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Blackspire
Stinger Chain Guide
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Submitted by
atchipmunk
a Weekend Warrior
from Hermosa Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | Price point | | Strengths: | Cheap, and IT WORKS! Haven't dropped a chain since I installed it! Works great with a RF 36T Bashguard! | | Weaknesses: | Can't really think of any other than a lack of included installation instructions. Blackspire does have install instructions available online though, so no big deal. I guess if you're REAL hard on your bike, it might not be the stoutest of chain guides. If I bend this one, i'll definitely buy another one. Can't beat the price! | | Similar Products Used: | None. Bought this one based on reviews. | | Bike Setup: | '98 Spesh FSR Comp - Marzochi Jr. T Fork, Risse Racing Hex Link, Fox Vanilla R shock, RF Diabolus Crank... | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is that this thing works and for the price, you just can't beat it! Was gonna buy the Blackspire Dewlie but opted for the Stinger and a RF 36T Bashguard in order to save the $50 for other goodies. Buy one...it's worth it! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sgf2
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere in Canada | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Universalcycles | | Strengths: | Cheap, does the job very well. | | Weaknesses: | None really. the only thing I recommend is to get an lbs to install it. I didn't tighten the roller enough and lost it somewhere at Whistler. If you see it give me a PM.... The spare roller was around $12. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | giant Faith sportin a 66 and blackspire stinger | | Bottom Line: | I kept dropping my chain and decided it was time to buy a chain guide system. This one kept coming to my attention. I figured what the heck, i'm like 3k into my bike if this $25 dollar part doesn't work I'll just buy the $125 and up ones. like I'll miss $25 in the grand scheme of bike costs...
Turns out it works really well, I've been to Whistler over 10 times countless north shore runs and probably 15 times at Diablo Freeride Park, since I've got it and I can't remember ever dropping my chain. There's no rub or extra noise anywhere. I don't even notice its there. IF I break it, I'm buying another.
Bottom Line: Buy it, you won't regret it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K0NARIDER
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap , Does the job | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | e13 DRS | | Bike Setup: | '08 Heckler | | Bottom Line: | This chain guide works great with a 2 ring set up . Chain flip flops on the roller just like the e13 , but for a fraction of the price . I have not dropped a chain yet , and this is on a single pivot bike , amazing . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bacchus72
a Downhiller
from Seoul
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Keeps changing every year. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Very simple, easy to install, and does its job well. | | Weaknesses: | Can rotate and pinch the chain to the chainstay, causing wear, making noise, or just stopping the chain. | | Similar Products Used: | E-13 DRG | | Bike Setup: | Specialized SX trail with a Shimano Saint Crank | | Bottom Line: | This tensioner is cheap and does its job well. It isn't a full chainguide, so don't expect the impossible. It will, however, drastically reduce the amount of thrown chains, and reduce the amount of noise produced by your chain/derailleur over bumpy terrain.
For someone who wants a cheap, easy, partial solution to a noisy rear end, or chains flying off, but still wants to keep to chainrings running, this is THE solution. If you want to pay more, go for the e-13 DRG and you will get slightly better performance at a higher cost. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KYMtnBkr
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Mr. Toad's Wild Ride | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | bicyclesupply.net | | Strengths: | Performs flawlessly! | | Weaknesses: | Installation can be tricky. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 09 Nomad with a 36t/22t XT double crankset and MRP Party Crasher bashring. | | Bottom Line: | I swapped out my 32t middle ring for a 36t and was dropping my chain multiple times on each ride. I had to think about each shift I was making. At times opted not to shift because I thought I might drop my chain. I loved the top end gearing the 36t provided but decided that I would switch back to the 32t if I could not fix this problem.
The Stinger did the trick. I've had five rides with this setup and have not dropped my chain once. I've even tried my hardest to force the chain to drop and it just won't. This is a great product that does exactly what it's supposed to do. If your dropping your chain just go buy one. You'll be glad you did. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eatdrinkride
a
from desert, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Strengths: | inexpensive, simple design. | | Weaknesses: | it's not 2.5mm thick like the spacer it replaced. No biggie but the chain rubs the guide in the small ring. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | yes, bike is set up. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this b/c I was sick of dropping the chain on my 575. Since the installation I have dropped the chain 3 times. I thought that would be impossible when I decided to purchase it but i have proven that wrong.
I am going to replace it with something else. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Downhiller
from Port Moody, BC
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Cheap, light, simple, effective. Larger sized bearing/roller doesn't gum up with mud. | | Weaknesses: | Can be tricky to install since the plate isn't 2.5mm thick (The width of a BB spacer) | | Similar Products Used: | e13 DRS | | Bike Setup: | Norco Six One. Fox 36VanRC2. | | Bottom Line: | I used to run an e13 DRS, but had problems with the roller not turning properly, and was always irritated that you had to buy the ugly, non functional bash ring to get the guide. The stinger resolved every issue I had with the DRS.
I've installed about a dozen of these guides on friends bikes, noone has ever wrecked one, had one sieze or complained about it in any way. It's a beautifully elegant solution to a tricky problem. It operates with the same principles as the e13 DRS, but works better in nearly every aspect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a
from British Columbia
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | A-Line | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | - Can run two chain rings
- Keeps the chain on very well
- Not big and bulky
- Very Cheap | | Weaknesses: | - The wheel will get seized up if it gets very muddy
- Chain can get sucked between the guide and chainstay, this is very rare and happens under hard or awkward hits
- Running in your big ring and a very low gear on your cassette is not perfectly smooth | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Transition Preston | | Bottom Line: | To ensure that this guide is working to its full potential have it installed by your LBS. It is not perfect but for the price of this guide you can't go wrong. It does a very good job of keeping the chain on and doesn't really hinder shifting from one chain ring to the other. I had this on my bike while at Whistler my chain did dismount a few times in two days of riding but without it I would have dismounted about once a run the way I ride. It would probably be even more effective if I shortened my chain some. You will want to clean and re-grease the wheel after a very muddy ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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