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Shimano CN-HG53 Chain


  • Average Rating: 2.47/5
  • # of Reviews: 17
  • Weight: 304 grams

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Product Description

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  • Precision construction


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Reviews 1 - 15 (17 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:2
Submitted by ant0 a Cross Country Rider from Bracknell, UK

Date Reviewed: December 5, 2011

Strengths:    Fast shifting, light

Weaknesses:    Weak

Bottom Line:   
Do not buy this chain. I'm a big fan of Shimano parts however in my experience their chains are junk. Far too weak, I did mine in after 3 months and some commuting / 5 hard offroad rides. Fixed it up and it went a week later (different link!)

I've used a near bog standard KMC chain (cant remember model) but it is strong, works well with Shimano XT drivetrain. It may be slightly heavier but realistically is it going to make a difference in the real world? Pushing a bike back through a forest with night closing in isn't too fun!!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $30.00

Similar Products Used:   KMC

Bike Setup:   Kona Kula Primo 06, XT drivetrain


Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:3
Submitted by timxyz a Cross Country Rider from China

Date Reviewed: June 25, 2011

Strengths:    Smooth shifting if gear changing tuned properly. (Shimano SLX)

Weaknesses:    OEM made in China not same quality as original.

Bottom Line:   
I’m based in China as I work here. Bought MTB from Giant Dealer and chain come with the bike. It’s Shimano CN-HG53. I use bike for touring and I did 1050km on tarred road. Chain has never seen mud and grit. I’m very particular about shifting gears and always keep chain as straight as possible. After 1050km chain measured with vernier caliper over 6” and show 1mm stretch. I guess 500km more before replacing with new chain. Very disappointing. Next chain will be only made in Japan.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Various

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $24.00

Purchased At:   Giant Dealer

Bike Setup:   Giant MTB XTC 790 9 speed 2011


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by coeumo a Weekend Warrior from Tenino, WA

Date Reviewed: February 21, 2010

Bottom Line:   
Broke twice on my SECOND ride. Very disappointed in the quality of this chain. This is on a new 2009 Kona Caldera, chain came stock with the bike. I didn't expect to be the one dropping a chain yesterday, since I had the newest bike. If you're running this chain, you better bring a chain tool.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Green Line 6

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month



Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Warpig a Cross Country Rider from Sydney Australia

Date Reviewed: November 19, 2009

Strengths:    Smooth shifting

Weaknesses:    None really

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Manly dam

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Purchased At:   Came with bike

Similar Products Used:   HG50

Bike Setup:   2007 Kona Cinder Cone, stock. Maxxis Ignitors (CC) or Detonators (road)


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by Alberto a Racer from Costa Rica

Date Reviewed: October 18, 2009

Strengths:    Non so far

Weaknesses:    Super weak

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...

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Similar Products Used:   other regular chains

Bike Setup:   stock except for the shimano pedals and the slx rear derrailor.


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by fabcira a Weekend Warrior from Sheffield, UK

Date Reviewed: September 5, 2009

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Endcliffe

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $1.00

Purchased At:   came with the bike



Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by scottb32 a Cross Country Rider from Seattle, WA

Date Reviewed: August 13, 2009

Strengths:    Inexpensive
Strong


Weaknesses:    Shimano Pin is tricky - check after install

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Mission Ridge

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $22.00

Purchased At:   REI

Similar Products Used:   SRAM

Bike Setup:   1 Tandem and 1 Spec FSR


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by italiastraps a Cross Country Rider from Marina, CA USA

Date Reviewed: July 17, 2009

Strengths:    Price, Compatibility, Stands up to abuse

Weaknesses:    None I can see if installed correctly

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Fort Ord Trail 50

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $25.00

Purchased At:   REI

Similar Products Used:   KMC 9200, Other Shimano HG Chains

Bike Setup:   Ibex Asta Pro with XT Drivetrain


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:2
Submitted by matthew13sanderson a Downhiller from Richmond Hill

Date Reviewed: June 21, 2009

Strengths:    none

Weaknesses:    brakes easy, not a good chain at all

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   bogie

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $30.00

Purchased At:   bike sports

Similar Products Used:   other chains

Bike Setup:   khs dj300, manitou sherman slider plus, double track rims, avid juicy 5


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Amd1507 a Cross Country Rider from Quebec,Canada

Date Reviewed: April 27, 2009

Strengths:    Cheap ,but do the work!

Weaknesses:    none so far ,after 4000km the chain have done the best of ,but no break so far !


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 .

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Purchased At:   little shop around m

Similar Products Used:   shimano

Bike Setup:   caméléon 2004


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by BrokeSpoke a Weekend Warrior from Tampa Fl. USA

Date Reviewed: March 31, 2009

Strengths:    Strong, It's Shimano !

Weaknesses:    it's not hyped up like the more expensive chains?

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Santos

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Purchased At:   Came with bike

Bike Setup:   05' Kona Cinder Cone, Rockshox Reba team fork.


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by RandyB a Cross Country Rider from Garden Valley, CA USA

Date Reviewed: September 4, 2008

Strengths:    It worked ok but a bit noisy.

Weaknesses:    It broke after about a month of medium use.

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.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $20.00

Purchased At:   mail order

Similar Products Used:   SRAM 751

Bike Setup:   Specialized Epic


Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Pertti M a Weekend Warrior from Finland

Date Reviewed: May 5, 2008

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


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.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   2 Years

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   Shimano CN-7701

Bike Setup:   HT, SS and gearie
FS "big bike"


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by Jay Notes a Downhiller from California

Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008

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!

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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   everywhere

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $20.00

Purchased At:   came with freeride kit

Similar Products Used:   other chains.

Bike Setup:   Freeride.


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by Aaron a Weekend Warrior from Surrey, BC, Canada

Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007

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.

Bottom Line:   
DO NOT BUY THIS CHAIN.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $1.00

Purchased At:   Bike Zone Surrey

Similar Products Used:   7 year old nishiki bike, NEVER broke the chain once.

Bike Setup:   Stock with rear grip shift



Reviews 1 - 15 (17 Reviews Total) | Next 15

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Will powerlink work w/ Shimano CN-HG53 chain?

I have a rockhopper 9spd and currently the chain is a Shimano CN-HG53, 1/2 x 3/32". I was wondering if there are issues with using PowerLinks with this Shimano chain. I was advis   Read More »

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