FREEBIRD1

This is a really nice chain, replaced my KMC on my winter bike, very noticeable difference. Smoother shifting, lots quieter.

rsbob 

Bike came with an Ulegra chain, upgraded for $10 to Dura-Ace. Big difference? Nah. The Cycling Beast take on Shimano chains.

Troul 

the bluetooth chains are super quiet.

rsbob 

But doesn’t it depend what they connect to?

Troul 

probably not, as long as it supports a HDMI connection.

greysquirrel

The last sentence of the Cycling Beast article stays replace your chain every 750-1000 miles!

mpetry912 

I am getting 2500 miles + on the Shimano XT 11 speed chains on a mid drive ebike. I have both the Shimano and Rohloff wear guages.and there's little to no elongation that is measurable at 2000 miles, even with those very fine tools. They will lay down "flat" on the chain when the wear limit is reached.

I do wipe / clean / lube frequently but this latest generation of chains is very good. In Silca's "marginal gains" podcast, Wayne Stetina talks about these chains and how well they wear. They run very smooth and have never missed a shift, altho this bike is DI2 / 11spd.

/markp

Black wallnut 

A guide written by someone selling chains and other components. If he is talking about CX or mtn. bike chains that get wet/mud/sand/dry dusty cycles between cleanings then yeah, 750-100 miles is about right. For Road, with regular lubing I get 5K miles give or take. I'm a clyde, I ride hills, I mostly spin though so maybe that helps. I have had the best service from KMC chains.

rsbob 

You weren’t supposed to read that far down.

rsbob 

Have a link? (Rimshot)

Troul 

cant seem to post the quick link.

rsbob 

Think it takes a ‘special tool’ so you are in luck.

spelger

stealth chain. i'll bet its quiet.

msalvetti

Going the other way, I replaced a Shimano chain with a KMC, and noticed right away that the KMC is much noisier. We'll see how it wears - I get about 1500 miles on Shimano chains before the Park tool shows 0.5% wear, which is when Park says an 11-speed chain should be replaced.

Mark

Troul 

ANT+ do be like that.

Troul 

I can't stand that, so I'll have to park the thoughts until something more mainstream comes about.

msalvetti

Well, I found out why my KMC chain was so noisy. I somehow managed to thread it through the rear derailleur incorrectly, and it was rubbing on a tab between the two sprockets. Not sure how I managed to do that.

I had taken the bike in for a tune up. FWIW, the tech told me the KMC chains are very strong and good for competition, but he thinks they wear out cassettes faster than the Shimano chains. I dunno. Will probably go back to Shimano.

Mark

jadmt

Wax…..

Steel Charlie

Chains don't wear out cassettes, people wear out cassettes

Random11

I've always used Shimano chains except for one time, during COVID, when I couldn't find a Shimano chain and used a KMC. I couldn't tell any difference. I'd have no qualms about using another KMC chain... but now that I can get them again, I'm back to Shimano.

greysquirrel

I wax chains and have 2 Shimano and 1 KMC. I setup the rear derailleur using a Shimano chain. The 2 Shimano shift exactly the same but the KMC ever so slightly hesitates on shifts.

Troul 

that'd reduce the clutter of an optical port.

icemilkcoffee 

On principle I refuse to use chains without quick links. So no Shimano chains for me.

smd4

You can put a quick link on a Shimano chain.

I won’t use anything but a Dura Ace chain. With a Connex quick link.