Chain Quality
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Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Why would anyone use a Shimano chain? 
Yellow Saddle
Guru
- Location
- Loch side.
Yes, they would give exactly the same wear life and they are made from exactly the same steel. There isn't a big choice of steel to use in this application. It has to be heat-treatable, malleable when untreated (so that it can stamp and punch easily and cheaply), not too brittle but yet hard.
The differences you see in the shop relates to coatings. It is cheaper to chemically treat the chain than to plate it with nickel, for instance.
The differences you see in the shop relates to coatings. It is cheaper to chemically treat the chain than to plate it with nickel, for instance.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
They deliver different levels of durability depending on the level of plating. A chrome plated chain is more durable than one which has only nickel (chromed chains are first nickel plated as chrome doesn't adhere well to bare steel). Plating is a manufacturing process and processes add cost. They wouldn't do it if it didn't add some kind of measurable performance improvement.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
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Because so far its shinier than my KMC is when it rainsWhy would anyone use a Shimano chain?
TheSoulReaver03
Active Member
People in the rain and on the street will totally look at your chain and say "Wow, his chain shines so nicely in the rain! Awesome!". And since it shines, it also gives you a performance boost.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
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Don't pass to many people where I generally ride, now you got me thinking I have a break down of different chainset/cassettes I have used never thought of chains.
Suspect I was quicker on the KMC though.
I quick look shows I was quicker but there is some blurring of the data, however I climb quicker on the whole on the Shimano Ultegra
further edit
it could just be the change in cassette though for 12-27 to a 12-23 or changing the inner ring from 26 to 28th
Last edited:
Nigelnaturist
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[QUOTE 3724992, member: 9609"] (all Shimano CN HG40, £10 each)) with a view to using different lubes and comparing the wear.
so i am thinking may be its just a rubbish chain I have bought.[/QUOTE]
HG40 are the lower end, my previous chain a KMC X10-93 lasted 3,500 with very little wear, the new chain Ultegra was on offer at about £14-15 cheaper than the KMC so I got one with a new quick link (well two as they come in pairs) the new chain was fine on the previous cassette but I changed that within a few weeks as I didn't like the big jumps from 17-19 and 21-24-27, but I am sure it would have been good for a few more thousand miles, I am not meticulous but I do clean the chain i.e. wipe it clean every ride where its been wet.
so i am thinking may be its just a rubbish chain I have bought.[/QUOTE]
HG40 are the lower end, my previous chain a KMC X10-93 lasted 3,500 with very little wear, the new chain Ultegra was on offer at about £14-15 cheaper than the KMC so I got one with a new quick link (well two as they come in pairs) the new chain was fine on the previous cassette but I changed that within a few weeks as I didn't like the big jumps from 17-19 and 21-24-27, but I am sure it would have been good for a few more thousand miles, I am not meticulous but I do clean the chain i.e. wipe it clean every ride where its been wet.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
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Nigelnaturist
Guru
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[QUOTE 3725201, member: 9609"]I am under no illusions that my little test is not being carried out under scientifically controlled parameters, and I am under no illusions that those who dislike the results will say the test was flawed.
[/QUOTE]
Not knocking you, I have found as you have that chains easily last 2,500 to 3,500 miles and thats in all conditions as I can ride quite a bit, I had one chain cassette combo last about 8,000 miles I was changing from 8 to 9sp, just took longer to save up than I thought it would, mind you most of it was 9sp compatible FD and RD 3300 cogs on the rear mainly from a 9sp cassette with 8sp spacers, I have until recently run either KMC 73 or 93 chains be it 8 9 or 10 sp. I am not meticulous but the chain is always clean after a wet ride same method, though I probably put a tad more oil on than a drop on each roller but not much.
[/QUOTE]
Not knocking you, I have found as you have that chains easily last 2,500 to 3,500 miles and thats in all conditions as I can ride quite a bit, I had one chain cassette combo last about 8,000 miles I was changing from 8 to 9sp, just took longer to save up than I thought it would, mind you most of it was 9sp compatible FD and RD 3300 cogs on the rear mainly from a 9sp cassette with 8sp spacers, I have until recently run either KMC 73 or 93 chains be it 8 9 or 10 sp. I am not meticulous but the chain is always clean after a wet ride same method, though I probably put a tad more oil on than a drop on each roller but not much.
sidevalve
Über Member
[QUOTE 3724992, member: 9609"]The reason I ask - I kept a detailed account of how my last chain lengthened with wear, however the only notes I made of the chain type was (Shimano HG). When I recently changed the cassette I purchased 3 chains (all Shimano CN HG40, £10 each)) with a view to using different lubes and comparing the wear.
Unfortunately I seem to be getting a rather stupid result - I have changed my lube for the first chain and it is showing as much wear in 800 mile as my last chain showed in over 2500 mile - I can't believe the change in lubricants could have possibly made such a difference, so i am thinking may be its just a rubbish chain I have bought.[/QUOTE]
You really need to get out more
Unfortunately I seem to be getting a rather stupid result - I have changed my lube for the first chain and it is showing as much wear in 800 mile as my last chain showed in over 2500 mile - I can't believe the change in lubricants could have possibly made such a difference, so i am thinking may be its just a rubbish chain I have bought.[/QUOTE]
You really need to get out more
Nigelnaturist
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You ain't seen my database
