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Bought 11 speed chain. Too loose?

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Bought 11 speed chain. Too loose?

Old 05-27-20, 09:40 PM
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InvertedMP 
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Bought 11 speed chain. Too loose?

My road bike is 11 speed (sram eTap) and the sram 11 speed chain I bought seems significantly looser. It’s a quick link chain. I would have expected it to be sized. I’m guessing I need to take some links out?
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Old 05-27-20, 09:51 PM
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Yeah, unless you have a goldilocks combination of rings and cogs, you're going to need to shorten the chain. My 1X bike uses a full 114-link chain, which is nice.
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Old 05-27-20, 09:56 PM
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If by loose you mean too long then yes, you're supposed to size it to the bike. Two ways to do it, my preferred is to go small ring, small cog and have it so the rear der has the slightest amount of tension being put on it while still keeping the chain from rubbing against the der body. The other is to go big/big and have the der stretched as far as it can safely go. If your gearing is within manufacturer's spec either will result in a chain that can run all the gears without slack or damage to the rear der.
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Old 05-27-20, 10:05 PM
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I’m not sure why I thought it would be sized 🤣🤣 thanks guys
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Old 05-28-20, 05:38 AM
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Just take off the old chain, hold the new one up to it, then take out the appropriate links.

No need to remeasure a new chain on your bike.
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Old 05-28-20, 06:18 AM
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If you can't reference your old chain, use the big/big + 2 sizing method seen here (the 'easy' way, starting at 2:15) -

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Old 05-28-20, 06:22 AM
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May as well size it correctly per post #6 , at least the first time. You'll gain another bike mechanic skill.
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Old 05-28-20, 07:23 AM
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Ok so avoid the RD pulleys, go big and big, wrap the chain and add two links basically...
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Old 05-28-20, 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by InvertedMP
Ok so avoid the RD pulleys, go big and big, wrap the chain and add two links basically...
That gives you the shortest possible chain. I prefer to use the little/little method that gives the length that will work with the largest sprocket that the RD can handle. The chain is routed through the RD and around the small ring and smallest or next to smallest sprocket. When the ends of the chain are joined, the RD cage should swing forward slightly and the chain should not hang loose. If you have the largest possible sprocket on your bike, then both methods will produce the same result.
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Old 05-28-20, 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by DaveSSS
That gives you the shortest possible chain. I prefer to use the little/little method that gives the length that will work with the largest sprocket that the RD can handle. The chain is routed through the RD and around the small ring and smallest or next to smallest sprocket. When the ends of the chain are joined, the RD cage should swing forward slightly and the chain should not hang loose. If you have the largest possible sprocket on your bike, then both methods will produce the same result.
IME, either method results in the same length chain. But I do find the Big-Big option easier to do.
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Old 05-28-20, 09:18 AM
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Shimano gives very specific information in their DM's for sizing chains. 1x, 2x and 3x can be different procedures depending on the group. I'd think SRAM has similar info published too.

Typically and for many years, wrapping the largest front and back without going through the rear DR and then adding 2 links has been the standard.

New chains do come longer than needed because they don't know what you are putting them on.
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Old 05-28-20, 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Iride01
Shimano gives very specific information in their DM's for sizing chains. 1x, 2x and 3x can be different procedures depending on the group.
Correct. Always best to read the DMs. The two link method will result in too short a chain on the new Shimano 12 speed MTB groups. Made that mistake the expensive way...
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Old 05-28-20, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by topflightpro
IME, either method results in the same length chain. But I do find the Big-Big option easier to do.
The results will only be same if the largest possible sprocket is on the bike. Every 4 teeth smaller suggests a 1 inch shorter chain, using the big/big.
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