rbrides

I cannot find my preferred chain so I am considering putting the KMC e11 EPT 11 speed chain on my non-ebike gravel bike with 2x11 chain rings and 11-34 cassette.

Other than it being possibly slightly heavier, I have not found any info on-line suggesting this is a bad idea.

What say ye, Bike Forum Pontificators?

2old

11 speed is 11 speed; can't perceive a problem.

veganbikes

It is a chain, so long as the chain is the correct pitch and such there is really not a difference aside from an e-bike chain being better at handling the loads and stresses of an e-bike so a little thicker and stouter. Not a bad thing at all. At its core an e-bike is a regular bike with some extra wires a motor and a battery.

Doc_Wui

I always thought it was the same chain. The "E" adds a 10% adder to the price?

I bought a regular KMC chain when I converted my bike to a bafang mid drive,figuring I'd swap when the old chain got stretched, but it hasn't yet, not with my easy riding.

fooferdoggie 

I got maybe 500 extra miles from a ebike Shimano 10 speed chain. but was it the chain or that it was the summer where the chain stays cleaner? I got 3000 miles verses 2500 miles. sometimes 2000 miles in the winter. but it was twice the cost of a kmc chain.

Homebrew01

Why would loads & stresses be greater on an e-bike ?
They're not putting out 2,000 watts.

fooferdoggie 

only on a mid drive bike. my bosch can put out upto 350% of what I put into it. so if I am doing 400 watts it may be putting out a peak of maybe 700 watts or 63nm then ewer mens can do about 85nm and the Bafang mid drives can do 150 on the bigger motors. so its like having a pro riding with you at the same time.

Homebrew01

That's well within normal stress range from strong riders, easily handled by standard chains.
I suspect the "e" chain is marketing nonsense.

fooferdoggie 

you usually get more then 3000 miles on a chain right? thats the best I ahi every gotten. when I first got my bike in winter and was getting the hang of it and using the full amount of assist as I was sick I only got 1200 miles then the next chain 2500 then thats about it 3000 was in the summer 2000 to 2500 in winter. bu t if I put out 600 watts the motor may be putting out 700 watts. plus you only have one front chainring. I have went though 5 chains and I have 12,000 miles on the bike in less then 2 years. I use rock and roll so it does nto really get dirty every hundred miles or more often in thew rain.

late

My wife is not a good shifter, and I occasionally hear the clunk when she shifts. That chain will only have 1K on it, but I am going to replace it with that KMC over the winter.

I"m not disagreeing with you, but unless KMC is lying, their chain will resist snapping better.

On a sidenote, motors seem to keep getting stronger, it may not be just chains that has to change.

mpetry912 

generally speaking it's the same chain altho the Shimano chains have an "E" suffix which may just connote 10 extra links - 126 vs 116.

The loads on an ebike chain are without a doubt great and wear is accelerated - careful attention to lubrication, cleaning, and wear monitoring will pay off.

Do you have a chain wear indicator ? This one's a Rohloff but there's a Shimano one also. when it lays down flat like this - it's time to replace.

since motors are getting more powerful, there's a transition to belts and it's hard not to like that. Belts are smooth, quiet running and best of all maintenance free.

2old

And belts require a split in the frame to install, and a spare needs to be carried for off road (probably street too if/when used) or one could face a long walk home. For these reasons they are untenable for my wife and me.