Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
|
Reviews 1 - 15 (64 Reviews Total)
|
| Next 15 |
User Reviews
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
hillcountry12
a Cross Country Rider
from Southwest Virginia, USADate Reviewed: July 10, 2008
Strengths: Makes you go forward.Weaknesses: Cannot remove the chain easily in stock form. I ride hard and so chain stretch has been noticeable.Bottom Line: I have this chain on both of my bikes. I have about 1500 miles on the chain on the Tassajara and although it is now way beyond its stretch limit, it still works flawlessly. I lube/clean after every ride, and everything is fine. I purchased my bike new from a local bike shop who built the bike. My local bike shop does pro work so I agree with others that the negative press about this chain braking may have to do with people who aren't as competent as the bike shop people.
However yesterday I torqued the chain on my Trek after about 600 miles on the bike. I was at a stoplight riding to a trail and when I started a link bent sideways. It must have been between shifts (although I thought I was in gear). This is a good chain if you get the Sram Powerlink for it.
Favorite Trail: any
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At: local bike shop
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: '03 GF Tassajara and custom XC Trek 8500
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from New MexicoDate Reviewed: May 16, 2008
Strengths: Its a chain. It shifts well, and has had no problems.Weaknesses: Doesn't come apart easily or without tools and needs replecement pins to put back together. Not as easy as power linkBottom Line: There is a lot of bad press about this chain breaking, but I hate to say it might be the idiot factor. I read the instructions and installed the chain facing the correct direction and have had no problems. Also, I used the special pin supplied to join the chain instead of a regular pin already in the chain. If you can get one for cheap, I see no downsides.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At: WWW
Similar Products Used: Many shimano chains.
Bike Setup: Stumpjumper HT. XT setup with XTR rear derailer.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Lucas
a Weekend Warrior
from santa barbara, ca, usDate Reviewed: April 11, 2007
Strengths: worked for 3 days!Weaknesses: worked for 3 days.Bottom Line: came with a new trek 6000. snapped on me 3 days after buying the bike. no good.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: bike shop
Similar Products Used: any other chain?
Bike Setup: new trek 6000
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
RacerXMan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, OZDate Reviewed: November 23, 2004
Strengths: it worked for 2 ridesWeaknesses: Sub standards strength. Need for specific joining pin (the connex joining process is superior.Bottom Line: Shimano chains are sub par. It's not a lot of extra $$$ to get quality chains, and I'm not sure why you would buy shimano.
There are far better joining mechanisms than (e.g., connex) shimanos, and it's the only chain I've had catastrophically break (and destroy the rear mech). The use of a specific joining pin is not good - I like the joining link as you can get the chain off really easily for maintenance, cleaning, etc.
Also, this means that if you do need to repair the chain during a ride, you better have a joining pin - otherwise you may not be able to do a good repair (which I've been able to do multiple times with other chains).
I've used a variety of chains over the years. I will never buy a shimano chain again.
Seriously... don't risk losing a bunch of riding time, and damaging your kit with a sub par Shimano chain. It's not a whole lot more to get quality...
Favorite Trail: Oxford Falls/Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Wipperman Connex 9X1
Bike Setup: RacerX, XT Build,
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a
from TorontoDate Reviewed: September 4, 2004
Strengths: NONE!!!Weaknesses: Snaped 3 times in 4 days! way over priced for that quality!Bottom Line: NEVER BUY THIS CHAIN! (unles you like braking chains in the middle of a ride)
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron Krueger
a Cross Country Rider
from belmont, MI, USADate Reviewed: July 4, 2004
Strengths: It looks like a chain.Weaknesses: It doesn't work like a chain.Bottom Line: It sucks. I have ridden bikes all my life and never had a chain break on me, in the last two weeks i've broke it twice. Don't buy it and if it's on your bike take it off and get a real chain.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Bike Setup: Kona Cinder Cone
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Village Idiot
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TexasDate Reviewed: January 19, 2004
Strengths: .....I could install itWeaknesses: It broke 3 times on first rideBottom Line: Would have worked better if I used dried dog poo. THis chain was installed correctly, and broke mutiple times on first ride. I simply kept repairing the chain until I culd get to the LBS to buy a new one (SRAM).
Poof! my troubles go away. I weigh 200+, couldnt torque the chain at all on mild (short) hills. Why buy a chain that I can't load even when im not shifting?
Favorite Trail: Anything I can Ride
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: SRAM
Bike Setup: Airborne Ti Hardtail, Raceface Cranks, XT/XTR drive train, Speed Dream Wheels
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from KirklandDate Reviewed: December 29, 2003
Strengths: Not muchWeaknesses: Broke on the first rideBottom Line: I installed this chain on a friends bike. I've always used SRAM chains and had good luck with them, but I decided to install a Shimano on his bike due to some shifting problems he was having. I felt that the slightly narrower chain might prevent some of the problems of ghost shifting that he was having with his XT cassette. Bad move. In the work stand the bike shifted flawlessly and the narrower chain did seem to stop the ghost shifting, but as soon as the guy put the power down, the chain self destructed. He didn't even make it to the first hill when the thing exploded and took his XT rear changer with it.
I've been working on bikes for a number of years and I've never seen anything like it. I've read similar comments from other riders, but always take them with a grain of salt because some people have a hatred of anything Shimano, but I have to admit that my experience will be a very short one. Back to SRAM.
Favorite Trail: barn burner
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Similar Products Used: SRAM
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Bullit
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Saby R
a Weekend Warrior
from HalifaxDate Reviewed: May 29, 2003
Strengths: Perform that way XT product shouldWeaknesses: Can't be removed without puting a new pinBottom Line: I keep this chain very clean and well lubed (Prolink) and have not had any problem what so ever. I am very pleased with it. Would I buy it again? maybe I would try SRAM since they can be removed with ease...
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: No name chain...
Bike Setup: Yes, it's set-up allright
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
sninky
a
from Manchester ukDate Reviewed: April 24, 2003
Strengths: None What So EverWeaknesses: Snaps like a crunchy kit katBottom Line: rubbish,absolute crap
not only did it break 4 times in two rides along flat ground.
The second time it tore my front mech to peices.
this is the third shimano component to fail on my bike within 6 months DO NOT BUY
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: Spesh Rockhopper
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Unkie Dumo
a Cross Country Rider
from NCDate Reviewed: June 12, 2002
Strengths: NONE!!!Weaknesses: EVERYTHING! 2 breaks in 2 weeks! It's a real POS. I wasn't even cranking hard when they broke, just a nice solid spin.Bottom Line: These things blow goats. Please, for the sake of the world and your poor chain tool, don't buy this poo.
Favorite Trail: the ones that say NO BIKES ALLOWED :o)
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At: The Local
Similar Products Used: SRAM sucks too
Bike Setup: Cannondale Super V-1000, RaceFace cranks, Easton stem, Selle Italia saddle, Mammoth and 521 wheels. XT disc
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gunnar
a Cross Country Rider
from a cross country rider from EstoniaDate Reviewed: May 7, 2002
Strengths: Smooth shifting,long lifeWeaknesses: noneBottom Line: I've had my bike 3 yeas now and changed the chain every year (after like 3000 km) and I think its normal. I have never broke any chain, still, I dont think that im easy rider, so I dunno whats a problem. I even didnt understand why someone needs a chain tool at home.
Favorite Trail: xc
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At: local store
Similar Products Used: ig-90
Bike Setup: Trekk 6000
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Bear, DEDate Reviewed: May 6, 2002
Strengths: Strong.Weaknesses: It rusts, even with maintenance pretty easy.Bottom Line: It's a chain. And you need a chain to go forward.
Favorite Trail: Fair Hill, MD
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Similar Products Used: Ch...Ch...Chains... All my life.
Bike Setup: Klein Attitude Race, XT setup w/Rolf Wheels
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Nieman
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Wayne, INDate Reviewed: March 19, 2002
Strengths: Very smooth shifting. Decent life.Weaknesses: The one time use replacement pins are a hassle.Bottom Line: I've been using Shimano chains for as long as I can remember. I too had a problem with snapping chains in the beginning, but like the earlier user said, YOU HAVE TO USE THE ONE TIME USE FIXING PINS. These chains are swaged on the pins so unlike other chains, you cannot reset a main pin after you have pulled it. Also, 8 speed and 9 speed use DIFFERENT PINS. Keep a stash of a couple and you should be fine. Unless you beat your bike to death, you can get a year or more out of one of these.
As for shifting, the other makes just aren't as smooth. They tend to skip and hop more, and misshifts are hard on the knees. So, learn how to use Shimano chains, and replace them as needed, and you'll find that they stack up against just about anything. Plus they are always available pretty cheap.
Favorite Trail: Warsaw
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At: Various
Similar Products Used: Sedis.
Bike Setup: Litespeed Obed with XTR.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Tymchuk
a Cross Country Rider
from CanadaDate Reviewed: August 27, 2001
Strengths: None what so everWeaknesses: snaps with no effort at allBottom Line: This garbage chain caused me to have to be pulled home by my wife(I was in such a hurry I left my chain tool on my workstand)and missed one of the local trails being in the best shape in three years so I only got to ride half of it. The chain just exploded under moderate force on a short steep climb. Bad Bad Bad
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: sachs
|
Reviews 1 - 15 (64 Reviews Total)
|
| Next 15 |
Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
