[Wherebob]

I have always used shimano chains but my new Cannondale came with a Sram. I have already broken this chain twice. I have never before broke a chain in all these years. Yes my shimano's were 7 speed and are fatter and heavier than the 9 speed sram but do I really need to baby these chains or is it I had a bad one?
I just bought a 9 speed shimano so we'll see, but I was just curious if sram chains suck?

 

[Speedub.Nate]

Funny... I switched to SRAM after breaking too many Shimano chanins (all 9 speed), and have not yet broken a SRAM chain -- in probably 5 years!

 

[Ratt]

I have always used shimano chains but my new Cannondale came with a Sram. I have already broken this chain twice. I have never before broke a chain in all these years. Yes my shimano's were 7 speed and are fatter and heavier than the 9 speed sram but do I really need to baby these chains or is it I had a bad one?
I just bought a 9 speed shimano so we'll see, but I was just curious if sram chains suck?

I found the Sram 59/950/951 series of chains to wear out quickly, the 69 series on up were much more durable. The main difference between 7/8 speed and 9 speed chains isn't so much strength but durability due to the narrower pins having to carry the same loads as a 8 speed but on less surface area making them wear out quicker.

 

[Wherebob]

Well so far the shimano is holding up better though I am babying it a little which I hate, I like to ride and not worry.

 

[ribaldmanikin]

I recently upgraded my Jamis Dakar XC Comp to 9 speed, and decided on the SRAM 951 chain.

For the first little while I was very happy with the shifting performance. I must have bashed a root or something and bent one of the links. I replaced that link with a quicklink, and was on my way again.

Yesterday I went on a ride with my SO and on the first hill my chain broke. Luckily it was right by the quick link, so I could still ride with the slightly shorter chain. Next hill, same thing. It snapped again. Luckily I had an extra quicklink. It wasn't even a steep hill, I wasn't cross gearing, or anything like that.

The third time in half an hour, and the whole chain found the closest trash bin and I decided to walk home.

Now, I need a chain. From the reviews, 9 speed chains seem to break a lot. I'm not concerned with weight so much as durability. I love fixing bikes, but not on the trail.

Which 9 speed chain is going to last the longest?