Submitted by
mtbbiker@heart
a Weekend Warrior
from Corona, CA Date Reviewed: June 27, 2010
Favorite Trail:
Hurkey Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$26.00
Purchased At:
Tree Fort
Strengths:
Strong, very easy to install, quiet, shifts smooth.
Weaknesses:
None. If you consider a bit of extra weight as a weakness.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT, SRAM 971
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel EX8
Bottom Line:
If you are a heavier rider, and require a stronger chain I would recommend this one (cross-step). I have been very pleased with the performance of this chain. 2.5 months and no issues.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dubdryver
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami, FL Date Reviewed: June 4, 2010
Favorite Trail:
too many to say
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Very Strong! Durable non-rusting finish. Take care of it, and it will take care of you!
Weaknesses:
weight? but it weighs the same as a regular 991, XTR,XT,LX....except for hollowpins and other cutout chains
Similar Products Used:
XT level..not going to look up the nomenclature
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur XC Carbon, Santa Cruz Blur Classic, K2 Razorback Team
Bottom Line:
If anyone is scratching their head as to what the "CrossStep" is, here you go! The rivets have a different profile through the length of the link. Also the rivet tabs are turned verticle versus horizontal. The gains to this chain is an extra 50kgf (kilograms of force) strength ratio. These chains are wicked strong, and long lasting.
I have done a no-no, and used the same chain through two different cassettes and two different cranks. In three years, on three different bikes with different cassettes and different cranks, I have yet to have any chain stretch or wear. I also ride on average 4 days a week 20+mi. techical Singletrack in mud, dust, sand, saltwater...just no snow. I have to say that this is probably one of the most durable chains on the market! I bought a new one about 1 year ago thinking I would replace it, but it is still sitting in the original packaging w/o the sticker seal broken. Seriously, no joke about this chain, it is very good. The finish is great, it cleans up easily and always looks shiny. I am not a super XC lightweight either. I started out using this chain at 192lb. I weigh 176 now, but it is definitely strong too. I am sure the clydesdales would not have a problem with this chain either.
Another great detail about this chain (unlike Shimano) It comes with a great master link, that works well, and makes service considerably easier! I honestly feel it is the "Chris King or Thompson" of chains, they are that good!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nitrometal
a Cross Country Rider
from Lanham, MD Date Reviewed: May 20, 2010
Favorite Trail:
Ralph Stover PA
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
The package it comes in can be re-used to keep stuff in. Yes, this is the strength of this product.
Weaknesses:
The fact that it exists.
Similar Products Used:
shimano, other sram chains
Bike Setup:
EWR, X9 package
Bottom Line:
I needed a chain. I read the reviews. I got burned. Maybe I got a bad one, but in my opinion a good product needs to be CONSISTANTLY good! You can't have a "Friday at 5 pm" one in there every now and then. Anyway...I got 7 miles out of this chain. I wish I were exagerating this claim...but I'm not. Whatever the hell it means to "Cross-step" the rivets may work just fine, but the links twisted too quickly to find out. I didn't even have time to neglect this thing! If you want to trust this chain maybe you'll get a good one. The odds seem to be in your favor. Just beware as you dip in your ladle for that sweet refreshing sip. There is definitely a turd in the punch bowl. Will you get it in your cup??
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GoremanX
a Cross Country Rider
from Ile-Aux-Noix, QC Date Reviewed: November 20, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Island Line, Burlington, VT
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$48.00
Strengths:
Has never broken, has never stretched
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Everything imaginable
Bike Setup:
2008 Kona Hoss frame, custom built from scratch. Relevant items: SRAM PG-970 DH 11-26 cassette, X.7/X.0 short cage rear derailleur, Race Face crankset with 22/36 ring gears and Shimano XT front derailleur.
Bottom Line:
I have about 1000 miles on this chain so far. That's 1000 tough miles, from pavement to rough mountain forest trails. I weigh 250 pounds, and I really punish the drivetrain. Especially since I use a downhill cassette for everyday riding. Despite this, the chain has yet to stretch. It's still in perfect working condition. Of course, I keep it meticulously maintained, with regular cleaning and oiling. And I'm always careful not to cross-gear too far.
I'd happily buy this chain again and again in the future when I need new ones.
P.S. The X.7/X.0 rear derailleur I refer to in "bike setup" is an X.7 derailleur body with an X.0 short cage. The cog bushings in the old X.7 cage used to wear out all the time, so I got an X.0 cage for its sealed bearing cogs and bolted it in place of the X.7 cage.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike_d_1583
a Racer
from cincinnati,OH Date Reviewed: September 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
anything dangerous
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Strong as hell, lasts forever
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
other SRAM chains from pc48 to pc971
Bike Setup:
09' Hardrock
nothing stock
Bottom Line:
After breaking other chains left and right I decided to give this a try. Put about 700 miles on it before it started to stretch. Gives me one less thing to worry about when I go on epic rides. I carry a chain tool but I don't know why because it has never failed me. Use it with a HG61 cassette and it works fine. Fast shifts
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jawndoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Norcal Date Reviewed: July 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hole In The Ground
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Strong, Durable, Exceptionally Precise.
Weaknesses:
It's heavy there are other chains which are 2-3oz lighter.
Similar Products Used:
XTR Chains, SRAM PC-971
Bike Setup:
02 S-Works FSRxc w/ XO rd XTR e-type fd, XO trigger shifters, PG-990 Cassette, FSA K-Force carbon crankset w/ FSA rings, Gore Ride-On cables. The rest doesn't matter...
Bottom Line:
I like to shift under load, and this chain hasn't busted. My cassette and chain ring wear seems to be minimal. While shifting underload it still hits the right gears at the right time 95% of the time which is better than most chains, especially considering it hasn't busted and wear on the rest of my components is nil. I still wish that it was lighter though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mudhut
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, Utah Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Wasatch Crest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Like the powerlink for cleaning or other maintenance. They state you should replace it each time you disconnect, but I haven't had it fail yet after several uses.
Weaknesses:
Broke three times (different links) within 5 rides. Fortunately I always carry spare parts and a chain tool. I'm just happy I never got stranded or jamed/broke my derailleur.
Similar Products Used:
XTR,SRAM 951
Bike Setup:
XTR cassette and front der., XO rear der., FSA carbon crank on a Ventana El Salt.
Bottom Line:
Chain is a little noisy, love the powerlink for convince--that part never failed. Has always failed while sitting, pedaling uphill--not stressing the chain particularly hard. I'll try to deal with their CS, see if I can return or exchange and will re-review if I have better luck.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
crazyhorse79
a Cross Country Rider
from ft lauderdale Date Reviewed: July 18, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Strenght, smoothness, looks.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
shimano, sram
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic comp 07
Bottom Line:
The best chain I've purchased, works quietly and smoothly specially when matched to a PG-990 cassette.
Good product overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Muskegon,Mi. Date Reviewed: May 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Owassippie & Yankee Springs
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Breakaway Bikes
Strengths:
Strong Chain... I weigh 230 lbs. and it hasn't broke yet.
Weaknesses:
none.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XTR,and Sachs.
Bike Setup:
2007 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. Not stock at all...
Bottom Line:
I am not a small guy and I ride hard but this chain has held up to my pounding pretty well. If you keep it clean it will last.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a
from Ventura County, CA Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Guadalasca/o???
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Michaels Bicycles in Newbury Park
Strengths:
Sram's power link is great for maintaining the drive train.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
PC 990 & PC 991 hollow pin chains and shimano junk. The PC 990 link seized when the link gouged during shifting. No issues with the 991 Hollow pin. Shimano is just garbage!
Bike Setup:
Fisher Hifi Pro
Bottom Line:
Some people are wondering what the cross step technology is. I just downloaded the 2006 tech manual and the only difference between this and the rest of the Sram chain line up is the the "push power". The cross steps push power is rated at 562 while the rest of the chains are rated at 450.
One thing I noticed about this chain compared to hollow pin chains is it's super quiet when super dirty. When I was riding yesterday I noticed I was riding in gears I typically don't ride in with other chains. Example: I was in the big chain ring up front and 3rd or 4th from the big chain ring on the back without hitting the front derailleurs cage.
This is the best chain I've used and don't plan on ever using anything else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ryan sprague
a
from australia -- melbourne Date Reviewed: October 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
good looking(for a chain)lol,strong,quiet,easy to get on and off
Weaknesses:
none as yet
Similar Products Used:
shimy chains
Bike Setup:
o7 kona stinky rebuilt from ground up
Bottom Line:
i changed my whole shimano drive train to sram,with the super short cage x9 der,and the 990 cassette,i thought i might as well change the chain to match,i was running all sram drive train with a hg53 shimmy chain,i changed to the pc991 cross stepped chain,it was similar in weight but the links were much more solid,it came with a sram powerlink for easy cleanin/repairs,it looks good,and the rollers were way better than the shimmy ones,and much smoother/quiteter,if your in the same position i was and thats the only thing your not running to match,go for it,for me there was no regrets at all,
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trampas
a Cross Country Rider
from Alamo, CA Date Reviewed: July 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$36.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Easy to install and remove.
Weaknesses:
It broke within the first two weeks even with new cassette and chainrings. I stopped on a hill, tried to start and SNAP!
Similar Products Used:
Other top of the line SRAM and Shimano chains
Bike Setup:
2005 Specialized Stumpjumper Pro Disk, xtr cassette, action-tec titanum chainrings
Bottom Line:
If you always ride uphill first at least you will be able to coast home.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
b d
a Weekend Warrior
from va Date Reviewed: March 31, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$44.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
shifts great, quiet
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
971 sram
Bottom Line:
replaced a 971 chain because of stiff links....this chain is quiet, shifts crisp compared to 971 before I put a stick through the rd. I am heavy at 230 and this chain has not given me any problems, will probably replace with the same chain next time as I am very pleased...I can not say that about all SRAM products so I am not kissin butt...it is expensive at 47 bucks out the door so four flaming turds on value...everything is overpriced for how long it last these days...when I was a kid I had only one chain on my Giant Sedona and I didn't know chain lube existed...it lasted 13 years...today they last 13 days
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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