Narrow Chains?

[Inertia]

Hi guys, I hope someone can help, I'm replacing my rear cassette on my mountain bike and some of the specs say they are for narrow chains. I haven't found any definition of "narrow chains" so maybe narrow is the norm? My current chain is a KMC X8-93 8 Speed Chain.


Thanks


Jonathan

 

[MrCarver]

If in doubt, just swap like-for-life.

 

[bobones]

For an 8 speed cassette, an 8 or 9 speed chain will work. These are narrower than for 5, 6 and 7 speed cassettes. 10 and 11 speed chains are narrower again. KMC make good chains so just get another one of those.

 

[Friz]

If it's a Shimano rear cassette it probably recommending the Narrow Hyper-Glide (HG) chain. I swapped mine recently for an SRAM chain. There's a bit more chain noise from it than there was with the Shimano but not too much.



Having said that the chain and the rear cassette could be slowly eating each other....

 

[Inertia]

Thanks for the replies everyone, that the chains for more gears are narrower than those for fewer makes sense

I was trying to swap like for like but I'm always a bit unsure and like to clarify what I don't understand if possible, Ive got burned a couple of times for not understanding everything that was listed.

Im going for an SRAM this time for a change.

Thanks again

 

[mickle]

SRAM every time.

 

[byegad]

edit... KMC make good chains so just get another one of those.

I know too many recumbent trikers who would disagree with that!