Submitted by
BikeManiac
a Racer
from Copenhagen, Denmark
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2011
Strengths: Best chain ever!!!
Weaknesses: None, ...... really ..... none!!
Bottom Line:
This is the best chain ever. 2007 I did the perimeter of Australia on a trike. The entire distance was approx. 15000 km, or 9300 miles in 72 days. The bike was fitted with a Rohloff chain. After 15000 km I used the Rphloff tool to measure the wear. It had not reached the 0,075 mm/100mm yet!!! I suppose this chain could last for another 10000 kms.
Also, I managed to have this chain tested (microstructure, hardness etc) at the technical university and compare it with chains from SRAM, Shimano and KMC. Compared with other brands the Rohloff chain had a better = more fine grained micro structure, higher hardnesses etc.
Submitted by
lebikerboy
a Weekend Warrior
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2010
Strengths: Strong shifts well just doesn't seem to wear...
Weaknesses: I haven't found any.
Bottom Line:
I reviewed this chain Nov.3/06 hoping it would last.
Well it's over 4 years and hardly worn. Mind you it's on
one of my hard tails that I don't ride every day but still
it's pretty amazing. Maintenance is the key to keeping
it running...
Similar Products Used: Sram, Sachs, Wipperman, Shimano etc.
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain Blizzard RaceFace, Chris king, XT/XTR etc.
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Submitted by
filfilfil
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, South Australia
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2010
Strengths: Bought one on the strength of reviews here. Lasted for 2000kms of light xc on a new build. Started getting crappy shifts and trying adjustments and a different rear wheel with another cluster I finally measured the chain to find a surprising amount of stretch (well der...2000kms!) Obviously another was purchased despite the price but got only 1/4 the life with similar stretch despite new cluster and front chain rings...Has something changed in the product lately?
Weaknesses: Expensive....when the product isnt lasting well. Inconsistant performance between purchases and 2nd one lasted about 700kms! This wasnt abuse...it was stretched...and Im not a demanding power rider!
Hard to find...1 OZ distributor?
Bottom Line:
Initially loved it and was a Rohloff convert as the life made the price good value. The replacement chain was hugely disappointing and made the price a hard pill to swallow! I will try other brands again to see what the market is like knowing I can purchase 2 others for the price of 1 of these. May return to the fold and see if things change...had me...lost me!
Bike Setup: custom build no name Hardtail with complete XT group, Louise and Reba Team
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO USSA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2009
Strengths: Superior design, materials and manufacturing. Superior performance, smoothness (keep any chain clean and lubed!!!)
Weaknesses: None whatsoever.
Bottom Line:
While several chains exist and aregood to very good, with a special shout out to Wipperman - phenominal product, where either a 7, 8, or 9 cog rear is at hand, Rohloff's chain is in a league of its own. Thank you Rohloff!!!
Always install properly to absolute precision with the right tool and always keep your chain (drivetrain) clean and properly lubricated (Dumonde Tech!). So many do not. What a crime.
Similar Products Used: Over decades have used every chain of note - chiefly Italian and French mfgr.
Bike Setup: Classic road racing bike(s), always built from the standpoint of durability, reliability, smoothness, superior quality; in other words...., traditional frame, wheels and Campagnolo only. I have no time for "weight weenies", "trendoids", "poseurs" ad nauseum.......
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Submitted by
Alec Gold
a Cross Country Rider
from None
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2008
Strengths: It is a nice and much smoother chain than the Shimano that was on before. And it stands of rust well and despite being used in rain, riding 4" of standing water, over salt sprayed roads, all the bad thinks a chain can expect in the first 1500km
Weaknesses: well, it isn't cheap, but also not very expensive if compared to top-of-the-line products from other companies
Bottom Line:
This chain is strong and very light rolling. A bit expensive, but not very.
I would like to comment to the previous reviewer that if you can't rivet a chain, you shouldn't build a bike
Submitted by
Giles Jones
a Downhiller
from Cannock, Staffs, UK
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2007
Strengths: Looks strong
Weaknesses: Joining link stiff
Bottom Line:
Not impressed, put chain on a bike I've been building and couldn't figure out why the gears were making so much noise. Turns out the link where I joined the chain is stiff. I used a Park Chain tool and so it's not bad tools.
Needless to say I'm going for something else like SRAM.
Strengths: Great chain, heavy duty. I race my MTB 30m daily, any weather. Have now had 2 years out of this chain, and acording to the chain gauge it is only halfway worn. Am just about to replace Shimano rings and cassette next week as worn out. Worth every penny.
Weaknesses: Have had quite a bit of chainsuck but must admit I don't lube as often as I probably should.
Bike Setup: Porsche frame loaded w King moving parts, XTR, X-0, Fox RLC.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Arnout M
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2007
Strengths: No initial stretch, wears verry slowly
Weaknesses: Poor shifting, reacts slow and unprecise! Tried with XT and stronglight CT2 chainrings but never sattisfied (XT downswing), same with XT and 2003 XTR cassette
Bottom Line:
Verry disapointed after all the positive news, chain life is verry good, but the shifts poorly
Similar Products Used: XT, XTR, PC991, PC 991 hollow pin, KMC X9, ...
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Submitted by
Andreas Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2007
Strengths: Endures, looks nice
Weaknesses: Chain suck
Bottom Line:
Unexplained many events of chain suck of late with the STL 99/8. Changed everything, only the (new Rohloff) chain remained as culprit. With SRAM PC68 zero problems. Don't know what to make of it. Hitherto I've been an unmitigated Rohloff fan.
Bike Setup: Titus Motolite, XTR, SRAM X.0, Chis King Hubs/ZTR 355s, etc..
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Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from North Van
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2006
Strengths: Strong, shifts well, looks good.
Weaknesses: None I've found so far.
Bottom Line:
I bought this 8 speed version of the SLT-99 when my LBS found this chain in a plastic bag while cleaning up the warehouse. As the bag didn't contain the connector pin I got the chain for $20.00. I used a Wipperman 8 speed Connex (which I use on all my chains) and it works great. This chain shifts great and I'm hoping it lives up to the reputation Rohloff has garnered as they're no longer availible in North America.
Similar Products Used: Shimano, Sachs, SRAM, IRD, etc.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Tazmon/XTR/XT/RaceFace/Chris King/etc.
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Submitted by
Chris S
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006
Strengths: Beautiful craftsmanship, shifts smooth, quiet, has not broke yet.
Weaknesses: Hard to finf at LBS, a bit heavier than the Shimano and Srams I've used.
Bottom Line:
I bought this chain after reading all the great reviews here, and doing a little more research on the web.I have been using the XTR CN-7701 for the last three years, but do not like the special pin you are suppose to use.The XTR has been been a really smooth chain on the XT cassette's and the SLT 99 is no different except I don't need to hassle the special pins anymore.Have not brobe the SLT yet and hope I never will.As an ex-machinist I disagree with the quality and look comment of the previous review, this chain is the best looking chain I've ever used and screams quality the second you take it out of the box.Makes me wonder if somehow He was sold a used chain by mistake.Bottom line is this chain so far is worth the extra weight penalty over the Shimano and Sram chains I've used, and I am VERY pleased with the performance and looks.
Bike Setup: O3 Access XCL, 07 Manitou R7 Super with clickIT remote,XTR 952 rear, XT front, XTR STM-952 Brake/Shifter(tuned), FSA Team Carbon Cranks, King headset, FSA OS-115 Stem, FSA K-Force Carbon flatbar, FSA Carbon seatpost, WTB Shadow-V stealth saddle, Ergon grips, Mavic X517, XT cassette w/ Maxxis tires
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Submitted by
Wayne
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006
Strengths: ??
Weaknesses: Chain broke! Heavy and doesn't have the same quality look of the others.
Bottom Line:
I bought this chain after reading the reviews here, but my experience with the chain couldn't be same. The chain snapped on my first ride! (It wasn't the spot I connected.) After studying the chain, I've noticed that many pins seemed to be off centered, whether that was the reason why my chain snapped, or not. Since I installed it after 30 days of the purchase, I tried to contact Rohloff directly, leave messages and sending emails, but they never responded. Thankfully, J.D., at Cambria, is helping me with its warranty.
If any of you buy this chain, I hope you guys have better luck than me. I'm not hard on the chains, so I really don't need an over-priced, and heavy, chain that I can't rely on.
