kenshireen

I have a 7 speed Shimano HG cassette and chain and I want to replace the chain but am having a problem finding where to get one. I have all Ultegra on my classic bike

Leinster

Any 8-speed chain should work fine. All Shimano 8-speed chains that I can see on google are branded as “6/7/8 speed,” same for Kmc, SRAM, etc. I seem to recall from reading Sheldon Brown that historical, the chains stayed pretty much the same until 9-speed, when the flush chain pins were introduced.

2cam16

So MANY on EBay for around $9 (KMC).

BlazingPedals

I believe even a 9-speed chain will work, but they're more expensive, so why do it??? 6/7/8 speed chains are cheap.

kenshireen

I want the best and lightest chain I can find.. How id the SRAM pc870

veganbikes

Unless you are looking for NOS stuff Shimano HG-71 would be the best bet. If you want NOS the Dura Ace CN-7401 would work. You ideally want to find a Hyperglide compatible chain rather than uniglide but I think they will both work.

Camilo

For what it's worth, on my 8 speed bike - which uses the same chain as a 7 speed - I use either 9 or 10 speed chains. I originally had a 9 speed chain on there because I our other bikes were 9 speed so I was keeping a spare 9 speed chain and quick links in "stock". Now it has a 10 speed chain because the 9 speed bikes are not at home right now (permanently assigned to the RV!) and I only have 10 speed bikes in the garage. I like to just use the same stuff for this so I can just keep one spare chain on hand and one type of quick links.

But to the point, the bike shifted perfectly with both 9 and 10 speed chains.

I was always told that chains are backward compatible. I don't know about 11 or 12 speed, but it certainly applies to 9 and 10.

But also to the point, the 6/7/8 speed chain will be less expensive and probably more durable (although durability is never an issue for me.) So why not just buy an 8 speed chain that fits your budget, fancy and shiny or basic.

dabac

The inner width of the chains have changed less than the outer width, so running a higher speeds chain on a lower speeds drivetrain is generally OK. Eventually front shifts may become affected as the fit between chain and derailer becomes more slack. I’ve even heard about a guy managing to get the chain jammed between chainrings.
Haven’t tried any true multi-generation mix , like 5-speed and 10/11-speed parts though.

Ironfish653

PC870 works fine. Nice finish, shifts just fine. Finding an NOS 8-sp Dura-Ace would be 'best' but honestly, for the price, I can't tell the difference.


Backward-compatibility for 9+sp chains can be a mixed bag, depending on what you're trying to use them on. 7-sp triple FD's are sometimes to wide to shift a 9-sp chain right, particularly if you're using an STI indexed shifter.