Originally Posted by
canklecat
Shimano confuses the issue for their 11 speed chains by labeling the inner and outer plates as "front" and "reverse." The chain can be reversed in lengthwise direction and still be correctly oriented with the outer plate facing outward. It would just present a fresh set of unworn rollers contacting the gear teeth...
I'm thinking that since the rollers rotate, there won't be any worn vs. un-worn surfaces.
And, as the front and rear sprockets each force the rollers in roughly opposite directions, reversing the direction of the chain might have next to no effect.