A performance chain with an updated finish. This high-tech, silver-and-grey chain provides long lasting durability and dependability with increased corrosion resistance. Designed for 9-speed systems, either on- or off-road, the PC-59 was made for smooth shifting in all conditions.
Use the PC-58 with 8-speed cassettes
Compatible with most major 8/9-speed drivetrain components.
I have been using these chains for a pretty long time, and they have been pretty reliable overall. The wear is good and they shift fine. My only complaint is that i have gotten several stiff links over the last few years.
Submitted by
Matt Bay
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, NE, US
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006
Strengths: Low cost, easy to put on
Weaknesses: Isn't working too well with older shimano parts.
Bottom Line:
From what I've read this chain has mixed reviews. I can tell you right now mine fails me all the time. I ride hard and any time I pop a wheelie in one gear too high, it skips on the chainring. I really liked my shimano chain, and this one seems to be less effective, however my parts are two very rough years old and on a newer drive train it might work great. And who knows maybe mine just doesn't like me, Its a great value but doesn't work all that well.
Strengths: Powerlink for easy removal, affordable, strong.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
It works. Easy to remove and clean. Strong enough to hold up to XC racing under my 150lb body, durability is good, and it shifts fine on either shimano or sram parts.
Submitted by
Raiyn
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Petersburg, FL
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2006
Strengths: Strong, long lasting, Powerlink makes cleaning easier than Shi*No's "Replace a pin" garbage. Contrary to the last review, when they're properly maintained, and lubed they DON'T RUST
Weaknesses: Doesn't grow on trees
Bottom Line:
This chain lasts. I've broken and mangled several Shi*No chains (even 7&8 speed) and the one's that survive all wore prematurely (like a couple hundred miles fast) The PC59 has lasted me for years where the Shi*No's barely made it a couple months. Properly cleaned and lubed (use some Prolink or Boeshield T-9) this chain WILL last, it will not rust, and if my Clydesdale butt can't snap it the guys who can are doing something wrong (like downshifting under high load). Bottom line learn to shift, learn to clean a chain (geeky clip-on chain cleaners are useless) and use a GOOD chain lube and a SRAM chain will never do you wrong. I wouldn't suggest this for the (as Carlos Mencia would say) the "deet de Dee" crowd they should stay on their adult trikes anyway
Similar Products Used: SRAM PC48, PC49, (Those do rust maybe someone did a switcharoo on the guy below?) Various Shi*No chains (garbage)
Bike Setup: Both bikes are 9 speed setups. The commuter is LX shifted and derailed (pre Rapid Rise) with this chain and a SRAM R9 road cassette. The trailbike is an XT job (again pre RR) spinning a XT cassette.
Weaknesses: rusts easily, and after 4-5 months becomes fatigued and needs to be replaced
Bottom Line:
awesome, never slips or snaps. Never used a chain so strong (except bmx chains which are a million times stronger) If you want to make your bike bomb proof use this.
In the past I bought three bikes. All came with Shimano chains. All had problems with breaking. Since switching to Sram, I have not had an issue. My latest PC-59 has almost 400 miles on it. I maintain it with Triflow Teflon. So far so good. There is nothing worse than fixing your chain while your buddies are riding away! I give Sram a solid thumbs up.
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodberry Forest, VA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2004
Strengths: works and inexpensive
Weaknesses: never had a problem
Bottom Line:
This chain is fine. Don't shift with a lot of tension on the chain and it won't break! Keep it clean! Ridden this chain in races, mud, over gnarly trails and for two full seasons of abuse!
Similar Products Used: lots of chains over many years
Bike Setup: Blur
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Trialsrider
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2004
Strengths: Nothing
Weaknesses: Breaks easily
Bottom Line:
Get this chain only if you're going to be cruising on your bike. I didn't know the quality difference between a PC-99 and this POS PC-59. Don't get it if you do a lot of torque riding especially trials.
Less then a month the gold link snapped off & the second time it snapped at normal link. I never had a problem with my PC-99 til I bought this. PC-99 lasted me over eight months, only had to change it due to correct length.
It's garbage IMO, spend the extra $20 or so and get the PC-99.
Submitted by
Speedüb Nate
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2004
Strengths: Cheap, er... "Inexpensive"
Lasts a good long while.
Shifts well, even on 8 speed cassettes.
Weaknesses: Will rust if you leave it out wet.
Bottom Line:
Over the course of thousands of miles on all the different drivetrains listed above, I've yet to experience chain failure with a PC59. That's not a slight against the slightly more expensive and beter protected PC69, or the slightly stronger riveting of the PC99, but I don't see the need to spend the extra bucks if the lowly PC59 does the trick.
I began using this chain after a handful of Shimano IG & HG failures, at a point when I installed a 9 speed crank on an otherwise 8 speed drivetrain. It shifted flawlessly on 8 speed cassettes, and eventually proved itself on 9 speed stuff and later singlespeed-like internally geared drivetrains.
The PC69's I used were similarly dependable, but to me didn't necessarily warrant the extra few bucks.
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from niagara falls
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2004
Strengths: Shifts are smooth Has not broken (what more do you want out of a chain) Powerlink is a nice idea, i don't use it too much though
Weaknesses: None really that i have noticed
Bottom Line:
I have had no problems with this chain at all. I have a whack of miles on it, and well, it keeps my wheels turning. That's all I ask for in a chain. My next one will probably be another PC-59.
Similar Products Used: Shimano HG, stuff on department store bikes
Bike Setup: 2002 Rainier. XT front der. LX rear dr. Deore crank. 9spd cassette Sram PC-59 chain
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian W
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004
Strengths: decent price, works great IF you take care of it.
Weaknesses: link gets hard to remove after a season or so
Bottom Line:
I'm on my second PC-59 now, the first one lasted about a year and a half, and it was thoroughly abused, rarely cleaned or lubed for the first year. I think many of the negative reviews are a result of people who have no idea how to maintain a mountain bike drivetrain. I started using white lightning about 2 years ago, before every ride or every other ride, and have yet to break a chain since. If you wipe down the chain and lube it regularly it will last for quite a while. I ride aggressively on N GA trails and the chain has not let me down. This was a great upgrade from the shimano chain that came on my bike, shifts better and is easier to remove.
Submitted by
Kevin Griffin
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2004
Strengths: Works as good as any other 9 speed product I've used (stuff realatively un-redesigned from previous standards excluded)
Weaknesses: Same as the 9 speed cassettes, and Aluminum chainrings / cranks (who the ^%$* thought Aluminum would be a good material for a high wear application??, Yes I did buy one, but only one) The point I'm making is the stuff doesn't last anywhere near as long as the old slightly heavier 8, 7 speed stuff
the failures I've had with the PC-59 are wear based at between 700 and 1000 miles and took the cassette with them, I've had none break on me.
Bottom Line:
I've had two PC-59's, and since I'm in a new terran with many more hills and corser gravel I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and getting 8 speed stuff off ebay, at least after reading these reviews. But I think I'll give the 9 speed one more chance until the shifters go. Added to the fact that I don't know the height of the 'drops' or related abuse the other reviewers have been taking. I do the occational unintensional 6 inch drop, and may have done one unintensional foot quite a while back. The best 9 speed product I own is a suntour all steel square taper riveted chainring crankset, its lasted through 4 chains, 3 cassettes, and still has most of the paint, granted it is heavy enough to use as a mace.
This product did last for me on two occations, with no breaks other than wear failures that are inherent in almost all 9 speed products I've used. The first PC-59 I had went 1000 miles even, the second suffered some more aggressive 'leave it in high gear up hills' type riding and lasted 700ish miles. Both failure took the cassette with them.
If you use 9 speed, for whatever reason, and are using it for getting there and back, true XC type trail stuff, without 45 degree uphills or excessive drops, I would expect anyone to get roughly the same performance I did out of the two I used. This review is for 'good performance from a bad design (9 speed in general so far I'm trying an SRAM cassette next go around)' not outstanding and not that bad either.
Similar Products Used: PC-69, Shimano 9s POS, 8 Speed LX, 7 speed department store (the 7 speed chain lasted longer than all the 9 speed chains I've used combined, 2700 miles on a 9 speed setup)
Bike Setup: '01 GT i-Drive 5.0 with many upgrades due to 'it's lightwieght so it must be better' type mentality at the corporate HQ's, but I'm wise to them now (yes it did take a while)
