Shimano UG chain - any equivalents?
08-29-19, 04:22 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Shimano UG chain - any equivalents?
My 1970s Falcon has a 5-speed Suntour freewheel and a brown or black chain with UG on its plates. The shifting is solid and quiet. I have other bikes with Suntour 5- or 6-speed freewheels, with different chains, and none work as well as this old (probably 1980s) Shimano UG chain.
1. Is this chain still available, maybe with a different name?
2. What present day chains are its equal or better?
1. Is this chain still available, maybe with a different name?
2. What present day chains are its equal or better?
08-29-19, 08:13 PM
#2
aka: Dr. Cannondale
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,733
Mentioned: 234 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2155 Post(s)
Liked 3,404 Times
in
1,205 Posts
I've used later Shimano and KMC chains, but prefer the SRAM PC870 for anything in the 5-6-7-8 speed category.
They just seem to run smoother, quieter & shift better.
They just seem to run smoother, quieter & shift better.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
08-29-19, 11:39 PM
#3
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
KMC Z6 should be a suitable replacement. Formerly KMC Z33, but they recently redid their entire catalog nomenclature. You can still find plenty of unsold new/old stock KMC Z33 chains on Amazon and many bike shops.
I found the Z33 was best with friction shifting setups up to 7 speed, especially with older freewheels with plain tooth cogs, like the older Suntour.
With index shifting and 7-speed Shimano or SunRace freewheels I got better results with KMC Z72 (also renamed). Cleaner shifts, quieter running. But those Z72 chains with the fancy beveled/chamfered plates tended to rattle and tried to ghost shift with my Suntour Alpha freewheels and friction setups. And on the flip side, the plain plate Z33 didn't index shift as crisply as the Z72.
So, just depends on the application. For a Suntour 5 to 7 speed with friction shifting, the old Z33 or renamed Z6 should do as well. I've never tried SRAM but many folks like 'em as well. Shimano chains seem pricey for what you get.
I found the Z33 was best with friction shifting setups up to 7 speed, especially with older freewheels with plain tooth cogs, like the older Suntour.
With index shifting and 7-speed Shimano or SunRace freewheels I got better results with KMC Z72 (also renamed). Cleaner shifts, quieter running. But those Z72 chains with the fancy beveled/chamfered plates tended to rattle and tried to ghost shift with my Suntour Alpha freewheels and friction setups. And on the flip side, the plain plate Z33 didn't index shift as crisply as the Z72.
So, just depends on the application. For a Suntour 5 to 7 speed with friction shifting, the old Z33 or renamed Z6 should do as well. I've never tried SRAM but many folks like 'em as well. Shimano chains seem pricey for what you get.
Likes For canklecat:
08-30-19, 04:19 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,751 Times
in
938 Posts
prefer the SRAM PC870 for anything in the 5-6-7-8 speed category
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
Likes For randyjawa:
Likes For jethin:
08-30-19, 04:14 PM
#6
Full Member
My 1970s Falcon has a 5-speed Suntour freewheel and a brown or black chain with UG on its plates. The shifting is solid and quiet. I have other bikes with Suntour 5- or 6-speed freewheels, with different chains, and none work as well as this old (probably 1980s) Shimano UG chain.
1. Is this chain still available, maybe with a different name?
2. What present day chains are its equal or better?
1. Is this chain still available, maybe with a different name?
2. What present day chains are its equal or better?
08-30-19, 07:17 PM
#7
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
+1 for the SRAM PC-850/870. Pro-tip: if you rotate chains on a high-mileage bike, having one of each will help you tell them apart. 
08-31-19, 09:58 AM
#8
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,194
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times
in
866 Posts
I'm similarly rotating mixed brands of chain on one of my bikes to extend the service life of it's custom-built UG freewheel. So far, so good.
Last edited by dddd; 08-31-19 at 10:02 AM.
Likes For dddd:
