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Home | Product Reviews | Chain | Sachs PC61 | ||||
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Submitted by
Mark Munro
a Cross Country Rider
from Bozeman, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: 6/17/2000 1:13:49 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Dry creek, ID |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | Extreamly durable, cleanable, and EASY to use, not counting the recalled ones of course. |
| Weaknesses: | SRAMS stupid idea to mess with them and cause a recall before getting there act together. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano of all types, sachs pc 51 |
| Bike Setup: | DBR WCF XT drive train |
| Bottom Line: | I believe that most products last and work well if maintained and installed correctly. I have had excellent success with sachs/srams chains. I like the pc61 the best, had to settle for a pc51 this time though because I am poor right now. I recommend this chain to all riders who use their equipment correctly(clean, and damnit, shift enough, do not ride arround in one gear all the time, or in your BIG ring!!!). |
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Submitted by
Derek Hughes
a Cross Country Rider
from Mississauga, Ontario
Date Reviewed: 6/6/2000 11:26:10 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Mansfield |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Strengths: | Power Link |
| Weaknesses: | Weak sideplates |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano IG50, PC51 |
| Bike Setup: | KHS Alite 4000, LX/XT |
| Bottom Line: | I have had very inconsistent results with Sachs chains. I started with PC51s three years ago, and they were great! I switched to the PC61, and my first chain broke three times in 300 Km by cracking where the pin is pushed through the sideplate... I got no comment from Sram, but my dealer replaced the chain. I think others must be having the same problem... |
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Submitted by
Alex
a Cross-Country Rider
from Hawaii
Date Reviewed: 12/11/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: |
Strong Cheap Very easy to remove |
| Weaknesses: | ? none i guess! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano IG90 |
| Bike Setup: |
Jamis Hardtail Full XT drivetrain w/ -LX rear deraileur; & XT w/ XTR rear deraileur & casette |
| Bottom Line: | This is a very good chain, I can reccomend it wholeheartedly. It is fully compatible with 8 speed Shimano drivetrains. Of course the most important feature of any chain is how strong it is...at 170 lbs I have had no trouble it. Second feature of this particular chain, which not all chains (ie Shimano) have, is that you can remove it without a chain breaker tool. It has a special link that allows it to be removed by hand. At first it will seem impossible, but believe me, it is possible, you just have to learn the trick to it. After that it will be very easy and fast to remove. It makes trailside repairs much, much easier. And don't worry about this link allowing the chain to come apart while riding, its not going to happen. |
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Submitted by
Nick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: 11/15/1999 |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Skookum Flats |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Strengths: | Easy to remove and clean and lube properly. |
| Weaknesses: | None. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano |
| Bike Setup: | Klein Mantra. Shimano. |
| Bottom Line: | Easy to clean. The wet muddy riding here trashes your lube job every ride. With the power link I get an easy solution, I just keep two chains and swap them back and forth. Cleaning was never this simple b4. Just some Simple Green in the sink and I'm spiffy clean and shifting like new. I have never broken one yet. Just watch you shifting.... No Big ring to Granny Combos!Ride On! |
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Submitted by
Milan Hojdar
a Cross-Country Rider
from Praha
Date Reviewed: 10/11/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | Power chain link |
| Weaknesses: | weak and soft material |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano, KMC |
| Bike Setup: | KHS Team, Marzzochi, Shimano LX/XT |
| Bottom Line: | After reading some reviews from MTBR I bought PC61 chain. Now after 3 months I have realized Sachs chain shifts worse than Shimano. It is also much less durable. For the Shimano cassettes are Shimano chains better! |
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Submitted by
rick chittick
a Racer
from littleton, co
Date Reviewed: 9/25/1999 |
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| FavoriteTrail: | the lynn trail, harrisonburg, va |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | good solid shifting performance w/o wasting $30 on the pc91 |
| Weaknesses: | the power link. don't use it on the install, simply carry it with you to make emergency chain repair simpler.also, good luck finding it for the $15 listed above. it's usually more like $25. |
| Similar Products Tried: | shimano (what a pain in the ass) |
| Bike Setup: | xt drivetrain |
| Bottom Line: | this is the best chain available for the serious rider. it's not mega-pricey like the pc91, and it will get the job done. for those of you in serious training, you should be replacing the chain nearly once a month, and this is the ticket. |
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Submitted by
Miles
a Racer
from VA
Date Reviewed: 9/19/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | The powerlink is very convenient for those of us who are anal about cleaning our chain. |
| Weaknesses: | Two of the links were about to break when I took it off one time, after only two months of use. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Sachs M-55 (awesome) Sachs PC-91 (same problem of links breaking) |
| Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD 4 w/ XT/XTR drivetrain |
| Bottom Line: | I replace my chains whenever they show the least signs of wear, and this chain had only been on for two months when I noticed the not one, but two links about to break. Completely unacceptable- had I not happened to see them, I know they would have broken at my next race and I would have been SOL (fortunately I still had my last PC-61 which was not too far worn). These chains have sketchy QC since SRAM took over. A lot of empty promises from SRAM have only served to further piss me off at them, and I wouldn't buy their chains any more but I'm addicted to powerlink! Aside from disintegrating for no apparent reason, the chains are pretty durable and shift alright, but what good is that if they're lying on the ground because of a broken link? BTW, these were not the powerlinks that were breaking, but two ordinary links of the chain. |
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Trenton, Ontario, CANADA
Date Reviewed: 8/8/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | Very Tough Chains!!! Durability will amaze you!!!! |
| Weaknesses: | None!! |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Shitmano HG 92 (Garbage!!!!!!!!!) |
| Bike Setup: |
Specialized FSR Extreme Manitou X-Vert Stratos Helix Pro |
| Bottom Line: | Had some problems with these chains but after contacting Sachs they replaced three chains I had due to a recall on them, since I had the new chains I have only used one and it is still just like new. I weigh 240 lbs and am hard on stuff and never broke one of thess guys!! My 130 pound buddy snaps Shimano like Spaghetti!!! Stay away from Shimano Chains!! Go with Sachs you wont get any better!!! |
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Submitted by
ben florie
a Cross-Country Rider
from reisterstown, maryland
Date Reviewed: 7/17/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Strengths: | powerlink |
| Weaknesses: | it ain't cheap |
| Similar Products Tried: | everything |
| Bike Setup: | real rings, LX cassette, ESP 9.0 |
| Bottom Line: | i've had two pc-61 chains, and they've both lasted about a year each. i never lubed the first one, save for some wd-40 (crappy). they've both broken at bad times, but all the chains i've ever used have done that. i've used shimano chains, and they wear out in about 3 months. at least my last on broke while i was practicing before a race. 4 stars cuz i don't have $25 to blow all the time |
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Submitted by
Nick
a Racer
from Calgary, Canada
Date Reviewed: 6/22/1999 |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Powder face |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | Powerlink |
| Weaknesses: | Powerlink |
| Similar Products Tried: | Shimano and Sachs 51(speced on bike originally) |
| Bike Setup: | 98 1/2 Cannondale F3000 blah blah Coda chainrings HG 8 speed cogs XTR derailleurs |
| Bottom Line: | This chain was great for over a thousand km but 4 hours into a 5 1/2 hour ride it snapped on me on the final major climb followed by a descent. I'm not sure if I even shifted but I went over a log then *boom* the powerlink exploded. Luckily I got it fixed and survived the wicked descent and the 10 km ride home once I got dropped off. I love the ultilitarinism of the Powerlink. It's much better than dealing with rivets whenever you want to clean your chain. But I think from now on I'm gonna carry a spare Master Link and kevlar spoke along with the good old multitool, pump and patches. If the powerlink never exploded 5 stars. Since it did and I'm still bitter 3 cus I'm generous. I feel like giving it 2. |
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Submitted by
Seano
a Cross-Country Rider
from Watertown, MA
Date Reviewed: 4/19/1999 |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Bottom Line: | Sachs chains suck! Actually, all chains suck since they eventually break at the worst possible time as mine just did. This chain did run much better than the previous chain I had which was a really bad wearing Shimano that was completely stretched and useless after 9 months. The Sachs chain did break in the middle of the woods and piss me off, but it has lasted more than 1200 miles and it is still usable after the repair. The only thing that worries me is that the metal actually broke in half instead of just separating. So, not a bad chain, not an indestructible chain so 3 stars. |
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Submitted by
dex
a racer
from Australia
Date Reviewed: 2/4/1999 |
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| Bottom Line: | Installed a PC-61 after years of Shimano and Wipperman chains. The power link is just great. Wippermann also has a powerlink. The PC-61 has shifted the best of any chain so far followed by Wipperman then Shimano. Haven't heard of any breakages down here. Excellent chain though expensive down here AUS $45.00. |
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Submitted by
fluffy
a cross-country rider
from birmingham, england
Date Reviewed: 12/2/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | Don't buy one. The powerlink, masterlink, whatever you want to call it is bollocks.I did britains first 24hr race on mine. The powerlink just gave up and exploded into the night sky. Arse. Why Sachs think its necessary to have this link I don't know. Anyone who wants to take a chain apart should have the tools, anyone without the tools probably wouldn't want to have to install, maintain or take off their chain anyway.Don't buy one.I do however like Sachs chains very much indeed. They're heaps better than Mr big S's. I've got a PC91, with the cut away plates. It's cool. Shifts like a dream, looks good and it makes you feel better by saving you a few grams. |
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Submitted by
Daniel M.
a cross-country rider
from NYC
Date Reviewed: 12/1/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | Very disappointed. After about 200miles with a new cassette (IG50) and relatively unworn chainrings (96XT), the thing broke. What's weird is that one of the outer link plates cracked where the pin inserted. I've never seen a chain fail this way. There was no external trauma to this area (I did not bash the chain on a rock or anything). The thing just failed-smack dab in the middle of midtown traffic-sketchy to say the least. After getting it back together, I'm riding like an old lady to the shop-don't want to break the delicate piece of crap. I paid $25 for it. I've used shimano IG90's until this-overall they work pretty well for me. The last one did-however-peel apart like a banana. As an added bonus, this bogus sachs chain prematurely wore out my cogs. What a waste. One plus-the masterlink is kickass.Negative chillies for almost getting me killed. |
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Submitted by
Karkus
a weekend warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: 11/18/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
I have ridden my Sachs PC-61 for about 7 months now with no problems. The assembly and disassembly is easy (once you figure out that you have to squeeze the plates together), and it has not broken like other Shimano chains. I would recommend against paying more for the PC-91 chain. They claim weight savings, but the PC-91 is only about 6 grams lighter (yes, I weighed them) for chains of equal length. That's about $2 per gram saved, and not even a weight freak like me is willing to pay that much. Five chilles for the PC-61, minus one for the PC-91 weight scam = four |
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Submitted by
Fate
a cross-country rider
from Renton, WA
Date Reviewed: 10/28/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
The PC61 Rocks. I'm 195lbs and do very technical high torque riding and have not had any problems with this chain yet. To alot of the folks having problems, you probably waited too long to change your chain so you might have alot of other drive train problems. The master link is excellent once you figure it out once, it's a snap from then on. What I'd like to know is where can I find these baby's for $15 as listed above????? Anyone know. This is prob a misprint. They seem to run around $25.Ride on! Fate |
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Submitted by
Dave_
a weekend warrior
from Seattle , WA
Date Reviewed: 10/27/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
I like these PC series chains. I use the PC-61 since it is the stongest of the bunch. The PC-91 isn't worth the extra $$ for the small weight savings. No problems with the PC-61. When I want to clean it, just press the side plates together at the same time separate the links - it takes a couple practices, but you know the connection is secure that way. |
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Submitted by
James Colver
a cross-country rider
from San Jose, CA.
Date Reviewed: 10/20/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | In the past I've used chains over with over 4000 miles on them and they never seem to want to stretch. After telling a bicycle salesperson at Performance Bicycle shop about this he recommended the Sache Pc61 saying it is just as relieble as my old chain. It wasn't. Very poor disign. It broke all the time and stretched out with out even hitting the 1000 mile flag. Extremly disapionted, and resentful of the Performance Cycle shop for their dishonestey, I put my old chain bake on and I'm riding with it once again. Aviod these chains like the plague. |
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Submitted by
Todd
a cross-country rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: 8/19/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
I've had two of these chains I've been using on a couple of my bikes since the begining of the year and both have done very well. I used to know when it was time to change my M-55 chains cause after about 450 miles they broke. I've had both these on for at least 1000 miles and neither have broke and they are still well under streching to the point of replacement.I was skeptical about the master link, but it has worked flawlessly. However on one I installed the link was VERY hard to undo, tools were required.I give it a 4 since I think they are kinda spendy at around $20 a pop but hey they are lasting me 2x as long as my old M-55's did so who knows.Todd |
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Submitted by
BS
a cross-country rider
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: 8/9/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | Not impressed. I broke a Sachs M55 chain at the master pin. I replaced it with the PC61 since the M55 line was no longer available. After a few months of regular riding, this chain finally snapped. It snapped a pin at a regular link no less (not at the power link). I've never broken a Shimano chain yet and may go back to Shimano when my Sachs chain either breaks again or wears out. |
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Submitted by
Bill Cohen
a weekend warrior
from Baltimore, MD
Date Reviewed: 7/10/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | I have been using the Sachs SC-M55 but swiched to the PC-61 because I can't get the 55's anymore. They raised the price about $7 from the 55's & it is not worth it. The power link stuff sucks, the directions suck, I am back to teh shimano chains. Shimano seems to do every thing better. |
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Submitted by
Bob
a weekend warrior
from Ma
Date Reviewed: 6/19/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
Recall of SACHS Power Chain (PC) models PC-41, PC-51, PC-61, PC80R, PC-91 on Giant, Schwinn and Specialized bicycles. It's not for all chains. If you purchased any of the 1998 model Giant, Schwinn and Specialized bicycles listed below between July 1, 1997 and June 1, 1998, the chain on your bicycle may fail suddenly and you may lose control of your bicycle, which could result in injuries. Shamano had the same type of thing happen w/their cranks in 1997. Go here for the complete scoop: http://www.sachsbikes.com/chaimain.htm |
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Submitted by
Roland
a cross-country rider
from CT
Date Reviewed: 6/7/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
ATTENTION EVERYONE!!! ATTENTION EVERYONE!!! ATTENTION EVERYONE!!! After posting my review below and fishing around to see how to get my PC61 warranteed I found that there is a RECALL ON ALL PC41 THRU PC91 CHAINS BECAUSE THEY ARE BREAKING. Go to http://www.sram.com/prod_f1.html for instructions on how to get replacement. (sram apparently bought Sachs bicycle products division) |
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Submitted by
Roland Chirico
a cross-country rider
from CT, USA
Date Reviewed: 6/7/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | Real disappointed after happily running cheap and reliable SM55s for many years - had the PC61 chain 1 month - BROKE it - the plate actually snapped at the pin. Luckly got the chain back together and didnt have to walk. After 1 MONTH of mostly dry riding with white lightning lubes every ride, the chain is junk - way stretched. I am going to send it back hopefully for a trade up for a PC9. Otherwise gonna have abandon Sachs for something better. |
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Submitted by
coreywagner
from wi
Date Reviewed: 5/18/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | it sucks don't buy it. Any one who buys it is a fool. my naighbor ryan might buy it but i think he is a fool for doing so. It ran bad on my murray and i hate it for that. The murray isbetter than the chain. go brooks and dunn |
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Submitted by
kender
a cross-country rider
from California
Date Reviewed: 5/13/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
I have used Sachs chains for years and love them I have found them reliable and easier to deal with than Shimano. The new link does take a bit of concentration and effort to get off, but is worth the trouble. ( You need to squeeze the plates together quite hard while pulling the chain apart) The master link allows me to take my chain off for regular maintenence. And now we come to the bad part. While servicing my chain I found that one of the outside plates had broken (away from the link) While replacing it I noticed that another link had also cracked. Both breaks were around the pins. Neither failed catastrophicly on the trail, but with only a month of use on the chain, I can't help but worry about its durability. Summery 4 for the masterlink 1 for the crappy sideplates. Ave: 2 |
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Submitted by
Big Mike
a weekend warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: 5/12/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
The powerlink is simply genius. I looked at it and laughed how simple it is. It works great! My former fav was the m55.sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachs sachsRULES!!!!!hey mtbr.com, the 50 word deal is stupid. No chilis to 50 word minimum! |
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Submitted by
Mike Snyder
a cross-country rider
from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: 5/12/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | This chain RULES! I'm always taking my derailleur off to clean it, not to mention taking the chain off and throwing it in a plastic jug with solvent is a great way to clean it. I didn't fall into the couldn't get the master link off trap as I was warned ahead. GOOD JOB SACHS! |
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Submitted by
capn crunch
a weekend warrior
from Texas
Date Reviewed: 4/14/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | Well guys, this is a great chain, similar to the M55, but with a powerlink master link that works to break the chain without tools. The guys below didn't figure out that you have to squeeze the link to get it to come apart, and when you figure this out, it comes apart in less than a second. I have to admit, the instructions weren't the greatest, but what do you expect from the Germans? Good chain, stronger than an IG90, does not need special pins. I have to say that these pins are so strong and tight, I broke my chain tool adusting the length, so, I don't think that these suckers are gonna break on the trail. |
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Submitted by
rdjerry
a cross-country rider
from CANADA
Date Reviewed: 4/9/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: | I've been using this chain for a couple of months now and at first I couldn't disconect the powerlink without pliers, profanity, and 20 min. I discovered by accident that you need to squeeze the powerlink plates together and then slide them, presto it comes apart with very little effort. Anyway it's a great chain and I now love the powerlink, it makes it sooo easy to clean and lube. Minus one for poor instructions. |
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Submitted by
Duncan
a cross-country rider
from Vancouver, B.C.
Date Reviewed: 3/5/1998 |
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| Bottom Line: |
After years of using the Sachs M55 chain, I tried one of their PC61's (because the local discount retailer started carrying it instead). It's similar to the M55, but has a Powerlink connector, so it can be disassembled without tools (so they claim!). However, the first time I tried to remove it, it proved impossible to undo the masterlink without some very delicate work with a very large set of pliers. Even with no tension at all on the chain, I couldn't disengage the link according to instructions. Of course, it's not designed to have a chain breaker used on it, so there was about 20 minutes of profanities before I finally separated the link with the aforementioned pliers. Originally I had been concerned that it might suffer accidental separation under standard abuse, but that was clearly not so. By the way, it works great while riding, just don't expect it to live up to its design purpose! |
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