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Home | Product Reviews | Chain | SRAM PC-971 | ||||
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Submitted by
rob
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: 5/1/2008 6:16:03 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $30 |
| Strengths: | Cheap, quick link is great |
| Weaknesses: | Strength (snapped) |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano HG, Connex Wippermann |
| Bike Setup: | Kula Primo XTR/XT drivetrain |
| Bottom Line: | Just finished a new build and got a good deal on a PC971 with a SRAM cassette so gave it a try. I'd done about 150km and had no problems at all with the drivetrain, and then the chain snapped today on a climb. I read up on here before buying this chain so I knew I had to be careful with shifting under power and take it easy (which I did). I'm not a big guy and not putting out that much power so pretty disappointed the chain went so easily. Used an HG73 on the same trails all last year with no problems (and shifted a lot harder). |
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Submitted by
Rod
a Cross Country Rider
from ky
Date Reviewed: 4/15/2008 9:55:34 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | many |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Purchased At: | came w/ my used bike |
| Strengths: | It works and no breakage like the other users |
| Weaknesses: | none |
| Similar Products Tried: | other SRAM products |
| Bike Setup: | tires chain wheels etc. |
| Bottom Line: | If you don't shift under loads the chain won't break. I have used this chain for a while without any problems at all. I believe the peoplet that post here after they have a problem with a product. It also has a very cheap price. |
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Submitted by
Mark Warnick
a Cross Country Rider
from Etters, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: 4/2/2008 6:36:59 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Rocky Ridge, York, PA |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $30 |
| Purchased At: | Deliveried with bike |
| Strengths: | None |
| Weaknesses: | It breaks |
| Similar Products Tried: | SRAM PC-991 |
| Bike Setup: | Specilized Enduro |
| Bottom Line: | I purchased a new Specilized Enduro with the PC-971 chain after about ten rides the chain broke once. I repaired it with a master link and two rides later it broken again in a different place. The chain can't handle any high load up hill shifts. I weight 215 pounds and ride difficult rocky areas. I just purchased a SRAM PC-991 for $50, I hope it works or I am going to a differnt brand. |
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Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Washington, WI
Date Reviewed: 2/13/2008 7:43:09 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years |
| Price Paid: | $25 |
| Purchased At: | LBS |
| Strengths: | Reliable and easy to remove (with the Powerlink) |
| Weaknesses: | None. It does what it is supposed to. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano chains |
| Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic |
| Bottom Line: | I don't know what these guys who keep breaking this chain are doing. I've been using this chain for years and have never broken one. I replace it about twice a season. I clean it regularly. (Easy to remove with the Powerlink.) I keep my deraileurs tuned. I've broken chains in the past -- but they've all been Shimano. I switched to the SRAM, and haven't had any problems with it breaking or shifting. In fact, I've got this same chain on both my bikes. It works fine. |
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, CT
Date Reviewed: 12/15/2007 10:49:48 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | It turns the rear sprocket when it stays together. |
| Weaknesses: | It breaks often! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano hyperglide |
| Bike Setup: | 06 Stumpjumper FSR |
| Bottom Line: | Came stock on my 06 Stumpy FSR. While it worked fine the first 100 miles or so, it quickly deteriorated. Shifting was never an issue, but the strength. I typically break this chain every 50 miles or so, and I do not beat on it. VERY frusterating. I've been riding several days a week for about 20 years now, and I think I've broken a chain once or twice before this piece of garbage. If you buy a bike that has this chain, do yourself a favor and spend the extra 25-30 bucks for a shimano. |
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Submitted by
peeler hughes
from Philadelphia, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: 12/3/2007 9:05:29 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $50 |
| Purchased At: | Guy's bikes |
| Strengths: | a very smooth shifting chain, lightweight. |
| Bottom Line: | I am following up a review on my last chain, the PC 971. I have since switched to the SRAM hollowpin 991. I really loved it at first, until the chronic breakage. I shift under very little crankage. I occasionally meke an emergency shift under load, though I gain speed in gear, shift without applying alot of power and resume cranking hard. Believe me, I shift properly. I have never broken a shimano chain (always used dura ace) But since I switched to SRAM out of circumstance, not choice, I have experienced at least 7 broken chains. I installed them perfectly and rode them under pretty tough conditions, though not atypical. I have ordered a dura replacement and will never consider a SRAM chain ever again. Ive become an expert at chain repair. They suck. |
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Submitted by
Hugh
a Weekend Warrior
from Wyoming
Date Reviewed: 10/31/2007 7:32:12 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | Quiet at first, shifting was positive and smooth for first 20 miles of use. |
| Weaknesses: | Began skipping intermittently after 20 miles of riding. Stiff links showed up repeatedly. Snapped twice in two spots. |
| Similar Products Tried: | stock chains on other bike. |
| Bike Setup: | 2007 Enduro Sl comp completely stock. Chain came with the bike. |
| Bottom Line: | By the time I had accumulated 100 miles the chain was done. Snapped twice; I had to fix around 8 stiff links in this time period. The cheapo chain on my commuter doesn't have any issues and has around 2k miles. I would not recommend this chain to anyone unless I was racing them. For money. Or beer. |
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Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Niagara Falls
Date Reviewed: 10/28/2007 5:32:08 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $25 |
| Purchased At: | Rapid City Cycle |
| Strengths: | It did not break on me Shifting is fine Powerlink is easy to use good value |
| Weaknesses: | I don't have any complaints |
| Similar Products Tried: | PC-59, Deore |
| Bike Setup: | Giant NRS. XT cassete, Deore Chainrings, Deore Shifters, LX derailleurs |
| Bottom Line: | The reviews for this chain, in general suck. I was a long time user of the PC-59, but then it was discontinued. I was hesitant to get a 971, based on the reviews here. But, since i had always used sram, with few problems, i had to find out for myself. I purchased one, and put in on my bike. It worked. I rode it a lot, it wore, like all chains do, and then i replaced it, to get more life out of my cassette. So, in conclusion, i had no problems with this chain. I think as long as something works, people don't think about it. But, when something breaks, people get pissed, and come write a review here, and this skews the ratings sometimes. |
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Submitted by
peeler hughes
a Racer
from Bensalem,PA,USA
Date Reviewed: 10/20/2007 8:18:30 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Wissahickon |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $45 |
| Purchased At: | Guy's |
| Strengths: | Smoothest shifting chain, glides like a fish over XT cassette. |
| Weaknesses: | suddenly broke. going down a hill, not pedaling. |
| Similar Products Tried: | first SRAM chain |
| Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur XT/Raceface drivetrain/Fox suspension/Crossmax tubeless... |
| Bottom Line: | This chain broke going down a hill after about 27 miles of racing. It raced 2 weeks prior, a long 31 miles over rocks and mud. The powerlink must have been the problem. I never broke a chain before. I hit a rock or root, who knows, I heard a loud metal on metal noise, chain gone. I switched to the SRAM 991 hollowpin. I can't believe how friggin' smooth it, versus the 971. So far I have about 10 miles on the new chain. Bottom Bottom line: I don't trust the powerlink concept and I think it would be a good idea to carry a spare powerlink. If I break another, I will never use SRAM chains again, I will simply go to Dura Ace road chain, like everyone else and go back to never ever worrying about chain breakage. |
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Submitted by
Destroy
a Cross Country Rider
from Montréal
Date Reviewed: 10/1/2007 5:40:41 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $50 |
| Bottom Line: | Broken my chain 2x in one week. |
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Submitted by
Steve
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: 8/31/2007 10:01:25 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $40 |
| Purchased At: | MEC |
| Strengths: | Light compared to my old chain. Shiny. Works great. |
| Weaknesses: | It seemed to have some skipping issues at first but it stopped now. I have been biking pretty much every day for the past month and a half and have had no trouble with this chain. As far as I can tell its a great chain. |
| Bottom Line: | I think its a great chain for a decent price. |
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Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Berthoud, CO
Date Reviewed: 8/23/2007 11:09:14 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $35 |
| Purchased At: | LBS |
| Strengths: | none |
| Weaknesses: | chain breaks by outer plates coming off of rivets |
| Bike Setup: | '06 Slayer 70 |
| Bottom Line: | I'm a big guy (220lbs), and started breaking these chains last year. It goes when I'm powering up a hill or obstacle. Twice last week, finally wised up, and am trying the 991 cross step chain. |
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Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Queens, NY
Date Reviewed: 7/17/2007 2:21:17 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | E-Bay |
| Strengths: | Didn't last long enough to find one |
| Weaknesses: | Broke after a few rides, One of the links was locked- up |
| Similar Products Tried: | KMC, pc-48 |
| Bike Setup: | 06 Stumpy Hardtail |
| Bottom Line: | JUdging by the other reviews here I am not the only one dissappointed with this chain, not worth its wieght in turds |
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Submitted by
dirty
a Cross Country Rider
from boston
Date Reviewed: 7/14/2007 8:34:16 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | what? |
| Weaknesses: | freakin breaks! |
| Similar Products Tried: | pc 951 |
| Bike Setup: | 07 stumpy hardtail carbon sram xo xt cranks/front der. |
| Bottom Line: | three rides on brand new bike chain skipped all over the place then broke on my third ride. I have been riding a pc 951 with no issues on my old hard tail. Also I rode a epic expert demo that exhibited the same issues (I work part time at my local shop)and went back to the shop and it was a pc 971. CRAP CRAP CRAP!!don't buy it, unless you like bloody knees. |
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Submitted by
WorldBTom
a Cross Country Rider
from NorCal
Date Reviewed: 5/23/2007 1:01:59 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Skeggs |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $22 |
| Purchased At: | Performance Bikes |
| Strengths: | Easy to put on |
| Weaknesses: | Chain width may be an issue; either that, or the links are too stiff. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Other SRAM and Shimano chains |
| Bike Setup: | SRAM drivetrain |
| Bottom Line: | After having gone 9 years without breaking a chain, I have now broken 3 in the last two months. After a particularly nasty, muddy race I replaced the entire drivetrain and was not able to pedal without the bike "ghost shifting". Basically the chain wants to ride up the cassette as soon as I put any tension on the chain (i.e. during any hard pedaling). I took it to multiple shops and nobody could figure out what was wrong. I kept riding anyways and would eventually break the chain during a hard push up a slope. Being an idiot I bought the same chain and subsequently broke it twice in one month. Yes I know how to tune a bike, but I absolutely perplexed at why this happening. It could be that the cassette teeth are too closely spaced (SRAM 9 speed), or SRAM made a bad batch of chains. I am switching over to a Shimano drivetrain and will see if that makes any difference. |
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Submitted by
Robert McMahon
a Weekend Warrior
from Saratoga, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: 4/21/2007 8:13:11 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Table Mountain/Charcoal Road |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $25 |
| Purchased At: | Performance bike |
| Strengths: | Master link makes it easier to remove the chain. A few dollars cheaper than shimano comparable chain. |
| Weaknesses: | Durability. I tested both the PC 971 and Shimano HG 93 in near identical riding conditions cleaning the chains after every major weekend ride. (Usually rides consist of around 30-40 miles and 5000-6000' of elevation.) The Shimano HG 93 lasted 1200 miles. The SRAM PC 971 lasted 600 miles. PS. No need for nickel plating when chains need to swapped every 3 months. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano HG 93. |
| Bike Setup: | 2006 Giant XTC. Replaced Race Face bottom bracket (which failed) with Shimano XT. Replaced DT swiss rear hub (which failed) with Shimano XTRs. Needless to say I'm becoming a Shimano convert as these lesser components Giant selected fail in real world riding situations. |
| Bottom Line: | Not as good as shimano HG 93 - buy that instead. |
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Submitted by
singletrackfever
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: 4/12/2007 12:04:27 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | wiss or belmont |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | The PowerLink |
| Weaknesses: | everything but the PowerLink |
| Similar Products Tried: | whatever came on the bike... |
| Bike Setup: | cannondale f700 |
| Bottom Line: | I just recently swapped out my whole drivetrain and this was the chain that was recommended. However, it broke 3 times in less then a month. Need more explanation? |
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Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Israel
Date Reviewed: 1/5/2007 11:34:12 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $30 |
| Strengths: | Outer links made of Stainless Steel - looks great and after wash - look like new Pins are Much more easy get in and out compare to shimano Power link - great patent. very easy to use. Very smooth operation |
| Weaknesses: | None. |
| Similar Products Tried: | shimano HG93 |
| Bike Setup: | Shimao LX dreilures, XT casete, Truative 5D cranck |
| Bottom Line: | a much better chain than shimano HG93 |
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Submitted by
Brandon T
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: 11/23/2006 6:24:03 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | All of Ontario |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | LBS came w/bike |
| Strengths: | Powerlink and that's it...everything else is terrible about it. |
| Weaknesses: | It breaks so often it's ridiculous...I bought a new HT stumpy 06 and 2nd ride out the chain broke at 2 different locations...wasn't pedaling hard or anything...and just a momemnt ago...I was on my TRAINER...you know you're not pedaling super hard on a trainer because you're after consistency...so it broke on that...I'm feeling a bit jipped because i've had the chain for less than a month and it's already broken in 3 different areas. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano |
| Bike Setup: | stock specialized stumpy 06 HT |
| Bottom Line: | Do not buy this chain! It breaks too often in different areas. Spend your money elsewhere. |
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Submitted by
Charles Davis
a Cross Country Rider
from Knoxville, TN
Date Reviewed: 10/23/2006 5:35:31 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | Came with bike |
| Strengths: | None |
| Weaknesses: | Everything... Junk chain that broke going up a small hill on my second ride. I have been riding 20 years and this is only the second chain I have ever broken. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Just about every chain out there |
| Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Epiphany, XO, XTR Crank, Avid Juicy 5... |
| Bottom Line: | Based on my two rides the second one cut short by the failure of this product less than 2 miles in.... I would not suggest you buy this chain and if it comes on your new bike like it did mine carry a spare or replace it soon... |
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Submitted by
wenisman
from sydney
Date Reviewed: 10/7/2006 8:58:34 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | shifts quick and clean |
| Weaknesses: | it will break very often |
| Similar Products Tried: | too many to remember |
| Bike Setup: | intense 6.6... blinged out |
| Bottom Line: | i have used this chain for about 100 miles of off roading... i have broken this chain 5 times!! its now more powerlinks than chain. previously swore by sram chains but this one is rubbish! with so many choices dont waste time or money on this one. |
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Submitted by
pitbiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Marikina, Philippines
Date Reviewed: 8/23/2006 4:40:15 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Baguio/Rizal Trails |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Purchased At: | John Wilkie |
| Strengths: | So far so good, haven't experienced the chain breaking up. I never installed the power link. |
| Bottom Line: | It really doesn't matter which chain you use, shift properly and off course you have to properly maintain your bike. I wonder how you guys make use of your chains?? hahahaha |
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Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane in OZ
Date Reviewed: 8/15/2006 2:17:58 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Purchased At: | Came with bike |
| Strengths: | Nil |
| Weaknesses: | Very noisy with weak linkages. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano HG-53, HG-93 |
| Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper FSR |
| Bottom Line: | This chain came with my 06 Stumpjumper 120 and was ok for the first and second ride. After that it became very noisy and when I investigated the noise I found several links that were very loose. I have no doubt this chain would have fallen to bits in another 2 or 3 rides. Have now put on a HG-93 and bike is running smoothly again. |
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Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town, South Africa
Date Reviewed: 8/8/2006 10:38:40 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | Powerlink! |
| Weaknesses: | Noisy. |
| Similar Products Tried: | SRAM Pc-59 |
| Bottom Line: | I've used SRAM chains forever, and SACHS/SEDIS before they became SRAM. The PC-59 was a great chain, unfortunately they've changed the design and this one has become noisy, possibly because it seems to be wider in the middle of the link - I think its rubbing on things. I'm using mine with Shimano cassettes. I hate Shimano chains, but I guess I'm going to have to try them out again. |
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Submitted by
Mark
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: 7/26/2006 11:42:24 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Bottom Line: | I bought this chain two months ago with a new SRAM cassette. I've probably put around 150 miles or less on the chain and it's broken four times. The first time it broke was my second trip out. I took it back to the shop where they worked out a stiff link and put a new link back in and it has kept breaking since then. I've spent a lot of time cleaning the chain and working out any stiff links. It's now too short to ride. |
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Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington MI USA
Date Reviewed: 7/2/2006 5:40:26 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | The last one I rode |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $35 |