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Submitted by
hillcountry12
a Cross Country Rider
from Southwest Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Makes you go forward. | | Weaknesses: | Cannot remove the chain easily in stock form. I ride hard and so chain stretch has been noticeable. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | '03 GF Tassajara and custom XC Trek 8500 | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from New Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | WWW | | 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 link | | Similar Products Used: | Many shimano chains. | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper HT. XT setup with XTR rear derailer. | | Bottom 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lucas
a Weekend Warrior
from santa barbara, ca, us
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | worked for 3 days! | | Weaknesses: | worked for 3 days. | | Similar Products Used: | any other chain? | | Bike Setup: | new trek 6000 | | Bottom Line: | came with a new trek 6000. snapped on me 3 days after buying the bike. no good. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RacerXMan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, OZ
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Oxford Falls/Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | it worked for 2 rides | | Weaknesses: | Sub standards strength. Need for specific joining pin (the connex joining process is superior. | | Similar Products Used: | Wipperman Connex 9X1 | | Bike Setup: | RacerX, XT Build, | | 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... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | 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) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Krueger
a Cross Country Rider
from belmont, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It looks like a chain. | | Weaknesses: | It doesn't work like a chain. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Cinder Cone | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Village Idiot
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Texas
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything I can Ride | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | .....I could install it | | Weaknesses: | It broke 3 times on first ride | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM | | Bike Setup: | Airborne Ti Hardtail, Raceface Cranks, XT/XTR drive train, Speed Dream Wheels | | Bottom 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? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Kirkland
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | barn burner | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Not much | | Weaknesses: | Broke on the first ride | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bottom 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Saby R
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Perform that way XT product should | | Weaknesses: | Can't be removed without puting a new pin | | Similar Products Used: | No name chain... | | Bike Setup: | Yes, it's set-up allright | | Bottom 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... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sninky
a
from Manchester uk
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | None What So Ever | | Weaknesses: | Snaps like a crunchy kit kat | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Spesh Rockhopper | | Bottom 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Unkie Dumo
a Cross Country Rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2002 | | 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 | | 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. | | 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 | | Bottom Line: | These things blow goats. Please, for the sake of the world and your poor chain tool, don't buy this poo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gunnar
a Cross Country Rider
from a cross country rider from Estonia
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | xc | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | local store | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting,long life | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | ig-90 | | Bike Setup: | Trekk 6000 | | Bottom 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Bear, DE
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Fair Hill, MD | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Strong. | | Weaknesses: | It rusts, even with maintenance pretty easy. | | Similar Products Used: | Ch...Ch...Chains... All my life. | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude Race, XT setup w/Rolf Wheels | | Bottom Line: | It's a chain. And you need a chain to go forward. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Nieman
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Wayne, IN
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Warsaw | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Various | | Strengths: | Very smooth shifting. Decent life. | | Weaknesses: | The one time use replacement pins are a hassle. | | Similar Products Used: | Sedis. | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Obed with XTR. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Tymchuk
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | None what so ever | | Weaknesses: | snaps with no effort at all | | Similar Products Used: | sachs | | Bottom 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | It does shifts smoothly | | Weaknesses: | weak pins | | Similar Products Used: | I'm gonna try SRAM | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR1000 with full XT | | Bottom Line: | I broke the chain twice in a week, the first time because of a poor shift and I'm partly to blame for it. First thing friends asked when told was "Is it a Shimano chain?" I guess that's their rep, anyways, I fixed the link and on the very next ride, the pin completely sheared off on a wheelie (on flat pavement). I'm gonna pick up a PC68 and give that a try :( | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
billy
a Racer
from farmington mi
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | island lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | cycle and fitness | | Strengths: | mm....it makes ur bike go | | Weaknesses: | mm,i dunno bout weight, cuz i havnt really compared...but...i had it for 3 months, and the pins come out, and it snaps, and you cant warantee something liek that, unless it like explodes, and its not a very good chain | | Similar Products Used: | low end shimano | | Bike Setup: | homegrown 8000 | | Bottom Line: | this chain is ok if your fire road riding, but not racing, it just cant take it...its jsut not worth the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DONALD
a Weekend Warrior
from NEW YORK
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | DONT KNOW IT LASTED 15MIN | | Weaknesses: | NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO LIST | | Similar Products Used: | SACHS | | Bottom Line: | BOUGHT THE BIKE ON A WED TOOK IT FOR A RIDE THUR AT 5:15PM BY 5:35PM I WAS WALKING THE BIKE BACK WITHOUT A CHAIN.I'VE NEVER HAD A CHAIN SNAP SO EASILY.DO YOURSELF A FAVOR LOOK AT ANOTHER CHAIN BEFORE BUYING THIS ONE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mad monkey
a Weekend Warrior
from Redfield
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Lite, stiff, strong | | Weaknesses: | until you pull a link, then it never stays | | Similar Products Used: | All low end shimano | | Bike Setup: | Vrx, 7000 | | Bottom Line: | The thing is great, till you need to work on it, then after that you need use the original insertion pin to keep it from breaking on you. Do yourself a favor and buy a sachs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bedford, UK
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Rapid gear changes in fair weather | | Weaknesses: | strength, operation in muddy conditions | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs | | Bottom Line: | Shimano appear to have spent too much time trying to perfect gear changing in the workshop and not in the muck that most of us end up riding through.
I have been a Sachs user for more years than I care to remember, I even remember non indexed gears and rigid frames! Every couple of years I try out an XT chain from Shimano and so far have been disappointed each time. As so many reviewers have commented they do tend to break if the rider is over 10 stone (140lb)even if fitted correctly. What is more they are terrible in the mud, as the rear block and jockey wheels start to clog and the lumps and bumps that help gear changing in the dry become your worst nightmare. The chain jumps and hops about the rear block at random with horrible grinding and mashing sounds.
Sachs chains may not change gear in the dry quite as well but maintain consistancy through thick and thin.
Bottom line, if you are a lightweight rider who will only ride in fine weather then the HG90 will be your friend forever, if like the rest of us you are not super model thin and you wish to ride in extreme conditions then buy a Sachs chain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | many | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Shifts incredibly fast with an XTR/raceface drivechain. | | Weaknesses: | Breaking chain does in fact require the use of new pins. And there are now 8/9 speed compatibility issues with these.Pricey to pay for a chain. | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs, KMC supershuttle | | Bike Setup: | Jamis dragon, custom build. | | Bottom Line: | The whole trick to the shimano line is to baby that link when you first install it. Make sure that the new pin is perfectly aligned and isn't stiff before you break it off. I have ridden pretty hard with this chain without breaking and Im a sloppy shifter. Shifting speed is lightning quick, and trouble free. Now, of course I am completely afraid of taking the chain off for any reason, but I don't forsee any reason to in the future anyways as long as im degreasing and lubing up with white lightning every once in a while. All in all a pricey, but excellent chain for any 9 speed drivetrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Little Rhody
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Arcadia- Mt Tom | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | So far- so good.... | | Similar Products Used: | other shimano | | Bike Setup: | GT Xizang Ti, 00 Marzocchi, full XT, odd and ends Bontrager/Thompson Elite/Kore | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is that it has not broken on me.... knock on wood. I ride pretty hard, but am pretty light, so that has to even out somewhere. Put this on when I changed my cassette and chain rings, and had no problems after they got worn in together in about 50 miles or so. Going to be interesting to see what happens when I put on my new Middleburn chain rings....
Also, I find that sometimes (not all times) real good maintenance of your drive train will make it last an incredible length of time. If you break down your drivetrain with an engine degreaser every once in a while, or after a particularly dirty ride, it will take out all the grinding particles that get caught in the built up lube. Just be sure that you pay attention to environmental issues with this stuff- it is not the most kind thing to do to your lawn, water supply, etc- so be enviro-conscious... That granular stuff is resposible for breaking apart your drive train. Then dry and relube. It will look like new, especially if done regularly. Mine is a year old, and you could not tell that I did not install it yesterday- versus a friend of mine who never does that and has broken two chains in the past 5 months. Can't hurt! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matthew magill
a Racer
from ashland, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | toothpick | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | hmmm..this is a post to let you know there is a difference. '99 HG=junk '00 HG=perfection | | Weaknesses: | '99 it breaks it stretchs...its the incredibly new '99 HG 9 spd lets make the consumer a guinea pig again trick! | | Similar Products Used: | '00 okay this is my 2nd bike and it has the same chain but its newer and it stretchs, gets bumped over logs, super abused from shifting. I tested its total stretch and its still in spec of new and its 6 MONTHS OLD!! I dont get it | | Bike Setup: | '99 Raleigh m600 & '00 G.F. Big Sur both LX/XT 9spd | | Bottom Line: | If you have a '99 9 spd get the '00 chainrings and rear derailuer setup wit hthe newer chain and all your 9spd woes will disappear. The '00 9 spd is dead reliable (same chain in 8 months of ownership), the '99 I went through 4 chains in 6 months and put up with constant adjustment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from State College, PA
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | good finish
enhances shifting
not overpriced | | Weaknesses: | weakness
low durability | | Similar Products Used: | PC55, PS58, PC41 | | Bottom Line: | This is the last time I will use a Shimano chain. All three times I have given them a chance they have broken the same way, the plates bow out and let the preceding link go. I think all the convoluted shifting ramps on the chain are weakening the plates lateral strength. I am going back to Sachs/SRAM chains and never straying again. I'll even switch out the chain on the new road bike I am picking up soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Vinton,VA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Apple Orchard Falls | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | So far none! | | Weaknesses: | Broke chain on the 3rd ride during a climb. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 8speed chains | | Bike Setup: | Next LP 20/32/44T;ESP 9.0SL;XTR 12~34T 9speed; | | Bottom Line: | Either bad luck, poor chain installation, or cheap chain. I'll keep riding it until it snaps again. Then I may have to go with a beefy'er chain. Not going to bash on this product yett. We will see what happens. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaromir
a Racer
from Prague, Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | best chain I ever used | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | many | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose IBOC with Marzocchi Z3 | | Bottom Line: | Hey, all you guys complaining about the breaking of this chain should let someone pro put it on your bike. If you can't put it on right, don't do it, 'cause if you do, it's gonna break. And also, if some of you guys (especially "racers") cross the chain and don't know how to shift the right way complain?? First, try to learn how to shift and how to clean the chain..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell
a Racer
from Baton Rouge
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | How easily it breaks | | Weaknesses: | Quality, Strength | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs | | Bike Setup: | Y2K Trek 8000 Full XT components,USE XCR seatpost | | Bottom Line: | This chain caused me to come in last at a race today. I broke one before the race warming up then another during the first lap of the race. I had to run back to the start and grap Klein Mantra that is a demo bike at the shop I work at. Shimano chains SUCK!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alec Davies
a Weekend Warrior
from Saundersfoot
Date Reviewed: October 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Tenby town!!!!!!! | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
It's not thats the bloody problem | | Weaknesses: |
Everthing | | Similar Products Used: |
Sach | | Bike Setup: |
LX casset, derailer | | Bottom Line: | Dont buy this poor peice of Shimano Sh1t. It will well and truely screw up your bike. I had mine for 31 days when one of the pins put in by shimancrap came loose. This then stuck into my mech riping it round 160 deg. This in turn bent my hanger and my frame (a brand spanking new Azonic DS1). What a load of ass suking wank stained maggetas. I now need a new mother fecking bastard frame. Please let me give it a minus | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RvB
a Racer
from Enschede, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: September 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
shifts very well, looks cool (?), lasts | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
sachs chains, dura ace | | Bike Setup: |
dura ace 8 spd cassette, shimano LX 22x32x42 rings, xtr derailleurs, 18 aluminum frame | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good chain. People saying that shimano chains break should realize that lots of pros ride with these chains and I never see pros breaking their chain, so they are probably doing something wrong. Install it right, don't shift with extreme power on the chain. Best chain is the dura ace 7700 btw... really tough! 5 chilis for dura ace, 4 for this one... | | Overall Rating: |
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