[parkmeister]

Anyone have any experience or comments good, bad, or meh with this setup? I can't find 12 Speed Connex Links anywhere. TIA

 

[ghettocruiser]

I tried this by accident a few weeks ago blindly putting a chain back on in a rush.

The link will be wider than the rest of the chain and will probably catch on something.

 

[parkmeister]

I did some searching and found that 12S chains are 5.3 mm wide across the pin and 11S chains are 5.5 mm wide, which doesn't sound like much. But the clearance between the chain and the adjacent cogs on the cassette is very tight, so I'm going to stick with single use links for now. I did try re-using a link once and it ended up badly, so won't be doing that again. live and learn.

 

[uzurpator]

You can use any 12 speed link with 99% certainty. That being said, I did use 11 speed KMC link on 12 speed shimano chain briefly and without issue.

 

[William P]

Anyone have any experience or comments good, bad, or meh with this setup? I can't find 12 Speed Connex Links anywhere. TIA

What color do you want?

Connex Links - Bicycle Chain Master Links - no tools required and reusable!

 

[SunsetRide]

What color do you want?

Connex Links - Bicycle Chain Master Links - no tools required and reusable!

I'd like the one that is not "Out of Stock" which all the 12 spd. links are and never have been in stock because Connex hasn't released them yet. But things are moving in the right direction according to Tom @ Cantitoe Road in a July email.

 

[William P]

Sorry about that. I stopped using Connex because my Ebike spits them out. I figured Cantitoe Road would have them because Wippermann is all they do, except for the very nice Mariposa stuff. I've had some discussions with Tom about offering a rivet option like Shimano, and YBN do. But Wippermann seems to have a religious belief in their Connex links. If you have a shitload of money there is the Rohloff Revolver 3 chain tool $320. This is a high end pro bike shop tool that cross peens the original rivet. Since the Connex have gotten to be $25 parts it may be worth a look.
I'm running 11s Wippermann on an 8s Ebike. So I have a little room to play. I use 9s Shimano pins, and 8s outer chain plate with a Rohloff revolver 2 to peen the 9s pins. I don't rely on press fit pins, mismatched or otherwise. I've been closing my chains with the Rohloff 2 for a while. But for smaller than 9s i would have to buy the newer one.

 

[127.0.0.1]

ok for an emergency escape from the muddy road
but not hot for permanent use unless SS

 

[William P]

Daily use on a 1500W Ebike in urban South Florida. The 11s Connex didn't last one ride. I've been using this for years on 8s chains. I went back to what I know works.
I actually don't carry any chain repair stuff with me anymore. The Rohloff Revolver is not a portable chain breaker, it's a shop tool.
In my experience the Rohloff makes a stronger joint than the Connex. Especially if side loads are involved.

 

[William P]

The Connex is used in other chains routinely. So they're considered interchangeable. But the Connex is the preferred brand. Why not use a Shimano or YBN 12s link until a Connex shows up? I would do that before I would try an 11s.

 

[parkmeister]

Why not use a Shimano or YBN 12s link until a Connex shows up? I would do that before I would try an 11s.

Because the Connex is reusable and most 12S links on the market are one and done. I was thinking about paraffining my chain (I run KMC btw), but I'll want a reusable link before I go down that path.

 

[William P]

You might look at Effetto Mariposa drip wax at Zero Friction Cycling. Not quite as good as melt wax, but better than everything else. KMC chains are known to not be wax friendly. Can't get the factory goo off of them. My 11s Connex was one and undone.
YBN says 5x reuse. Their chains accept wax and run faster then SRAM.

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Master-Link-FAQ-Guide.pdf