends with large stashes of 8spd xtr bits sitting in boxes as replacement parts because they so don't want to goto 9spd
I hear the "vintage" 8 speed xtr drivetrain components just work perfectly, and nothing since has been as good.
Thus the hoarding...
yup 8spd xtr was and is awesome... but it's hard for shimano to make more money if they don't make it obsolete and put out the newest bestest thing
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