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Submitted by
Warpig
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Manly dam | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting | | Weaknesses: | None really | | Similar Products Used: | HG50 | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Kona Cinder Cone, stock. Maxxis Ignitors (CC) or Detonators (road) | | Bottom Line: | After 3500 km of use, 80% road, 20% cross country, the chain is getting close to 1/16" stretch. I don't think that's too bad. Maintenance is lubing every 2nd ride with White Lightning Epic and washing with degreaser every month or so. I guess there's plenty of people who abuse their stuff more than I do: the chain's going to outlast the front derailleur and I've had no problems with it at all. Unless you're over 90 kg or are mechanically insensitive this chain will get the job done. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alberto
a Racer
from Costa Rica
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Non so far | | Weaknesses: | Super weak | | Similar Products Used: | other regular chains | | Bike Setup: | stock except for the shimano pedals and the slx rear derrailor. | | Bottom Line: | Never buy this chain. It was brand new. I used it 7 times. I cleaned it and greased it correctly after each ride. Today the chain broke 3 times and could fine no logical explanation because I was pedaling in 1-2 or 1-3, shifted before the climb started and as soon as I put some strength to my pedaling the chain broke... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fabcira
a Weekend Warrior
from Sheffield, UK
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Endcliffe | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Weaknesses: | it broke after 6 months and when inspected it was damaged in several places: it had split in several places, not the pins or other, the different part of the chai. I had another new bike stolen before this one and the same chain broke twice in 3 months. | | Bottom Line: | the shop is insisting this is not covered by the bike warranty claiming I should have lubed it more often. I use to lube it once a week and I just use the bike for 15 minutes a day to go to work, hardly hard work. The shop claims I should have done it every day. That is unacceptable to me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scottb32
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Mission Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Inexpensive
Strong | | Weaknesses: | Shimano Pin is tricky - check after install | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM | | Bike Setup: | 1 Tandem and 1 Spec FSR | | Bottom Line: | These chains are fine. I broke two SRAM 9-speed chains after extensive use (500+ miles on a tandem) so I switched to the HG53 because of my previous experience with Shimano chains. I'm a SRAM fan, but I believe Shimano makes a better chain for the $. Tandems can eat chains - so I replace every 1,000 miles or so (I also check for stretch). When you put the connector pin in - pay attention and verify from both sides that it is properly seated (flex chain side to side, rotate & inspect). I'm very skeptical of reviewers who break a chain on the first day. I've broken 4 chains - none on the first day (2 were SRAM 2 were Shimano). Truth is - I just wore them out. You need to install correctly, lubricate, and monitor stretch. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
italiastraps
a Cross Country Rider
from Marina, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Fort Ord Trail 50 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Price, Compatibility, Stands up to abuse | | Weaknesses: | None I can see if installed correctly | | Similar Products Used: | KMC 9200, Other Shimano HG Chains | | Bike Setup: | Ibex Asta Pro with XT Drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | I noticed my stock KMC chain was starting to tweak at the master link. I ran down to the local REI, grabbed a Shimano HG-53 (all they had) and installed it. I have ridden the chain HARD for a few hundred miles now in sandy conditions with no issues and continued smooth shifting. The switch to the HG chain made the XT drivetrain smoother than it was at day one with the KMC. I think a lot of the criticism HG chains get is probably due to improper installation. I’ve installed them incorrectly myself and paid the price. Once you are familiar with the installation, and are careful not to tweak things with the chain tool, its no problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matthew13sanderson
a Downhiller
from Richmond Hill
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | bogie | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | bike sports | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | brakes easy, not a good chain at all | | Similar Products Used: | other chains | | Bike Setup: | khs dj300, manitou sherman slider plus, double track rims, avid juicy 5 | | Bottom Line: | this is a horrible quality chain. i have had it for about a month and it has broke 2 times already. first time a pin poped out. i went and bought a master link and about 2 weeks later another one poped out again. lucky i found another pin and used a chain tool to put it back in about (this was about a week ago).... i am now currently waiting for it to break again. if your going to buy a chain i highly suggest you do not buy this one.
oh and btw i wasnt even doing any hard riding i was just taking it out for a spin and it broke....both times. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Amd1507
a Cross Country Rider
from Quebec,Canada
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | little shop around m | | Strengths: | Cheap ,but do the work! | | Weaknesses: | none so far ,after 4000km the chain have done the best of ,but no break so far !
| | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | caméléon 2004 | | Bottom Line: | I dont ,know how some people said that after 500 km the chain break ? IM 5 foot 9 and i weight 200 pounds . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BrokeSpoke
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa Fl. USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Strong, It's Shimano ! | | Weaknesses: | it's not hyped up like the more expensive chains? | | Bike Setup: | 05' Kona Cinder Cone, Rockshox Reba team fork. | | Bottom Line: | This chain has been on my bike since I bought it back in 2005. years ago after reading reviews such as these I was alittle worried that it might snap but 500+ miles later the chain is still going strong and I am NOT by any means easy on it. It might not be as light or shift as good as a XTR but it is by no means a low quality chain. I give this chain 5 chili's because it is a great chain considering the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RandyB
a Cross Country Rider
from Garden Valley, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order | | Strengths: | It worked ok but a bit noisy. | | Weaknesses: | It broke after about a month of medium use. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM 751 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic | | Bottom Line: | In 25 years of MTB, this is the first chain I ever broke. This was an almost new chain. I'm only 127 pounds so it's not like I was putting a big load on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pertti M
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | It is an OK chain
Lower cost than better chains | | Weaknesses: | Does not shift as well as XTR, and such premium chains
Rougher surface makes it more difficult to keep clean
Stretches more than XTR too | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano CN-7701 | | Bike Setup: | HT, SS and gearie
FS "big bike" | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for. This is not the greatest chain but it works. The CN-7701 (XTR/Dura-Ace) is much nicer than this but costs more too. Last year, I got about 8 or 9 months of singlespeed trails riding out of a HG53. During the winter I had a cheap Shimano Nexus chain on the SS bike and that stretched to unusable condition in 4 months of light commuting and a few trail rides. Now I put another HG53 on the bike, thinking that I'll go for a nicer chain only after replacing chainring and cog.
I am no lightweight and have broken these chains twice: both at joints that I made. Now running a SRAM Powerlink, since a few days ago: seems to work fine. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Notes
a Downhiller
from California
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | everywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | came with freeride kit | | Strengths: | Strengths?....what a JOKE!
I wish i could rate zero on the flammin' chilis. | | Weaknesses: | Where do i begin?. I built my bike 5 days ago. rode it 3 times and today, THIS #*%(in POS chain snapped on me and i wasnt even riding hard at all. DO NOT BUY THIS CHAIN! | | Similar Products Used: | other chains. | | Bike Setup: | Freeride. | | Bottom Line: | This chain sucks. and i am gonna assume that about the rest of shimano's chains that have that indentation in the pins because thats what broke on me. im not a heavy rider and i certainly didnt push this chain really hard at all. snapped on me within 4 days. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Zone Surrey | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | this chain has broken 3 times on me, each time the shop I purchased the bike at has fixed it. Time to replace this piece of garbage. It came on my 2007 Kona caldera. DO NOT BUY THIS CHAIN. | | Similar Products Used: | 7 year old nishiki bike, NEVER broke the chain once. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with rear grip shift | | Bottom Line: | DO NOT BUY THIS CHAIN. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Farizal
a
from Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Cycle, Shah Alam. | | Strengths: | Good looking, Good strength, smooth shifting using XT M750 Cassette. | | Weaknesses: | Rust quickly. Connecting pin can easily damaged if miss fitting. | | Similar Products Used: | Only 8 speed chain. | | Bike Setup: | Hard tail | | Bottom Line: | Smooth Shifting but make sure the connecting pin fitting is in good condition after fitting. The shop where I bought the chain damaged the pin during fitting and the link break after 40km ride. Lucky I have extra links. Now after 500km still in good condition except it rust quickly if you don't oiled it after some water gets on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
william
a Cross Country Rider
from honolulu, HI USA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Works | | Weaknesses: | breaks teeth on front cranks. Probably my fault for not cleaning it after each ride. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 2004 giant iguana disc pretty mutch stock exept for alivio cranks | | Bottom Line: | this is a pretty good chain for the casual rider. I have had no problems with it till now (rust and poor shifting)and i am 240lbs. This chain served me good for 2 years and I would recomend it to someone who is a weekend warrior or someone that is not doing alot of hill climbing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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