Submitted by
mfennell
a Cross Country Rider
from Middletown, NJ Date Reviewed: October 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
hartshoren
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Dunno
Weaknesses:
Breaks.
Bottom Line:
Just logged onto MTBR to see if anyone else had the same problems I do. Lo and behold, I am not alone! I just broke another one of the things yesterday, starting from a top on a steep hill in the granny. C'mon! Always the same failure mode - one of the plates pulls off.
I am not a maintenance zealot, granted, but wipe down and lube the chain every other ride. In 15 years of road and mtb riding, I've broken two Shimano chains. In 2 years of using the SRAM 991, I've broken three of them. I'm going back to Shimano.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
PDXJeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: October 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
roady
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$31.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
smoother shifting
strong enough for a 200 lb rider, 30 lb bike commuting.
The stock chain was a SRAM PC-971. I was not happy with the shifting. Performance had a deal too good to pass up to upgrade to the PC-991. I've put 2100 miles on it between April and Oct in Portland, OR; plenty of rain. It has been lubed regularly, but not cleaned as often as it should.
The bike is going for a tune-up and needs a new chain. I like this chain and will replace it with the same model this weekend.
I'm 200 lbs, my bike is 30 lbs w/o saddle bags. I climb the steep hill in the Riverview cemetery on most days. No issues with strength other than my legs ;)
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Submitted by
alembicf1x
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: September 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
braille
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Strengths:
shiny
Weaknesses:
weak master link
Bike Setup:
chi chi deluxe
Bottom Line:
This chain broke on me twice at the master link. First time I thought it was due to a worn cogset as the chain was slipping on steep climbs. I was able to put it back together and replaced the cogset, everything was good for a couple of hundred miles.
Second time it broke it wrapped around my cogs and ripped my X-O derailleur clean off the bike.
Fortunately, SRAM was good about covering me on the chain and the derailleur. Unfortunately, I have lost confidence in their chains and will be looking elsewhere.
If you have tiny little matchstick legs and ride flats only, this chain may be adequate for you.
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Submitted by
Geist262
a Cross Country Rider
from PA USA Date Reviewed: June 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ho Chi Minh
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Sram Powerlink
Weaknesses:
Very weak chain.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano and older Sram chains
Bike Setup:
Ibex Asta
Bottom Line:
This chain was supposed to be really good and it was on sale. It was more than I usually spend on a chain. I broke it 3 times in a week. All three times I was climbing. I was NOT shifting under load either. The chain just doesn't hold up well at all. I don't recommend this chain to anyone.
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Submitted by
comptiger5000
a Weekend Warrior
from Connecticut, USA Date Reviewed: May 23, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$27.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Seems strong enough, shifts smoothly, quiet
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any yet
Similar Products Used:
Sram PC-871
Bike Setup:
2006 Giant Yukon with lots of mods
Bottom Line:
Good, solid, well priced chain. I am light (130 lbs), but have been using this chain for about 10 months now, and have put several hundred miles of both road and trails on this chain. As long as you keep it clean and lubed, it shifts beautifully and shows no signs of stress or impending failure.
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Submitted by
atomicAdam
a Downhiller
from oakland Date Reviewed: May 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
pac-town
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
on the side of the h
Strengths:
it works if you take care of it
Weaknesses:
price
Similar Products Used:
other SRAM chains
Bike Setup:
canfield F1
Bottom Line:
I feel compelled to write this review. This chain has such a bad rating on MTBR yet I feel it is really user error.
I found my PC-991 when pushing up the hill at a Southridge race. The master link was missing and the chain was dry as a bone.
I picked it up, cleaned it off, lubed it, and have been using it for over a year since.
I lube my chain and clean it every week, or twice a week depending on how much I get to ride. I used this chain in Whistler for 3 straight days of riding in the rain. I've used this chain and it hasn't been an issue ever.
You know why, because I lube my chain and take care of it. I know others who have PC-991 chains, who lube them, and they've never had an issue.
I think the 2.19/5 ranking for this chain is completely unfair and is probably do more to incorrect set-up - sloppy shifting under undo stress, or poor maintenance than anything the chain has done.
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Submitted by
TTTURNER
a Cross Country Rider
from La Quinta/Idyllwild CA Date Reviewed: May 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Buhoff
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$26.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Easy cleaning.
Weaknesses:
Too soft. Doesn't shift well with Shimano or SRAM cassettes.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XTR
Bike Setup:
Turner Flux, XTR, Mavic SL Disc
Bottom Line:
Sram has dropped the ball with this chain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
manwe
a Cross Country Rider
from Red Oak, TX USA Date Reviewed: March 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Lincoln Parish Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike Sho
Strengths:
It's pretty
Weaknesses:
The chain
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, other Sram chains
Bike Setup:
Epic S-works
Bottom Line:
The chain sucks. It has broke on me 3 times in less then 6 months. Never buying sram again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JMS
a Racer
from Minnesota Date Reviewed: January 1, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
LBS, online
Strengths:
powerlink included for future chains; shifts smooth
Weaknesses:
breaks easily
Similar Products Used:
XTR
Bike Setup:
XTR
Bottom Line:
I have broken three of these already in less than one year. I broke two of them under light loads and another in a race. No chain suck. On top of that, I take very good care of chains, keeping them clean and in good shape. I have lost mostly all faith in SRAM chains. They used to be outstanding when they were Sachs-Sedis, now not so.
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Submitted by
Lance
a Cross Country Rider
from Fresno Ca Date Reviewed: December 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anything with a brutal climb!
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
QVP
Strengths:
Never broke and never had any concerns about my chain. I presumed it was good and never had a problem!
Weaknesses:
None so far other than changing it when many miles were put on the drive train.
I just replaced my 991 hollow chain with a 971 because Performance was going out of business where I live and got 35% off. The 971 is my 3rd chain in approximately 2k miles. I changed my 990 cassette with a 990 and I changed my 11/22 chain rings, too. I read all of the unhappy reviews and I`m hoping that this chain isn`t bogus! You will know if it Is, I promise!
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Submitted by
malt182
a Downhiller
from Australia Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Death Run
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Blackmans Bicycles
Strengths:
It is on the light side
Weaknesses:
Everything, when you pedal REALLY softly, as in, you pedal so softly that you dont move, the chain will not slip, as soon as you pump some torque into it, the chain slips. It is more efficient walking.
The chain has broken 11 times, Yes thats right, 11 times since i purchased it, and that is in a 3 month period.
Similar Products Used:
Just standard chains on my norco aline
Bike Setup:
Norco aline, park editions, fox 40's marzocci rocco, juicy 7;s
Bottom Line:
Please, if you value your street rating by the general public,when they see you swearing your head off, they will think differently of you. If there was an ability to select a negative amount of chili's -5 would be chosen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fisherman's
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
MEC
Strengths:
None apparent at this point
Weaknesses:
Side plate bulges rub the sides of cassette and hang up. Chain is weak compared to my SRAM PC 69.
Similar Products Used:
SRAM PC 69
Bike Setup:
RM Hammer. Hard tail X-country. Rim brakes
Bottom Line:
SRAM over-thought this, and now has an inferior product. It 'side plate bulges' rub against the sides of the cassette (SRAM & Shimano XT). The side plates are now physically weaker than the earlier & better PC 69 chain. I won't be buying SRAM's triple digit chains.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
PowPow
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver Date Reviewed: November 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The Ribbon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Bottom Line:
After 3 flawless months of service this chain has broken 3 times in two rides. Once on a rock move I've done hundreds of times. Once on a steep ST, and finally on a mellow ST section. Each time there was no warning. Explained situation to LBS and they have warranteed to chain through SRAM. I'll give it another try based on the fact I've gotten years of riding in on other SRAM chains. However, if I have a similar experience I'll be looking elsewhere. A chain should not break after 3 months regardless of circumstances. I'm giving SRAM the benefit of the doubt here with 2 chilis. If they had not done the warranty it would be 1 chili.
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Submitted by
Waterat Pat
a
from Morgan Hill Date Reviewed: October 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Kick In The Pants
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Blue Sky
Strengths:
Powerlink is the best.
Weaknesses:
Shifting was ok but when you really laid down the power the chain skipped.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano and Sachs PC99.
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle ZEN that changes all the time.
Bottom Line:
I tried everything to get this chain to work. It did not work with my XT setup so I switched it to X9. Same problem skipping chain under power. Shortened the chain and put on a SRAM 990 cassette. Still did not work. I think this chain stretches under heavy load because I put an old PC99 chain on and it worked great. SRAM redesigned all these chains in 2006 and they just have not been the same. This might be case of too light. Going with the heavier cheaper models next time. I miss the PC99.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TrekJeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Mid, Michigan, USA Date Reviewed: August 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Great finish, power link is incredable. Great shifting with my XT/Saint/XTR setup
Buy it. Use it, ride it hard and keep it maintained.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a
from Boston Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Arcadia in southern RI
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint.com I think
Strengths:
Rolled smooth and shifted clean for my first 4-5 rides. The quick link is good.
Weaknesses:
Blew apart with no warning on a steep climb. Once fixed, a additional bend in a link (several links away from the break) caused bad ghost shifting, ride home sucked!
Similar Products Used:
XT and XTR 8 speed chains. No problems with either.
Bike Setup:
Moots YBB, XTR front SRAM X-0 rear, XT cranks, Phil brakes, etc.
Bottom Line:
Based on what I've read, I should have gone with Shimano to start. This chain is much too fragile. I'm not sure if it is just an issue of the 9 speed being too narrow, I never had a problem with their older 8 speed chains. I have a 9 speed DA/XTR coming in the mail so I can take this piece of junk off my bike, we'll see how the Shimano 9 speed holds up. I weight 220 so this may work nicely for a smaller rider, but if you are big, steer clear!!!
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Submitted by
Phil
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax, VA, USA Date Reviewed: April 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fountainhead Regional Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$44.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
The model number begins with a "99"
Weaknesses:
Very weak
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XTR/Dura Ace, XT, PC 971, PC 951
Bike Setup:
Custom Epic
Bottom Line:
The chain stretched pretty bad in only about 2 rides. When it started to suck, I replaced the chain rings and still had suck. Then I replaced the cassette and I still had suck. Finally after setting it up in the stand and readjusting everything (I am a mechanic) I set out on my ride. After about a mile the chain exploded. After I reconnected it, it exploded a quarter mile later. Once again, I reconnected it by taking some links out. Another 100 meters later, I was on the bottom of a steep cliff because It absolutely exploded. I am a pretty strong rider with huge legs, but I dont think that I could have torqued this thing enough to stretch it and then break it three times. After I had a PC 971 chain that lasted until it completely wore out and I was happy with SRAM after shimano chains met the same fate. I'm going to try a wipperman chain now. Hopefully you don't see this review on their chain either.
Who should buy it? 100-130 pound riders who can afford to replace it after maybe a season.
For people who torque the crap out of their drivetrains like me and ride just about everyday this doesn't cut it. I understand that this stuff is supposed to be light and for racing only, but I'm glad I tried it out before the bakers dozen last weekend, because I would curse the SRAM name.
I will not recommend this product to my customer. 'nuff said.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luca Tumedei
a Cross Country Rider
from Bologna, Italy Date Reviewed: April 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
"Bregoli"
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
bike store sale
Strengths:
It's a light and very rolling chain; the shifting is sweet and seems not to suffer too much from mud, easy to lube
Weaknesses:
It's weak! the chain broke 3 times during a single 40km race! and first time it broke i was sprinting on road with 44/11. Broke again during some rides with friends and definitively makes you live every ride with the terror of a jam...
Similar Products Used:
shimano hg 93 and a kmc chain
Bike Setup:
xc bike with high level components. cassette is sram pg-990 and cranck is shimano xt, shifters are xtr forward and x0 back.
Bottom Line:
it's light but the possibility of a very inopportune jam makes it a no-go for everyone. i'm not a rough rider and never broke a chain. on my advice it's not good for xc racers and for any kind of ride that makes you abuse the bike. definitively not worth the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent Pierce
a Cross Country Rider
from Carrollton Date Reviewed: March 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
Looks nice. Broke in well. Cleans easy.
Weaknesses:
Stuck link. 911's are cursed with bad stuck links. Best try the cross step or 970. I used the x9 der and shifters with a 990 cassette so it should have worked perfect but the links stuck on 8th ride or so. I like Sram but this chain is a lemon that should have been recalled.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano stock chain lasted over a year with heavy wear.
Bike Setup:
F400. lx front der. x9 rear. 990 cassette. avid levers. and xtr breaks. spinergy rear wheele.
Bottom Line:
Maybe the newer 991's have been fixed but I wouldn't take my chances. 970's known to be bullet proof so I'm going to give it a try.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Greensboro Date Reviewed: March 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
"No Bikes" trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Power link is easy to use. Strong
Weaknesses:
Easy to Confuse with the 971 which is weaker, which designed for featherwieghts and casual riders
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Sram X.0 drivetrain
Bottom Line:
I have been using the PC-99 chain for over four years with no problems. Now I am using the 991 and had not had one fail on me under pressure. I did have one break when a stick got tangled up in my drive train. But that stick broke the derailleur, the hanger and two spokes so I can’t blame it on a design flaw. I do not granny gear very often and I muscle over obstacles. I also hardly ever clean my bike. I feel confident with this chain. It shifts smoothly and is durable. I did know somebody that thought he broke his and was cursing SRAM. When we looked at the links he had the 971 chain. He was wondering why he got it so much cheaper. SRAM should make the chain names more distinct.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
drindiana
a Weekend Warrior
from Blue Mtns, Australia Date Reviewed: January 31, 2007
Not as smooth out of the box as Shimano, Powerlink as standard is great for maintenance. Am not a Clyde or a whippet and not as smooth on the gear changing as I should. I have had no problems with this chain. It looks good (if that is important to you) and shifts nicely after bedding in for a few rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
XC Runner
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, Michigan Date Reviewed: January 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
potowatomi
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa.com
Strengths:
powerlink
Weaknesses:
Weak. I'm 5' 5" and 110 lbs and I've broken this chain 3 times.
Bike Setup:
Voodoo Bokor frame, Avid bb7, hope xc hubs, R7 elite fork, full xt except for sram 981 cassette and this chain. Cane Creek solos headset, mavic xc 717 rims, easton monkey lite handlebars, fsa carbon seatpost.
Bottom Line:
It takes nothing to break this chain. Don't even think about shifting while going up a hill. I had it break twice in two places on one 20 mile ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
troy
a
from kentucky Date Reviewed: December 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
None, ziltch, nahda... worthless peice of garbage.
Weaknesses:
The product itself is weak. No, worse than weak, total junk. A rubber-band would work better.
This is an update from last review and repair of chain and it only lasted a couple of weeks. Not worth the time or energy of putting on your bike. I'm suprised it did not crumble to pieces out of the box. This is the most worthless componet I've ever had on any bike. I hate walking my bike, therefore I hate SRAM(scam). I rating one chili because that the lowest rating I'm allowed, however this rating is much to godd for this department store cr*p.
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Submitted by
Troy Louthen
a Weekend Warrior
from Kentucky Date Reviewed: November 14, 2006
Looks good and ran like a dream. However I rode down some stairs at a loading dock, nothing major and within in a 100 feet of stairs chain starts ghost shifting up and down then breaks. I have repaired the chain with left over links I had from purchase. During this repair several links near the point of break just fell of thier pins. So after removing several more near break I added the new ones. I'm going to test it on some trails this afternoon and see how it goes, but my instinct tells me Buy Something Else. I'm giving 2 chilis for value because I got a deal on eBay, and 1 chili overall since it lasted one month.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travis
a Racer
from Dover, New Hampshire, USA Date Reviewed: September 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Agamenticus
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Crisp shifting. My number one pet peeve is gears ghost-shifting, drivetrain clicking, sticking etc..
This is a spectacular chain. Excellent mud sheding and seems to be very strong.
so far so good.
Weaknesses:
Stiff links caused by the oem coating of anti-rust/lube. The stuff that is coating the chain out of the box picks up LOTS of dirt and makes for stiff links VERY quickly (1 ride)
This chain will be your favorite IF you take care of it. The very first thing you should do when you get this chain is take it out the box, put it in a sink and scrub the heck out of it with some sort of degreaser and a stiff bristle brush. Then apply some decent chain lube to it (tri-flow works well for me). Once you have done this, you can expect trouble free use. keep it clean.. should go without saying.
Similar Products Used:
You name it, from 7 to 9 speed chains over the years of my biking
Bike Setup:
Trek 970 3 set of Complete groupo changes ( just love my frame :D ) currently x.9 rear derail, pc-990 cassette, pc-991 chain, marzocchi mx comp eta, xt cranks, monkey lite riser bars, trigger x9 shifters
Bottom Line:
Great chain, strong, light, crisp. Don't buy it if you don't know how to clean things.
CLEAN IT and you will be rewarded.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Oscar
a Racer
from Juarez, Chihuahua,Mexico Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006
If you are able $$$$ to change the chain three times per year, this is the chain for you.Broke the chain on my second ride, after 5 months the chain was a piece of elastic. I am 6' 170 lbs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Graham
a Downhiller
from Aberdeen, Scotland Date Reviewed: April 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
CRC
Strengths:
Decent build quality. Very compatible with deraileurs and cassettes. Nickel plated inside and outside plates = no rust and very long life. Powerlink is extremely strong, reliable and easy to open and close.
Weaknesses:
None so far...
Similar Products Used:
Shimano chains, standard ones.
Bike Setup:
Kona Coiler
Bottom Line:
Tired of having a dry, slack, old chain? I recommend this to any mountain biker, it is a genuine good quality piece of kit. This will handly evrything you give to it and will last for long. Very easy to install - with no tools! Very pleased with mine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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