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Average Rating
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2.48/5
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# of Reviews
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21
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MSRP
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$
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Weight
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Description:The PC-951 is our most economical PowerChain while still maintaining our high standards of quality. Like all Power Chain II chains, the PC-951 uses Chrome Hardened rivet pins for increased durability.
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Submitted by
woohhaa
a Weekend Warrior
from Memphis, TN
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Stanky Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes Plus | | Strengths: | Power link, durability, clean quiet shifts. | | Weaknesses: | Rusts quickly after washing between drying and lube. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 9 speed chains | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Piranha XT rear cassette. | | Bottom Line: | This chain has been trouble free since the minute I put it on. No problems with quick stretch or snapping. Always shifts clean and quiet. I did notice that rust would accumulate on the plates quickly after I washed it off and before I lubed it. The power link was very helpful on several occasions. This chain has hit end of life and I am replacing it with the 971 but I would be glad to recommend the 951.
Value is a 5 because of the price point. Overall I could have lived with out the rust so it gets a 4. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rdoogan
a Cross Country Rider
from Wokingham, Berkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheaper than other SRAM chains
Powerlink is very easy to fit, no special tools required | | Weaknesses: | Obvious rust the very first time it got wet
5 months and it's completely stretched | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano HG | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC Composite One | | Bottom Line: | This chain was fitted by my LBS when the previous Shimano HG finally wore out. The Shimano lasted 12 months, which is about normal for me (I use the bike every day).
So 5 months after being fitted, the PC951 is completely stretched and won't engage at all. Not very good.
It might be cheaper than the other models, but it's false economy when it doesn't last very long.
Going to replace it with a PC991 Cross-step, so I'll review that in a few months! Hopefully it will match up to the excellent reviews it's had here.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
leone35130
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancaster,CA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Bear | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$13.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | It worked for the first 100 miles. | | Weaknesses: | I went for a ride and started the grind up a good sized hill. I kept feeling a click in my pedal stroke. The chain was cleaned and lubed and worked fine just a few days prior. I started putting more of a load on it as the hill got steeper, then snap!
Luckily, I had a chain tool and was able to put it back together. I continued the ride and made it 7 more miles up. I started the descent, and two miles into it, the chain snapped , jammed in the cogset, and then my derailleur broke off at the hanger.
I was able to remove the derailleur, reattach the chain and turned my bike into a single speed rig, just to get back to my truck. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | 07 Stumpy Expert | | Bottom Line: | I think I'm going back to a Shimano drivetrain. I've been riding Shimano for over twenty years without a problem. I liked that the SRAM shifted pretty smoothly, but I don't want to have to repair a chain twice in one ride. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy with the magic wand
a Cross Country Rider
from massachusetts
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | somewhere out west | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$13.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | inexpensive, throw it out and put on a new one and your parts will last longer. power link is easy. On one bike I have, the chain is pre-cut, no need to shorten | | Weaknesses: | The price. riding on an inexpensive chain really hurts my ego. I don't want anyone to know I'm using a 13 dollors chain on a 2500-3000 dollar bike. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | two If and a surly, all steel. | | Bottom Line: | The longest ride I've been on was around 5500 miles. Everyone thousand or so, I throw out my chain and put on a new one. This chain don't hurt me in the pocket, and works fine. No need to care much, a little lube when needed, a lot of wiping off, and in the trash. If you have a problem with your chain, you probably bent it XXXXhead! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wisbike
a Weekend Warrior
from wisconsin
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | shifts ok, hasnt broken | | Weaknesses: | ghost shifting, rusts like crazy | | Similar Products Used: | pc 971 | | Bike Setup: | trek ex8 | | Bottom Line: | this chain is crap. do not buy it. if someone pays you to use it, tell them no thanks. it did not break, however it rusts/corrodes in a second. i clean/lube it religiously and it rusted in a month. i used it for a month and it is extremely rusty right now. it ghost shifts, although not a huge issue since its not that frequent. bottom line is this thing is junk and rusts no matter how much you clean/lube it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | China Camp SP | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Shifts clean, usually shifts ok when covered in dirt, shifts better than my 10 speed road bike | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | KMC, Shimano HG | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper FSR Comp, stock 9 speed drivetrain components | | Bottom Line: | The chain came with the bike. It handles 250 pounds of rider in all mountain and XC riding, through dirt, mud and occasional water. Had some ghost shifts, adjusted the derailleurs and no problems for the next three months. Haven't had any problems with it, but I do clean the chain with Rock N Roll Xtreme lube after each ride and sometimes before a long ride. Also I try not to shift while hammering on the crankarms. I've gone through a set of tires and the chain hasn't stretched yet, good enough! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Shultz Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | It connects your crank to your wheel--cheaply. | | Weaknesses: | It broke far earlier than expected, shifts/operates roughly | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bottom Line: | People told me "a chain is a chain." However, this chain has been a big disapointment: it never shifted as smoothly as the Shimano it replaced, and broke when under very minimal stess conditions. The best part of this chain is the power link that comes with it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred Redwood
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Internet retailer | | Strengths: | Cheap, shifts well, powerlink | | Weaknesses: | needs careful maintenance to keep it reliable. | | Similar Products Used: | PC971, shimano | | Bike Setup: | XC Hardtail - sram front and rear derailleurs Sram cassette | | Bottom Line: | It's cheap and it works. The powerlink is by far and away the best feature of the SRAM chains. Makes maintenance a complete doddle - had to straighten out the gear hangar the other week, squeeze the plates and compress the link pins, and hey presto chain is off.
I brought the PC951 because the only difference between this chain is the fact that the 971 and 991 have nickel coated side plates for corrosion resistance, otherwise the chains are identical. If you clean and lube your chain properly they don't rust, and you don't need to fork out for expensive nickel coatings.
Haven't had a problem with chain's snapping. My old 971 snapped once, but then it was nearing the end of it's useful life. I always change chains when they hit the wear limit - and they seem to last around 6 months or so - less if I ride in a lot of mud - religiously cleaning/lubing and replacing them as soon as they hit the wear limit seems to work for me.
for those thinking of shimano - read the snappety snap reviews for them - I think personally that the thinner 9 speed chains are weaker and more prone to snapping than the older 8 speed stuff (never have had an 8 speed chain snap). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Minkis
a Weekend Warrior
from GTA, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | it's a chain. Aside from that, none. | | Weaknesses: | like the above says it's a chain, a weakness because it fails miserably at that. <=8 rides and it snapped.. | | Bike Setup: | 2007 stumpjumper FSR comp w/ raceface chain rings. | | Bottom Line: | Of all places, it snaps at the easiest trail I could have possibly gone to. Zero hard riding and hits that day. It was a regular link that went out. i've never really had problems with chains before. They tend to last me at least a year. If this one can't survive a few weekends. Utter barbage in my book. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric W.
a Weekend Warrior
from Henderson NV.
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything I can ride... | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Goes on easy with the power link.
Shifts slghtly better than the old PC-59s, with the new Shimano style outer links. | | Weaknesses: | Wears much faster than the PC-59/69s that I used to buy.
Cost is to high especialy when you figure in fast wear. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Sram nickle plated PC-59/69
Shimano HG chains. Both types worked well, when installed properly. | | Bottom Line: | I have been using Sram chains for at least three years now, but after having two of the new 951 chains practicaly desolve while riding in just 90 days each, I'm going to go back and try Shimano again. The only reason I had switched brands in the first place, three years ago, was because I like the Power Link's ease of removal, when I service my bikes.
Its getting a 2 rating only because the new outer link design does help the shifting some. That brings up another point. Remember when Sram used to claim their old PC-50 series chains out shifted Shimano? Then how come their new chain designs, copy Shimano's outer link designs? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Weekend Warrior
from Bear, DE
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Shaeffer Farms | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | smooth shifting... I think. Didn't last long enough to find out. | | Weaknesses: | snapped after about 4 miles of light to moderate trail riding | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM PC-68 on older bike | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Iron Horse Azure Comp Mountain Bike (stock components) | | Bottom Line: | This chain came with a new bike. If I had read these reviews first, I would have changed the chain before ever riding the bike... Nobody, except maybe a VERY light rider should consider this chain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Camp Thunder | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar, performance, LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap, durable, reliable, quiet, quiet, quiet, SRAM (sedisport) has a good reputation. No need to replace pin everytime you take it apart like Shimano. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Campy | | Bike Setup: | Road and Mtn | | Bottom Line: | Most problems with chains result in improper installation. Either the installer doesn't seat the pin properly, or neglects to "de-stiffen" the link after installation. I suspect most of the problems mentioned above are related to that. I've never had a chain snap however, I have had links come apart twice in my 20 years of racing. Both times were right after I adjusted chain length. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryce Shaw
a Downhiller
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | UCSC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | SV cycle sport | | Strengths: | cheap... | | Weaknesses: | ive snapped three of these chains in about 3 months. and they were all new chains. so basically one chain would last me a month | | Similar Products Used: | other chains | | Bottom Line: | dont buy this if you sprint a lot. you will snap them very fast | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from West Virginia
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Won't say to protect the innocent! | | Strengths: | UH, it looks like a chain......does that count? | | Weaknesses: | The chain! all links are weak and not worth a s**t! | | Bike Setup: | The one with gears. | | Bottom Line: | Like many others. It broke way before a chain should break! I was only 2 miles into my 3rd ride and "SNAP" it broke just like it did on everyone else. I had less than 30 miles on this POS! Bottom line ------DO NOT buy this chain!----- I give it a 1 flamin' Chili because I had to select something, it REALLY doesn't need that high of a rating! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Jenkins
a Weekend Warrior
from Basel, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | A chain is only as strong as its weakest links. No Strengths. | | Weaknesses: | This chain broke in my thrid ride. I was downshifting on a moderate hill when it blew. I rode my last chain for 10 years - without specific maintenance and never broke it. | | Bike Setup: | CDALE RUSH with SRAM Cogs - and a cheap chain. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it. If it came with your bike (like mine), hope that it breaks early (like mine)so you can replace it with something more reliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Goodlett
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything that goes up and down | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came stock on bike | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting, quiet operation | | Weaknesses: | Chain broke on the first outing on a mild trail. Very disappointed. I bought a PC-971 to replace it same day. Well see how it plays out. | | Bike Setup: | Haro V-4 Stock | | Bottom Line: | Links seem to be very soft. I am 5'10" 210lbs. Wasnt working the chain very hard. Failed easy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Downhiller
from Clay, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with sweet jumps and drops | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | lasted a whoppin 4 weeks of weekend riding. | | Weaknesses: | stiff links come easy, breaks apart like nobody's business | | Bike Setup: | 2004 bighit spec | | Bottom Line: | This is supposed to be a decent chain for all-around mountian biking. I've used it for about 4 weeks and have never liked it. It tends to get stiff links easily. Broke it twice on back to back rides. I wasn't even shifting gears and it was just steadily goin up a hill. i only weight 185lbs.
okay chain for light riding, but any serious riding or if you have strong legs, for your safety don't ever use this chain.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wells
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | smooth, quiet | | Weaknesses: | durability | | Similar Products Used: | hg-73 | | Bike Setup: | Deore fr. deraileur, XT rear deraileur, Avid bb5 mechanical disc breaks | | Bottom Line: | I'm glad it was stock, and I didn't buy it as a replacement. Well maintained and broken in and it broke on me twice in one ride. I replaced the initial broken link and checked the chain for any other stressed links. Within 3 minutes of riding the chain broke again. Upon looking i discivered it was a different link not near the new link. I know nearly all chains are supposed to be able to support all strengths and weights, but at 220 lbs. I have noticed a trend of other heavier riders breaking chains as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mario
a
from Finland
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Strengths: | Relatively cheap, shifts well. | | Weaknesses: | Not at all durable: had to replace it due to stretch after only 2000 Km of 40% XC 60% road riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano HG-53, HG-73 | | Bike Setup: | Bruiser Alu frame, Deore LX front and Deore rear deraileur, Deore mechanical diskbrakes, Deore cassette. | | Bottom Line: | It's an OK chain with good shifting performance, but in my experience, it won't last very long. I have been taking very good care of the drivetrain, with regular cleaning and even more regular lubing. In spite of this, I had to replace the chain after only 2000 Km (and in fact, a noticeable stretch was measured before that. If your time is worth some money, get a chain that'll last longer.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from central Va
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Rowlettes | | Strengths: | cleaner shifts, easily removed for cleaning | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano HG73,KMC stuff | | Bike Setup: | Devinci Guzzler | | Bottom Line: | I replaced the chain and mid chainring today because of skippimg when cranking down on climbs and decided to give the 951 a try. I was pleasantly surprised at how much faster my rear shifts, like when the bike was new crisp, and the front shifts better than when it was new.
I am a clydesdale and I have a friend who was constanlty breaking chains on climbs so when mine started to either skip or break on power climbs I decided to go the route he took with the SRAM chain.
Im already riding a 34# bike so a few grams of weight will not make a difference IMO.
I think the price and reputation makes this chain worth giving a try and the performance I've had so far has made me glad I did. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Mid wales
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Rode 6 times in the welsh hills and ti snapped on a very gentle gradient | | Bike Setup: | XC HArdtail | | Bottom Line: | Dont buy it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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