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Submitted by
Blair
a Downhiller
from Banff
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | lots of them | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | The coating allows it to stay much cleaner than XT chains I think.
Quite rust resistant.
Strong since I've used them. I've never had one break on me even with my style of mashing on the pedals instead of pedaling lightly and shifting under load on my DH bike.
Pins they supply make it super easy to install the chain. You never get a stiff link.
Shifts very well.
Good value. | | Weaknesses: | None that I've found yet. | | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT, cheap-o Shimano. No SRAM yet since I haven't had any issues with Shimano yet | | Bike Setup: | A DH bike with XTR and XO parts
An XC bike with XT and XTR parts
both with XTR chains | | Bottom Line: | Great product. Nothing but good experiences with them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig DeGroot
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | 100 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Corrosive resistent, smooth shifting, light weight, does not break. | | Weaknesses: | Side plates will bend with abuse. | | Similar Products Used: | HG72, HG73, Wipperman | | Bike Setup: | Reign 2 with mostly SRAM components, six inch travel, all mountain. | | Bottom Line: | I've cycled through one CN7701 on two bikes in two years. It wasn't until I rode in the Colorado mud and muck for two days until I managed to chain suck one and bend some side plates. I had to abuse it to make it not work anymore, and it's time to replace it anyway. Unfortunatly it cost me a ride on the Colorado Trail, bummer. Next trip I'll hose off the mud at the car wash immediately after, lube the snot out of it, and finish my vacation, yeah! Worth the price, a quality product, and works flawlessly when drivetrain set up properly. After reading the reviews on the SRAM units, I'm ordering another.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J Cote
a Weekend Warrior
from ottawa
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | chelsea | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | bicyclette du hull | | Strengths: | JUNK | | Weaknesses: | JUNK. STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM SHIMANO CHAINS!!! JUNK!!!
My XTR BUSTED AND WITHOUT THE PINS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX.
I have an XT chain and had to break it. CANT GET THE DAMN PIN OUT TO STICK A NEW ONE IN. JUNK JUNK JUNK. GO use 990, 950 or 991 SRAM. SHIMANO chains suck! | | Similar Products Used: | 950, 990,991 | | Bike Setup: | Titus racer x XTR
blizzard XT | | Bottom Line: | SUCKS. STAY FAR FAR AWAY!!!! USE IT IF YOU LIKE HEADACHES!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Petr
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Any place | | Strengths: | Solid, shifts perfect. Lasts long if you clean it... | | Weaknesses: | More expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Lower end shimano chains and PC-99 by sram. But last 5 years have not been using anything else, just shimano's top chain | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel Carbon | | Bottom Line: | The only chain around $30 that I trust. (Just bought PC-99 which is poor compared to shimano.) Taking PC-99 and putting back the trusted chain XTR/duraace.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 100 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Excellent Bikes | | Strengths: | Very Realiable, Shifts really smoothly | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM PC-99 Hollow Pin | | Bike Setup: | Specialized EPIC, XTR, Crossmax, etc... | | Bottom Line: | The 7701 is a really great chain. It shifts great and is very durable. I am taking my PC-99 off my bike and putting a CN-7701 back on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RICHIE O
a Weekend Warrior
from BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | THE TUNEL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$26.00 | | Purchased At: | PRICEPOINT.COM | | Strengths: | AWESOME SMOOTH SHIFTING, STIFF AS A HUMMER. YOU CAN FEEL YOUR LEGS POWER ON THE TRAIL. | | Weaknesses: | IT WORE OUT THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN SO FAST (SPECIALY THE REAR DERAILLEUR CERAMIC NEW PULLEYS AND LX 572 44 CHAINRING), W/O RIDING UNDER WATER OR MUD. +/- 550 MILLES | | Similar Products Used: | SHIMANO HG 93 - 73 | | Bike Setup: | JAMIS DURANGO SX, R/S DUKE XC 100mm'02, RITCHEY HBAR & SETPOPOST, RACE FACE PRODIGY STEM, AVID 185mm/HAYES HMX1 160mm DISK BRAKES, LX DRIVE TRAIN/SHIFTERS, DEORE/SUN SUBIV WHEELSET. | | Bottom Line: | AS I SAID, THIS CHAIN IS JUST FOR RACING, MUST BE CHANGED EVERY 4 RACES. WHY? SHIFTS SO NICE, SMOOTH AND RELLY FAST BUT IT'S A CHAINRINGS EAGGER. I WAS SORPRISED WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE BIG ONE WAS SO BAD, SO WORE OUT IN ONLY 3 MONTHS OR LESS. I'M GONNA CHANGED TO SRAM OR HG 73 AGAIN(BETTER EXPERIENCE). | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brock adams
a Cross Country Rider
from concord, ca
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | magic carpet and friends | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Despite the bad rap, Shimano builds quality components. This chain is top of the line Dura Ace/XTR. A good chain is one that you lube and then forget it's there...this is that kind of chain. | | Weaknesses: | None, in my opinion. Some people may find the lack of a quick-link annoying. | | Similar Products Used: | Various shimano, etc. I've also helped friends repair SRAM chains on the side of the trail. | | Bike Setup: | Enduro, Phil Woods on 819s, Thomson, etc. etc. | | Bottom Line: | Notice that the highest rated chains are way below other products' highest ratings. Why? Because the only time many people notice their chain is when it breaks. I've never broken a chain. I've snapped chrome-moly bottom bracket spindles, but not chains. Keep them lubed and toss them after a couple of years. Shimano supplies the "special" pins for the rather large section of the bicycle community that was born with 10 thumbs. You do not need to use them to have success with this chain. Just be careful when removing links (as with any other chain.)
SRAM chains seem weak to me. I've had to wait for friends who broke chains and it more often than not is a SRAM. They come with those quick-links because you need to use them more often! The Dura-Ace chain is the best chain on the market. Find one on sale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Thompson
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Sebastian Canyon, Las Vegas, NM | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Helen's | | Strengths: | Non | | Weaknesses: | Proprietary Pins, Weak Links | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM | | Bike Setup: | Sugar with Bontrager chainrings, Shimano M760 rear cassette | | Bottom Line: | NOTE: this chain was a CN-7701, but it's not listed so I'm posting here.
8 Miles into my first ride on this chain and it bent, twisted then snapped downshifting to the inner chainring. It's just too thin be reliable.
Please note, I installed it per shimano directions for maximum strength, the drive train is completely 9-speed compatible, plus the derallieurs were just dialed-in before the ride and shifting flawlessly.
Other huge problem: the $2 apiece link pins. What a ridiculous system. After the chain broke, I pulled the broken links and popped it together with one of the chain's standard pins. Voila, it got me home, so why force the customer to use their spendy pins?
Save your money, buy an SRAM or SACHS or Huffy Chain at Wal-Mart. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stu Alp
a Racer
from Windsor Ontario
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | potowotomi | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | None at all. Second shimano chain i've ever had and what another pile of s#!t this one was as well. Broke about 10 minutes into my ride. ( First 10 minutes i was ever on the bike!) | | Weaknesses: | Everything!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Sram pc 59, 89 and 99. Love the 99 it feels like butta! | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Devinci Moonracer. Sid world cup. xtr wheels and components. Sram Cassette Carbon bar and seat post. | | Bottom Line: | Shimano chains and cassettes are s#!t! They can't take torqe very well at all and if you ever have the misfortune of buying a bike with a shimano chain i feel very sorry for you. MY advise ; Take off the shimano chain, throw it in the garbage and buy a Sram, you will love it!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mirek
a
from Grand Rapids, MI
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Strength and durability. | | Weaknesses: | Non | | Similar Products Used: | HG 92 | | Bottom Line: | This is my second CN7700 chain in almost 3 years and it never broke. It work very well in dry sandy conditions and it does perform pretty well in the rain or snow. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill McMillan
a Cross Country Rider
from British Columbia
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Prevost | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | relatively rust resistant, does the job! | | Weaknesses: | side plates can come loose, usually as a result of chain-suck or other trauma. I havent had any problems I had not experienced with other chains. Throw away the shimano pins and stick to KMC missing link connectors | | Similar Products Used: | other shimano chains | | Bike Setup: | Titanium hardtail | | Bottom Line: | decent quality smooth riding quick shifting chain. Unlike all the sealed bearings amd moving parts on your mountain bike, the chain is right out there in the mud and grit. The more you clean it and look after it, the longer it will last. Do not wait until your chain wears out - it will be breaking too often and not shifting properly. Another thing that too many people do is run poor combinations of gearing resulting in bad chain lines which further stress and wear the chain prematurely.
bottom line - buy it, take care of it, and you will get your money's worth out of it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island N.Y.
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | One's with dirt on em! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson.com | | Strengths: | Strong pin connection much stronger than previous shimano pin connections than previous Hyperglide chain's. Shifts extremly well both front and rear derailers. Non corrosive surface resists rust. Very light noticable lighter than the XT model making it excellent for racers. | | Weaknesses: | The links themselves bend very easy and it's fast shifting ability increases chainsuck. Which contributes to the bending of the links. The hyper glide pin connection system which you need replacement pins every time you remove it to clean it. Mine is dead now it bent on the trail today after two weeks of using it. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT and LX as well as SRAM | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC with all kinds of XC Goodies | | Bottom Line: | I use to like Shimano chains but in recent years especially HyperGlide 9 speed models they have declined in both performance and relibablity and lifespan. But this is the last straw I bent this one after putting it on two weeks ago! For all it's light weight better shifting crap it's not worth it! I had to splice it on the trail today to get it working thank God I carried a spare length of chain or it's a eight mile hike back home. I have accually hade more problems with chainsuck with this chain than with my XT. Finally this pin system that they have developed is really the worst I mean every time you have to remove the chain you need a new pin and the pins are not cheap. No more Shimano chains for me I've already threaded up a new Wippermann 908 I hope this is a better chain than the XTR chain PEACE. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dennis calapit
a Cross Country Rider
from batangas city, philippines
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | locally distributed | | Strengths: | durable, lighter than the one i previously used, price worthy, and it looks good in my set-up, | | Weaknesses: | i don't found any yet | | Similar Products Used: | kmc & hg73 | | Bike Setup: | cross country hardtail | | Bottom Line: | the important thing is it's price worthy, its durable compared to the ones i previously used. it may be for road bike setup though i use it in my mtbike, i recommend it to xc racers, and trail riders who lives to such abuses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rogue
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lasts well
Strong
Those shimano pins are easy | | Weaknesses: | The sticky stuff on new Shimano chains | | Similar Products Used: | CN-7701 (current), IG90 | | Bike Setup: | 03 Santa Cruz Bullit- sick, 01 Jekyll a bit tamer but nice too :-)
| | Bottom Line: | I have used the CN-7700 for over a year and the CN7701 for almost a year. They are both very similar 9 speed chains (only real difference being the riveting) 7701 has mushroom or circular rivets which is meant to be stronger.
The Shimano pins are easy to use and never break for me, in fact i never have chain trouble as i look after them. This chain will not last forever though. I measured mine after 6months are roughly 1000-1200km and it had sretched 1%or about 3mm compared to the new one (same model i bought).
Look after this chain and it will look after you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Racer
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Porc Pine | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Excel Sports | | Strengths: | Great chain
Shifts well
Lasts a long time | | Weaknesses: | A chain break tool is required to remove chain | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT/Ultegra, Wipperman Connex, SRAM | | Bike Setup: | SWorks FSR | | Bottom Line: | This chain is absolutely great and I really don't understand all of the poor reviews on it. Are you people installing your Chains correctly? It pays to be a little anal when installing such a critical item on your ride.
I absolutely abuse this chain, mash it, etc. I do take care of my chains though and this might be the reason they last and don't snap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
axel
a
from yakima
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | skyline | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | sagebrushcycles | | Strengths: | smooth shifting,light,easy to put on,looks | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | kmc,sram,more kmc and more kmc | | Bike Setup: | NRS, kona Roast, and a few others all use this chain | | Bottom Line: | Buy it after two years this chain has been perfect for me after i put it on the bike it shifted better and made the drive terrain more quiet. i love this chain and every bike that i have will have a shimano chain. either this one or at least an xt which i used to use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JT
a
from Arlington, VA
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | It's not on my bike anymore | | Weaknesses: | Weak ... weak ... weak.
Can't give it less than 1 | | Similar Products Used: | XT Chain | | Bike Setup: | Well, right now it's not because this damn chain keeps breaking. | | Bottom Line: | Three rides, less than 30 miles total and it snapped twice. The second time was it ... I removed it and I'm giving SRAM a try now. This is just utterly ridiculous. I had been running XT chains for the last 18 months and never had this problem.
Don't think that the fact that it gets a one means it's worth a one. I just wish I could give it a negative number.
For what it's worth ... this is the absolute worst review I've ever given any product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from indy
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | the cn-7701/xtr looks great and shifts smoother than any chain possibly could..super smooth | | Weaknesses: | no weaknesses noticed as of yet. | | Similar Products Used: | hg73(lx) --the cn7701 xtr is much better | | Bike Setup: | 2003 stumpjumper fsr. upgraded to a XT drivetrain. Has fox float rl shock with the remotelockout shifter(sweet). manitou axel fork w/lockout, selle italia tt saddle,hayes hfx comp hyd brakes,mavic 221 | | Bottom Line: | I think the chain is awesome. this chain works great with new XT drivetrain and shifters that I put on my new specialized stumpjumper fsr. I have all maintenance done by a great bike shop in Indy(Matthews Bikes) the cn7701 is a newer version than the 7700...hopefully it turns out to be trouble free..so far its been perfectl | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob T
a
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Henry Coe State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | bici bikes | | Strengths: | Its strong and shifts too fast | | Weaknesses: | It shifts too fast | | Similar Products Used: | Sram,Sedis,Regina(in the old days) | | Bike Setup: | Same as below | | Bottom Line: | This is my second review.I think this chain shifts so fast that it puts too much load on a small number of teeth on the cassette under power and causes those thin 9sp cogs to bend.I used Sram chains before and my XT cassette was about a year old,swithed to the Dura Ace and bent the cog.Got a new cassette and on the 1st ride it bent again.I'm going back to a Sram to see if that was my problem.I try not to shift under load,but sometimes on the steep and technical climbs where I like to ride you can't help powershifting.I think the cogs should be stronger and the chain certainly doesn't need to shift this fast.I'm just an average guy,I weigh 160.This stuff should not be so delicate.It's for MTBing!!I,m sure this chain is fine for road riding where torque on the drivetrain aren't so severe.Quick shifting on a roadbike is much more important than on a MTB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob T
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any<3ft and or rocky,rutted or rooty | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Bici Bikes,S.J. | | Strengths: | Seems quite well constructed,the pin ends are stamped so that it seems quite difficult for them to pull out | | Weaknesses: | The special pin is a pain,but I'm using the Sram gold link from my 99,everythings fine so far.My weakness is I haven't used this all that long so only time will tell!! | | Similar Products Used: | lots since the 80's recently Sram,Rohloff,Sachs | | Bike Setup: |
Turner 02 XCE rockers,Atom Race100,Hopey steering damper(The Greatest thing since suspension!!),No Tubes,Contis,Chris
King hubs&h.s.XT&XTR,Raceface,Easton,Thomson
| | Bottom Line: | This is the first Shimano chain I haven't broken on a mountain bike!I'm using the gold link that comes with the Sram PC99.So far no troubles and I don't have to use that stupid pin!!!.I measured it's width and it's pretty close to the same width as the new chain.I was using Sram and Sachs chains before that,only broke one.I've had good luck with the 58,68,59,69-whatever was on sale.I used Dura Ace chains on road&cross bikes in the mid-80s,never broke one.That was when I was at my strongest doing huge rides on and off road.I recently tried a pc99.It was noisy and hard to adjust perfect.I read a 5 star review for the new Dura Ace chain in Mountain Bike Distraction,they are usually good reviews so I tried it.It's working great so far.I do lots of long rides over 5 hours saddle time,this chain probably has about 200 miles on it so far,lots of wet and mud miles.At least 80% of my time is spent climbing hard on steep hills.It hasn't missed a beat yet.I clean and lube my chain after every ride,sometimes during the ride if it gets dry and noisy.It shifts nice,quiet and smooth unlike the previous Shimano chains back in the early 90's.They sounded as if they were going to explode if I shifted under alot of power and many broke in this scenario.
I think chains are a small,yet important,but sadly forgotten part-they can really mess up a nice ride!Everyone should learn how to shift smooth,ease up on the pedals as you shift,speed up a little on steep climbs so you can then let off before you shift.That and regular maintainance will make your drivetrain much happier.Also make sure your chain is as short as possible,just make sure that when the bike is shifted to the "big,big" combo that the derailleur won't be ripped off due to a way too short chain!!!
We can't expect these things to last under mondo abuse,misuse and neglect so learn how to use and treat it right and your ride won't be spoiled by things that could have been avoided.Enough lecturing!!
Even though I haven't used it long I would recommend this chain to my friends(I'm usually the one who gets to fix stuff)
Ride Waaaay Too Much!!!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben P
a Racer
from St Paul
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | Quality Bike Products | | Strengths: | Weight, compatability (works great with shimano cassette and crank setup) | | Weaknesses: | Silly shimano greasy slime that comes gobbed on their new chains | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs PC-69, SRAM PC-99 | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrown 01, LX drivetrain (except XT cassette and XTR RD), tioga/deore wheels, SD ultimate brakes, and brand new Manitou Skareb Super | | Bottom Line: | I have a theory about chains. I know they're supposed to work with everything and all that, but I truely think that for the best experience, you should stick to all one thing. I now ride a full shimano setup, with a mix of LX, XT and XTR components, and since upgrading, I've had no problems.
Before, I had a SRAM 7.0 cassette and various chains, including a SRAM PC99, and had nothing but problems. The final straw was when the chain broke (for the 5th time) and caught my expensive XTR rear derailleur and wrapped it in the spokes of my rear wheel. Enough of that, I said. So I got the XT cassette and XTR chain and spent some time adjusting everything and lo, everything works together flawlessly. I've not broken a chain since, and have had NO shifting problems since. If I ran an all SRAM system it might be different, but for now, I'll stick with what I've got.
Oh, and even if you're paying full price, chains are important, so I don't think price is an issue when it's a mere $25 or so, especially for quality like this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Meech | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa | | Strengths: | The weight is it's strenght. Like any other chain I've rode with, if it's well oiled up it makes no sounds. Having the name Shimano XTR\Dura Ace to back it up. | | Weaknesses: | This is a weak, weak chain. I don't put the chain through any unsual stresses or conditions but it breaks much too often. 5 times in the past two months of weekend riding.
I'm 180 pounds and I don't pedal up anything more than a 40 degree angle. It will usually break if I have to stand to make it up a hill, the chain will be in the good allignement with both rings but it doesn't seem to matter. My friends think I'm a power house but the truth is, it's a poorly made chain. Other poeple commented on using the replacement pins. I've used both replacement pins that came with the chain but... After I broke the chain the second time I used a red marker to note where it and broken. Every time it breaks somewhere new therefore it is true that every chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. | | Bike Setup: | XTR shifting on a Sram 9.0 casette. | | Bottom Line: | This is an expensive chain that does not perform as well as it should for the best of Shimano's line up. This product should be labeled 'For show only, and should not be used in real life situations.' | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Racer
from Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It's a chain, it puts the power to the back wheel. Gets nice and shiny when you clean it. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 GT Avalanche 0.0. XT from A to Z. Psylo SL Thomson stem and post Easton Monkey lite | | Bottom Line: | OK. First off a chain only lasts 500 - 700 kilometers when you ride off road. It's not measured in months. months is not a unit of measure to the amount of mtbking you do. Ride it any more than that and your gears will wear, your drivechain will start skipping and it will cost you a hell of alot more than a new chain. Got it???
Yeah i have had a few chins break. Some right out of the box. But lets get real: All you people who cant fix your chain
Instructions for fixing chain properly:
1- When chain breaks, you must remove the broken links
2- You have removed some links, thus your chin is too short, so you have to replace those links. Bring yourself the few links that you cut off to get your chain the right length, and two of the special link pins and put your new length of chain on
3- When you put the special link pis in they are supposed to fit just right and there isn't any stiffness in the chain, if ther is it's because it's not instaled right. Frig with it until it is smooth.
4- Get back on your bike and ride, unless your really unlucky, or you didn't use the special pins, you shouldn't have any problems. Anyways I havent after using only shimano chains for the last three years of my racing carrer.
What do you want, it's a bike chain. Personally I am impressed that they hod together at all when you look at the size of them.
People Quit wining and ride your bikes damn it!@#%^@#$ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Casper Rubalcava
a Racer
from Ukiah
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$33.00 | | Purchased At: | Denny Bicycles | | Strengths: | Very quiet and best shifing results with Shimano cassettes. | | Weaknesses: | NONE!! Except for the shimano lube preinstalled. | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs, Rohloff, Regina, | | Bike Setup: | GF Sugar, RaceFace cranks, Atom race, Easton bar etc | | Bottom Line: | This chain works great when installed properly. I own a shop and prefer shimano chains. Install 8 and 9 sp chains with no problems. We don't get customers returning with broken shimano very often. Had more problems when used Sachs chains. Just install it properly and the chain will work fine. Not sure why som many people have problems with shimano chains. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chan chan
a Weekend Warrior
from singapore
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | bikers hub | | Strengths: | hmmmmmm.........................
oh ya
smooth shifting for the first month
looks nice | | Weaknesses: | it is shimano
the bike shop use the special pin tat came with the chain to join them together which is said to be stronger and that pin is comming off now | | Similar Products Used: | CN HG 72 (this one sucks) and 92(abit better only) | | Bike Setup: | kona roast | | Bottom Line: | if you think you are gentle on chain buy it
or it is race day tommorow get it
it don't last
quite expensive for a not so good product
but it is really very smooth on shifting and all tat one the first ride
getting wippermann soon
hear it is better but heavier
i don't mind the weight
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Irmo
a Cross Country Rider
from Berg
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting, silent | | Weaknesses: | Very weak links | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM PC99 | | Bike Setup: | XT / XTR | | Bottom Line: | Although shifting is quick and silent with this chain, as soon as you're going to put some real power on it, it'll snap. I've wasted 7 chains within 3 months, before I finally took the step to SRAM. All chains were correctly installed, with the pin as described in the manual. Most broke within the first ride, with one breaking within the first lap of a race...
Bottom line: Too weak to use... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dustin
a Racer
from charlottesville, va, us
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | lighter than most | | Weaknesses: | none as of yet, shifts great with other shimano 9-speed components like xt cassette and lx crankset | | Similar Products Used: | hg-70, hg-50 | | Bike Setup: | trek 8000, xt drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | ok- of course the chain breaks of you dont use the correct pin. it says so in the instructions. when you take apart the chain, you cant stick the old freaking pin back in, or the chain will break on the next climb. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Bremerton, Wa
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lower Big Quilcene | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Good until it breaks on the trail | | Weaknesses: | Forgot the special link and tried to fix the oldfashion way.
Chain broke in less than a hundred yards without the right link. Had to fix three times to limp my bike back to the truck. | | Bike Setup: | Klien Attitude Race | | Bottom Line: | Won't last long in wet, muddy conditions (hard on any drive train). I babied this chain and always had it cleaned and well lubed after every ride and it still only lasted six months. Buy a sram. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave B
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos, CA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tractor Trail - Soquel Demo Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Smoothest operating and shifting chian I've used. Runs smoother then an Sram chain I tried. | | Weaknesses: | Chain has a weakness with the one-time use pin. Need a new pin every time the chain is removed for cleaning. You only get two pins with the chain - What a pain! | | Similar Products Used: | Sach, Sram | | Bike Setup: | Moots YBB (Ti) - XTR drivetrain and V-brakes. Wheels are King hubs on Mavic 517 rims. SID race fork. | | Bottom Line: | Even though this is the smoothest running chain to use, I will have to go with an sram chain using the easy to remove and VERY reliable power link. The one time use pin is basically a bad idea and a major weak link. The chain will fail on the link with the pin if shifted on under load... Which happens on most major rides. Who wants to be left on the side of the trail fiddling with a combination tool and a lame chain? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Davis, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | My Bike Shop | | Strengths: | If you insert the pin correctly it works pretty well.. | | Weaknesses: | If you don't use the pin supplied with the chain... it breaks everytime | | Similar Products Used: | sach (way better) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Roadster (All Dura Ace) | | Bottom Line: | I wouldn't buy this chain again. It worked great until it broke and when I tried reinstalling it I had nothing but more breaks. If you do not use the pin that is supplied with the chain it will break on you. I think this chain is useless because every chain breaks and if you can't put it back together then what good is it? I like shimano products but this is one piece I won't buy again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith Bangs
a Weekend Warrior
from Malden, MA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The strongest 9spd chain I've seen, except for the Rolof. I have had it for a year without breaking it. The chain stretch is minimal. | | Weaknesses: | It's a bit more than most chains. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Sachs/Sram, Rolof | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Haro Werks DSR Frame, Z2 X-fly, XTR/XT Mix, XT Disc Brakes | | Bottom Line: | I'm a mechanic in a bike shop and this is the best chain i've seen from Shimano...Any other Shimano/Sachs/Sram 9spd chain i've used hasn't lasted more than a half a season. I don't know why the reviewers below have problems with their chain...If they used the pin from Shimano they shouldn't have had any problems unless they didn't put it together corectly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Hatala
a
from Dayton
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Caeser Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | It comes in one piece and attached to the bike | | Weaknesses: | very, very weak chain. Busted on my GT's maiden voyage several miles into the trail and without much effort. | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche | | Bottom Line: | SACHS | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Clark
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Apex | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Unknown | | Weaknesses: | Very weak links | | Similar Products Used: | SACHS | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, Full XTR and Race Face | | Bottom Line: | This Chain is a big disappointment from Shimano. It broke on me in the first month of the season. Links split apart. I heard 9sp was weaker, and this chain proved to be so. I'm sending it back to Shimano w/ a complaint letter, and going to buy a Sachs....powerlinks are much nicer to deal with than the pins. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clark Ritchie
a
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Reputation | | Weaknesses: | Strength (none)
Price (high)
Quality (poor) | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs | | Bike Setup: | XTR deraileurs, XTR cassette, Race Face cranks | | Bottom Line: | This chain is a total piece of junk. Mine broke on me roughly 10 times in less than 100 miles of off road use. The links tend to pull apart from the pins and the chain drops. At least once, a link snapped completely in half. I am sorely disappointed with the quality of this chain and have already replaced mine (with a Sachs). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RvB
a Racer
from Enschede, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: September 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Swiss Alps | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Shifts very well, strong, durable | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
all sachs chains, shimano hg, ig | | Bike Setup: |
xt rings, dura-ace cogs (8spd), xtr rear derailleur, xt front. sram plasma shifters. | | Bottom Line: | Well it's nothing fancy. Just the best chain. It's really durable, doesn't break if installed correctly, i.e. by using the special pin. Shifting is great. Durability, that is what separates this one from the others... | | Overall Rating: |
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