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Submitted by
ant0
a Cross Country Rider
from Bracknell, UKDate Reviewed: December 5, 2011
Strengths: Fast shifting, lightWeaknesses: WeakBottom 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!!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Similar Products Used: KMC
Bike Setup: Kona Kula Primo 06, XT drivetrain
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
timxyz
a Cross Country Rider
from ChinaDate 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
coeumo
a Weekend Warrior
from Tenino, WADate 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.
Favorite Trail: Green Line 6
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Warpig
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney AustraliaDate Reviewed: November 19, 2009
Strengths: Smooth shiftingWeaknesses: None reallyBottom 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Alberto
a Racer
from Costa RicaDate Reviewed: October 18, 2009
Strengths: Non so farWeaknesses: Super weakBottom 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...
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
fabcira
a Weekend Warrior
from Sheffield, UKDate 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.
Favorite Trail: Endcliffe
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At: came with the bike
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
scottb32
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WADate Reviewed: August 13, 2009
Strengths: Inexpensive
StrongWeaknesses: Shimano Pin is tricky - check after installBottom 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
italiastraps
a Cross Country Rider
from Marina, CA USADate Reviewed: July 17, 2009
Strengths: Price, Compatibility, Stands up to abuseWeaknesses: None I can see if installed correctlyBottom 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
matthew13sanderson
a Downhiller
from Richmond HillDate Reviewed: June 21, 2009
Strengths: noneWeaknesses: brakes easy, not a good chain at allBottom 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Amd1507
a Cross Country Rider
from Quebec,CanadaDate 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 .
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: little shop around m
Similar Products Used: shimano
Bike Setup: caméléon 2004
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
BrokeSpoke
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa Fl. USADate 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
RandyB
a Cross Country Rider
from Garden Valley, CA USADate 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Pertti M
a Weekend Warrior
from FinlandDate Reviewed: May 5, 2008
Strengths: It is an OK chain
Lower cost than better chainsWeaknesses: Does not shift as well as XTR, and such premium chains
Rougher surface makes it more difficult to keep clean
Stretches more than XTR tooBottom 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jay Notes
a Downhiller
from CaliforniaDate 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.
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: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, BC, CanadaDate Reviewed: September 23, 2007
Strengths: NoneWeaknesses: 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.
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
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