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Submitted by
Patrick Keating
a Weekend Warrior
from Istanbul
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Belgrad | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Omaha Trek | | Strengths: | Strong, quality product | | Weaknesses: | None so far. But, I am not doing the same technical analysis as others... | | Bike Setup: | Trek 3900 | | Bottom Line: | I've used the SRAM powerlink and have had no problems in any condition on regular road, mountain road and single trails. For removing it is good to carry a needle nose pliers instead of using your hands. Otherwise, it installs easily. But, for serious bikers who are racing and jamming it is still a potential problem for them. But, for easy of maintenance it is fine for others. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Cross Country Rider
from Morehead, ky, usa
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came w/ pc-68 chain | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | After I installed the chain I took it out and lost the powerlink two and a half miles from the trailhead. I coudln't believe it. Use a normal link so this doesn't happen to you. | | Similar Products Used: | many chains | | Bottom Line: | Don't use this product unless you want to be pushing your bike out of the woods. It came off on my first ride and if you don't want it to happen to you just install a normal link. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Niagara Falls
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Quick | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes hard to un-do | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS. | | Bottom Line: | It's quick, convenient, does not let me down. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bibins
a Downhiller
from St. John's, Newfoundland
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Canary Cycles | | Strengths: | None, its sucks | | Weaknesses: | The links snap and the pins fall out | | Bottom Line: | This chain sucks, i had it for a week and the links have broken 4 times, the master link itself fell off, this chain sucks! dont buy it! Id rate it -1 but 1 is the lowest i can rate it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike G
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Pseudotseuga | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on the bike | | Strengths: | It's a good idea, doesn't interfere with shifting on most chains, constructed well...probly helps sram sell thier chains | | Weaknesses: | Despite being a good idea, it doesn't really work. The links won't stay together, can't be distinguished from others when dirty, and won't come apart when you need it to in muddy riding conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano chains, SRAM chains without the powerlink | | Bike Setup: | Brodie Electro 2001 (But i've since changed) | | Bottom Line: | This might work for you dry-weather boys (and girls) down south, but up here in the wet conditions, this is just a toy...not suited for the rigors of west coast trails and climate. I'm a person who is quite knowledgable about chain maintenance, and I've tried to problem-solve my powerlink setup for a while...but to no avail. I'd say saty away from these - and go for a shimano chain (i'll give you a hint: THEY'RE WAY BETTER!!) Unless you have an immacluately kept chain, or don't mind a weak link (NOT a power link)...save yourself the trouble and go out and buy an HG 93 and an XTR casette right now. It's the only good drivetrain setup out there in my opition. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Space
a Cross Country Rider
from Lansing, MI USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Easy to use. It has never disconnected during use. | | Weaknesses: | I have tried two of these and Wippermann links too. This link and Wippermann links are a problem for SRAM PG990 cassettes on the smallest cog [11t]. As soon as you install a new chain with this link on a new cassette, you will see witness marks [wear/contact indentations] between the smallest cog [11t] and the next one up [12t] on the shelf metal between them indicating that the quick links plates are is too tall and they hit this shelf between the cogs each time the chain passes on the 11t cog. This leads to chain skipping since this link lifts the chain higher off the cog at the point of contact on the shelf and creates poor or no contact with the teeth on either side. The chain skip due to this link can be confirmed by observing whether or not your skips occur when the quick link completes one complete chain cycle!!! This may depend a little bit on how much torque you putting on it...how hard you are cranking. I replaced everything; chains, cassettes, crankset,deraillurs and a hanger before I discovered that the chain skipping on this cog was due to this link. I measured it and its height is taller than the rest of the regular links for SRAM [and Wipperman] chains. I put a Shimano XTR chain on without a quick link and haven't had a problem since...without the link the SRAM chain seemed to work but it had stretched by then so I junked it. | | Similar Products Used: | Wipperman, Shimano, and other SRAM chains | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon with all new upgraded components and wheels | | Bottom Line: | This quick link [and Wippermann] works for cogs larger than 11t on SRAM PG990 cassettes [where the link touches only the cog] but can cause chain skip due to bouncing off the teeth from riding on the shelf metal between cogs! You are better off with a direct link up between chain ends if you want to avoid this problem on the 11t small cog. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
simon
a Cross Country Rider
from Newbury, Berkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedal On, Tadley | | Strengths: | Easy assembly | | Weaknesses: | Disassambly. There is a knack to this, once you've got it it's easy, if you haven't you'll be totally frustrated for ages.
Try www.execulink.com/~dtierney/wmc/SRAM/chains2.htm for simple disassmbly instructions with diagrams and photos. Basically you squeeze the side links together and the power link just slides apart. Dead easy, no tools, but until you know that you have to squeeze the side links, just like me, you'll be struggling and swearing.
Some instructions with the chain or on the SRAM web site would be useful | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS3, XT cranks and cassette, Rockshox REBA forks. | | Bottom Line: | No problems with reliabilty and breakages at all. My chains get abused with mud and grit and I've used two of them for so long that the cassette and chain rings were toast. No problems at all. Once you've found the knack to undo the powerlink it literally takes 5 seconds to split the chain.
Still need to take a chain tool out on rides though as there's lots of things that can go wrong that will require you to take links out of the chain in order to get home.
It can't do a normal chain any good to keep forcing rivets in and out in order to get it off the bike to clean it properly, the power link is definitely the way to go. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Monroe, NJ
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Incredibly easy chain removal / install. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano chains | | Bike Setup: | Several | | Bottom Line: | This is one of those bike items that you'll wonder how you ever lived without.
Haven't had a breakage, though sometimes, when dirty, a little difficult to remove (just clean).
Thanks, SRAM. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wayne sherman
a Cross Country Rider
from all overthe world
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with PC-99 chain from LBS | | Strengths: | STRONG, light, easy to use. No tools needed***(exceptions...see below). | | Weaknesses: | Hard to disassemble when dirty. Easy to lose small parts when dropped in the woods. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano and SRAM pin links | | Bike Setup: | Loaded DS XC/FR | | Bottom Line: | Great idea from a reputable company. Easy to disassemble without tools WHEN CLEAN. If the chain is dirty it can be EXTREMELY frustrating to get apart. Scrub the dirt off and it's easy. This link is strong... I've snapped my chain several times and the powerlink always holds strong. You still have to carry a chainbreaker in your pack for when your chain snaps in a place other than the powerlink. It's also easy to lose the pieces in the woods...another reason to carry a chainbreaker. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Racer
from Sturbridge, Mass
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Doesn't break or wear as easily as other chains | | Weaknesses: | It seems like other people who bought this can't get it to work... I don't know, maybe they are too challenged to figure out how to put a chain on a bike. | | Bottom Line: | Works. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scuba DuDe
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Super Bikes | | Strengths: | Quick Release | | Weaknesses: | Pops out! :( | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | SLX | | Bottom Line: | I've had three occasions where the links came off my chain going downhill on different bikes, both newer and older links. They fall off on rock garden sections for some reason. I still use them for ease of removal of my chain for cleaning. So if you are using these, always always carry a couple spares. You never know when you will loose two in one ride!!! Also check out the MTBR Drivetrain Forum for chats regarding this problem. Turns out I am not the only one this has happened to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edson Sandoval
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Weakness | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano HG93 | | Bottom Line: | Power link is a terrible idea. Have you ever though why shimano never made something similar? Because it don't works. Power link is for much weaker than other links. why SRAM insist in the same lie. You don't need to brake it to see it. Your bike only need make a loop in the chain and the only link that will bend is the power link. After you don't go in your bike because the bent chain will be shifting the deralleur all tha time. Don't buy that marvelous invent if you don't like walk home. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelly Gunthorpe
a Weekend Warrior
from Batesville,IN,USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Not Sure | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | greenfishsports.com | | Strengths: | Strong its a chain, i really can say that ive had a bad chain before, The power link has proved itself great on more than once | | Weaknesses: | none so far, maybe the link may fall off but it has not yet. the price is a bit much. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano stuff | | Bike Setup: | Sinister hard tail made for the streets | | Bottom Line: | Good chain strong, and the power link is useful.
4 chilis cause it cost a lot for a chain | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Murray
a Cross Country Rider
from East Coast Canada
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Reasoanble weight, strong enough for 190lb rider on rough terrain | | Weaknesses: | You tell me? | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano HG chains with pins | | Bike Setup: | K2 Zed Team, xt setup | | Bottom Line: | This is a great idea and highly recommended. Over all the rocks, roots, and downhill crashes this link has NEVER come apart. The trick is to leave behind a little skin off your finger when you install it, which is not hard to do! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SpuTTer
a
from California
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Makes it easy to take your chain on and off, carry an extra for a FAST fix when you break a chain. | | Bottom Line: | I've been running one of these on my PC99 for the last 2 years. I have never had the link "come apart", and I've never had the power link break. (Other links have broken). I dont see how it would weaken the chain, the powerlink is very solid.
The ability to take on and off for cleaning/inspection is awesome. Great accessory. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Clarita
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gold Springs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | ...forgot | | Strengths: | Light and durable...also no tool needed. | | Weaknesses: | powerlink tends to snap off. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | custom picked parts and built...up to my liking. | | Bottom Line: | Chain seems to be a lot stronger then Shimano, but I have had the powerlink pop off on some trails. When these links pop off you better have a spare cause it is very difficult to find in the dirt when they do pop off. I use to have a lot of problems with Shimano breaking all the time, and so far Sham has not broke yet...but like I said the powerlink has popped off a few time...it's a very ez fix. I also like the fact that the powerlink allows the chain to come off without using a tool...this is good stuff. I still haven't found the perfect chain yet, but this is a step up from Shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Dark
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, Ut., USA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | moab | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Good chain if it stays together | | Weaknesses: | On the last chain I installed the powerlink would not stay on. I lost 3 powerlinks in 3 rides. I had a similar problem with one of the first chains I used. I contacted the company to see if I was doing something wrong (which I wasn't) ran into a rather snotty rep and ultimately got nowhere. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M4 hardtail | | Bottom Line: | If walking home is not a problem for you by all maens purchase one of these chains | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ferris
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Quantocks | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | all over the place | | Strengths: | fantastic, easy to use (spesh for the novice mechanic), and fantastic.. | | Weaknesses: | none. | | Similar Products Used: | is there any? | | Bike Setup: | Roady race bike (Argos), MTB (S-works) | | Bottom Line: | I have been using this product ever since they came out. I have never had one problem with any (or the chains 7, 8 and 9 speed) ever! Very usfull to keep a couple spares for a quick trail fix (never used it on my bike allways on others (Shimano chains)/get you home fix). I do between 7.5 and 10k miles per year on the road bike and do about 2k miles on the mountain bike. Good one SRAM, Sedis or Sachs what ever your name is this week... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sisters, Oregon USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Peterson Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Hutch's | | Strengths: | Doesn't break, unlike Shimano. | | Weaknesses: | None observed so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano...whatever is stock on the NRS series. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS, Sid SL fork, Cane Creek Cloud 9 shock, WTB pedals, Race Face crank, Koobi seat, Panaracer Dart/Fire, Dave's wheels. | | Bottom Line: | I broke the Shimano chain three times before the LBS acknowledged the stock chain was junk and replaced it with the Sachs. Never had a problem since. They took out the power link as that is in fact the weak link...in their experience often fails there. Also broke my buddy's Shimano chain when we swapped bikes for a day, maybe I'm rough on these things, but this one takes whatever I dish out. Beats the heck out of walking home (once) or sitting by the trail muttering and fixing a greasy dirty chain (twice). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blacky
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tilden Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | price.com | | Strengths: | Allows multiple cleaning without buying new pins. | | Weaknesses: | Somtimes tricky to remove until I figured out a simple effective method. Read on. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano. Until I figured out you can't treat a mt. bike chain like a road chain. In other words, till I got sick of walking home. | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 3. XTR levers/shifters. Trans Am Flite saddle. Python Air Lights. The Fender. Time Alium pedals. | | Bottom Line: | To remove pinch into triangle, with Powerlink at the top. Gently pinch the bottom sides of the triangle with needle-nose pliars, (I use a channel-lock). Voila! Pins slide right out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
WA
a Cross Country Rider
from Redhill
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The one that got away | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Wiggle | | Strengths: | Easy to take apart and reconnect | | Weaknesses: | It snaps | | Bottom Line: | I thought it would be a good idea to get a chain with a powerlink to go with my new chainset. I read some of the reviews on this site and as I only weigh 10st I didn't expect problems.
WRONG. It snapped after < 2 months riding in dry conditions, and after regular chain maintenance. Good idea, shame it doesn't work. Not recommended for anyone heavier than a small child. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a cyclist
a Cross Country Rider
from canadia
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | strewn with glass and used hypos | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | several places | | Strengths: | I can take my chain off without tools so I clean it more often so it lasts longer | | Weaknesses: | Quality control could be better - some are pretty hard to open even if I clean them first | | Similar Products Used: | Plain chain, the master links from thick bmx chains | | Bottom Line: | I would give these five crispy spicy flaming roasted chickens but the newer ones are sometimes tough to get open so they only get four flaming chickens. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Taupo
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | So eaassy to get the cahin off and clean | | Weaknesses: | Chance of chain coming apart | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F2000sl. XT/XTR, Mavic Rims, Magura hubs and brakes | | Bottom Line: | What an ingenious idea. Sachs chains are better than Shimano anyway because you cant break them but this makes it better.
On problem though. I had a pc91 originally and the link was real hard to get off initially. After about 10 gos it was alright. Then i replaced that with a pc 69 which had the new gold power link and it was heaps easier to get off. It appears it was to easy as they came apart during a ride the other day, half way down a dh and no chain - auggh.
Anyway, I managed to find the links again but i think from now on i'll have a spare set with me.
I'll still use the product though because a clean chain is a good chain and this is the easiest way, just if it happens again i wont be raicng with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AC
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | -SIMPLE!!! SO SIMPLE!!!
-Clean shifts | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | xc | | Bottom Line: | WOW! I can get the chain off with no tools. That is amazing. It is so easy to get the chain thoroughly cleaned and lubed. Plus, if I ever need to replace my chain, I won't have to bother with tools cuz I can just take this one off and, since I am probably going to get another Powerlink chain, just put another one on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Toby
a Racer
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Concept | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | xtr/xt mix on custom hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Want clean shifts? Clean your drive from front to back. A clean chain means one taken off, soaked in some killer toxic chemical, rinsed, dried, lubed, dried, wiped, put back on. Every grimy ride should be followed with a chain cleaing (as well as chain rings, jockey wheels and cassette).
Chain breakers should only be used to size a new chain and make an emergency repair.
I go through 2 chains a year, and I haven't ever broken a powerlink (but other links have broken). I would bet the powerlink is stronger than a regular link by design alone.
If you break chains too much, stop cross-chaining.
The best product I have ever come across for any bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Allows you to easily remove and clean your chain. | | Weaknesses: | absolutely none | | Similar Products Used: | Industrial chain breaker, replacement chain pin, rubber gloves | | Bike Setup: | cannondale F700 | | Bottom Line: | I don't know how you guys get these to break. I'm 6'4", 270 lbs., and never back down from a hill. There have been no failures of any kind. This is one of the few truly revolutionary products in biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, OK USA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Rocks and/or Steep Downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Nashbar.com (came with PC-48) | | Strengths: | Easy to use, easy to swap out chain. | | Weaknesses: | Strength | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail, Sugino Crank (at the time, now LX), LX Rear Der, Alivio Front Der (At the time, now XT), IG Cassette. | | Bottom Line: | All in all it's not a bad product. Yeah it makes the chain a little easier to take off and put back on, but a chain tool is pretty quick too and doesn't weigh too much to carry with you. They probably work well for lighter riders, but if you're big (I weigh in at 260lbs) and strong (my squat work out weight is up around 300lbs) these power links just won't hold up to the stress and fatigue.
If you are light or don't torque your way up steep hills (I ride a 7 speed so all I have is a 28 tooth cog on the rear) use the power link and enjoy the ease of removal. If your tough on chains, rivet the chain together and carry the powerlink for emergencies just in case your chain tool breaks or you loose the pin. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from cincinnait oh
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | harbin park cincinnati | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | easy to install. | | Weaknesses: | weak | | Bottom Line: | i bought a few of chains with these. eash one breaks within 3 months. i clean the chain after every ride and within 3 months bam the power link blows up. the newest on on a pc 99 "top of the line" was crap bran new on a dry trail blew up in less than 6 miles. the gold plates just ripped apart. i am 6'4" 200 lbs it should hold up jus tfine. i wasn't even cranking on it hard. i was going level to down hill when it shredded | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RK
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington, NC USA
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | The powerlink makes installation and maintenance easy. The chain runs very smoothly and shifts without suck. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Various Shimano IG chains. | | Bike Setup: | Old Trek with LX/XT train, Sram 9.0 Brakes, Sun subIV rims, Panaracers smoke and dart, Bontrager FS+10 saddle, Manitou fork, USE seatpost, old gripshift shifters (they won't wear out), 7 spd. 14-32 Shimano cogs. | | Bottom Line: | The PC 58 is a well made, easy to mount chain. It seems to shift more smoothly, probably due to its nice finish. I change chains a lot so I am happy to have a chain that is easy to deal put together. I have never had trouble with my Shimano chains, but I do think I will stick with the SRAM because of the smooth shifting and easy-to-use powerlink connection. Watch out Shimano, SRAM is winning me over. First shifters, then brakes, now chains. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington, DE
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: |
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$ 5.00
