what chain to use

alejoint said:

at these moment im using a mavic chain ,it has worked perfect but it really wears the crank specialy the midle plate (thats the one that i use the most) .
i have also used some shimano HG but all kept breaking in no time .
i have read about SRAM and was wondering if their chain is any good so if anybody can give me some info on these or any other chain or ,if is the case, if you think that i should stay with the mavic .
im 175 pounds and ride agressive XC or marathon
thanks

options are:
Wipperman Conex or
KMC

Wipperman.

great chain. easy to put on/take off which means easier maintenance which ultimatly leads to a CLEANER chain.

and any CLEAN chain will out last and out perform any dirty chain.

my $.02

schmuzzy said:

...easy to put on/take off which means easier maintenance which ultimatly leads to a CLEANER chain....

Not to disagree with you, it's just my experience (habit?) that even with a QR chain I don't end up taking the chain off the bike for a cleaning. It comes down to personal preference.

i agree shimano chains blow

I love sram chains. Love the power link too. Makes cleaning a breeze. At least for me.

If you're breaking Shimano chains, it's probably because of improper installation.
I'm 198lbs use Shimano chains and never broken one.
I've had friends who weigh alot less than me that have had problems "breaking" chains. I've installed the chains for them, per inclosed instructions and they haven't had any more problems. Not than I'm a pro chain installer, just some people do a poor job of it.

alejoint said:

at these moment im using a mavic chain ,it has worked perfect but it really wears the crank specialy the midle plate (thats the one that i use the most) .
i have also used some shimano HG but all kept breaking in no time .
i have read about SRAM and was wondering if their chain is any good so if anybody can give me some info on these or any other chain or ,if is the case, if you think that i should stay with the mavic .
im 175 pounds and ride agressive XC or marathon
thanks

And shimano chains are actually better than sram chains. Even though sram chains have better performance they feel like they aren't as strong. But I rather have a sram chain, just because I love the postive shifting.

I've just broken a Shimano HG53 chain on a racer that has only done about 1500km and I'm presuming the LBS knew how to fit them. I preferred SRAM chains on my mountain bike and think I will be looking that way for the racer as well.

Sprint2Win said:

If you're breaking Shimano chains, it's probably because of improper installation.
I'm 198lbs use Shimano chains and never broken one.
I've had friends who weigh alot less than me that have had problems "breaking" chains. I've installed the chains for them, per inclosed instructions and they haven't had any more problems. Not than I'm a pro chain installer, just some people do a poor job of it.

free_rideman said:

And shimano chains are actually better than sram chains. Even though sram chains have better performance they feel like they aren't as strong. But I rather have a sram chain, just because I love the postive shifting.

?????

schmuzzy said:

Wipperman.

great chain. easy to put on/take off which means easier maintenance which ultimatly leads to a CLEANER chain.

and any CLEAN chain will out last and out perform any dirty chain.

my $.02

I also like Wipperman, but I am pretty sure that the Mavic chain is actually made by Wipperman and is the same chain as the Wipperman nickel-plated.

if you install a Shimano (or Campy) chain correctly, using the right tool, pin, and technique, it will work correctly. they wouldn't be able to sell them if that wasn't the case. if you don't use the right tool, pin, and technique, you'll probably experience chain failure.

it's possible to install a chain correctly without the right tool if you are very careful and understand the implications of the sudden looseness in the chaintool resistance, the pin sticking out (or not), the link stiffness, etc.

just because an LBS installs it doesn't mean it was done right or even with the right tool.

I have shimano 8s, 9s chain tools and a campy chain tool (the megabuck big thing). I've also, in a pinch, installed campy and shimano chains using folding multi-tool chaintools. the chains I've installed all worked fine.

for wear purposes, and the small cost penalty, I'd recommend whatever model the XT/XTR/DA chain model is (HG90? is the last one I used on my mountain bike, I use Campy 10s on my road bikes). I've tried and tossed other chains but haven't tried SRAM.

btw wipperman chains (if they are the ones that used to advertise they were lighter than campy) have a roller finish which is relatively abrasive, causing premature cassette wear. also they no longer advertise they're lighter because they weren't - their chains were simply missing a number of links to reach the "lighter" weight.

carpediemracing said:

...and a campy chain tool (the megabuck big thing). I've also, in a pinch, installed campy and shimano chains using folding multi-tool chaintools. the chains I've installed all worked fine.

at last! someone else that sprung for the $90 campy tool! it is a great tool though...fantastic 'feel' and smooth as...well...as smooth as all campy products.

the first chain-break i performed on my campy 10-speed (chorus) chain was done with an old cyclo-rivoli type chain breaker tool. it's still holding after 1500+ miles. i agree, as long as due care is taken the chain should be good to go.

SRAM chains are generally better than Shimano. Campy's are better than SRAM's. Wipperman is somewhere between SRAM and Campy.

For MTB use, which sounds what the OP is asking about, definitely use a SRAM or Connex snap link. Being able to take a chain off and completely clean it of all the grit and [censored] that gets kicked into a chain while MTBing will greatly increase chain life. On bike cleaning does not come close to cleaning as well.

schmuzzy said:

Wipperman.

great chain. easy to put on/take off which means easier maintenance which ultimatly leads to a CLEANER chain.

and any CLEAN chain will out last and out perform any dirty chain.

my $.02

What's your time worth? I'd sooner just fork out A$40 for a new chain a little earlier, rather than take it off and clean it more than once in its lifetime.
As for performance - can't say I've ever noticed the difference between a black slimy chain and a chain fresh out of the box.
I guess, as a roadie, that off-road use is more demanding, so take this as an uninformed post.
I got >9000km out of my last Shimano 105-level chain on the road, and I think I cleaned it off the bike twice - I won't bother to do that again.