May 23, 20187 yr Having done over 400 miles on my Trek, primarily in sloppy conditions, I’m gearing up for the inevitable chain replacement. The hard part is choosing which one... it came with a Shimano SLX chain, is it worth spending more on an XT chain or a KMC chain?
May 24, 20187 yr My bike came with KMC e11 and I'm onto 5th chain. No breakages which is saying something as CX motor can very hard on chains.
May 24, 20187 yr Author Wipperman How bloody much??? That would need to last over 1000 miles to be viable...
May 24, 20187 yr Author My bike came with KMC e11 and I'm onto 5th chain. No breakages which is saying something as CX motor can very hard on chains. How many miles is that?
May 24, 20187 yr How many miles is that?7000kms, all changed at 0.75mark along with chainring. Would be interesting to try Shimano chain for mileage which are bit cheaper, but don't want to risk a broken chain.
May 24, 20187 yr Shimano chains have never impressed me with their longevity on conventional bikes let alone pedelecs.
May 24, 20187 yr How bloody much??? That would need to last over 1000 miles to be viable... They do if you ride on the road. I don't use the e-bike version but the ordinary 8 speed one and it has 2200 + km on it. The Truvativ steel chainring has certainly worn a little I can imagine an aluminum narrow/wide one might be ripe for changing along with the chain about now. Wippremann make quality 8 speed chains for 13€ and e-bike chains for 38€ (bikediscount.com prices) so I don't mind swapping my chain more often for less money.
May 25, 20187 yr 1800 miles on my bike with a KMC x3 chain, just put a KMC x10 on only about £12.00 online
May 25, 20187 yr My Ebike came with a non ebike chain which lasted 500 miles to .5 wear (11 speed) so I replaced it with a similar one.
January 18, 20206 yr Ive just ordered a KMC E11 EPT ebike chain having snapped a couple of Sram chains in the last year. Not cheap at about £30, but whats even more expensive are the KMC gold reusable missing links to join the chain together at over £10 a set!!! https://www.kmcchain.eu/connector-KMC_MissingLink_11R_Ti–N_Gold_reusable-mtb-11_speed
January 18, 20206 yr Ive just ordered a KMC E11 EPT ebike chain having snapped a couple of Sram chains in the last year. Not cheap at about £30, but whats even more expensive are the KMC gold reusable missing links to join the chain together at over £10 a set!!! https://www.kmcchain.eu/connector-KMC_MissingLink_11R_Ti–N_Gold_reusable-mtb-11_speed yeah those things are not really reusable after the fist install tbh
January 19, 20206 yr I’m not entirely sure what they mean by reusable/non reusable. Do they mean as soon as you’ve clicked it into position you shouldn’t ever reuse it, even if you take it straight off again straight away? Or do they mean after your chain gets replaced? Also, having a supposedly stronger ebike specific chain is all well and good, but if the quick link used to join it isn’t as strong as the chain itself then what’s the point?
January 19, 20206 yr I use a Wipperman Connex link with a KTM chain, reusable without tools as I like to remove the chain for cleaning. I've never had any issues with this set up, you need to make sure you use it the right way up. Dave.
January 19, 20206 yr ASDA £4 its even got a gold easy link https://groceries.asda.com/product/bike-accessories/bell-link-500-speedy-chain/25555696
January 19, 20206 yr I’m not entirely sure what they mean by reusable/non reusable. Do they mean as soon as you’ve clicked it into position you shouldn’t ever reuse it, even if you take it straight off again straight away? Or do they mean after your chain gets replaced? Also, having a supposedly stronger ebike specific chain is all well and good, but if the quick link used to join it isn’t as strong as the chain itself then what’s the point? https://www.roadbikerider.com/q-a-can-a-sram-powerlock-chain-link-be-reused/ its the same for the mtb ones as well i even have the tool to remove them and mine still broke after reusing it.
January 19, 20206 yr https://www.roadbikerider.com/q-a-can-a-sram-powerlock-chain-link-be-reused/ its the same for the mtb ones as well i even have the tool to remove them and mine still broke after reusing it. Interesting report, but why are they so expensive, especially the 11 speed links for some reason. In some cases more expensive than the chain itself. This one is £22 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wippermann-Connex-Kettenschloss-11-fach-Kette/dp/B07P24YVR9 Edited January 19, 20206 yr by The Bear
January 19, 20206 yr the sram 12spd ones are about £2.50 each if you get a pack of 4. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sram-Eagle-12-speed-Power-Lock-Chain-Links-4-piece-Rainbow/383027563849?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D99179ea14028414b964bdc73bdb97ee2%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dsb%26sd%3D372893765869%26itm%3D383027563849%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 my gx chain cost 22 quid but if you want the xx1 it get expensive id be well pissed if i broke one of those. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SRAM-XX1-Eagle-12-Speed-Chain-PC-XX1-Gold/382811573301?epid=1575871440&hash=item5921590c35:g:8GUAAOSw8mtcdoXx
January 22, 20206 yr Whats the difference between a 12 speed and an 11 speed chain? Is it the thickness of the chain? Would an 11 speed chain be too wide to fit between the cogs of a 12 speed cassette?
January 22, 20206 yr both would work but not recommended as both worked on my front chain ring and seems others are doing the same thing its just a chain at the end of the day.
January 22, 20206 yr 11spd chain is 3.5mm inner link and 5.4mm outer link 12spd chain is 3.2mm inner link and 5mm outer link
January 22, 20206 yr 11spd chain is 3.5mm inner link and 5.4mm outer link 12spd chain is 3.2mm inner link and 5mm outer link Well that explains it nicely, thanks. Shame there seems to be a big jump up in price as soon as the number 11 is mentioned when choosing a chain. Got a KMC E11 ebike chain on order for £33 from High on Bikes as I got fed up with searching for a cheaper one.
January 22, 20206 yr id not bother with ebike chains imo you are just paying extra for the same thing but with ebike on the packet. i have broken one power link and broke 1 chain in 5 years so not bad at all
January 22, 20206 yr I've broken two chains in the last year, but that could be from poor maintenance as much as weak chains. I thought I would try an ebike specific chain to see if they are any different, but Im aware it could just be a marketing scam
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