Which chain for 105 11-speed?

[bruce1530]

Managed to snap my chain today. The Speedlink had completely snapped.

I do take care of my chain - clean and lube after every wet ride, and probably once a week in the dry. But it had suffered when I had an accident a month ago - my daughter had put the bike in the garage wet and salty, and the chain had some corrosion. I hadn’t realised just quite how bad it was .....

Anyway - it’s done 1600 miles since new, so probably time for a new chain. Any recommendations?

The bike (GT Grade 105) came with a KMC X11 chain.

Looks like I have several options - including another KMC X11, or a Shimano HG601 (?).

Any thoughts, options or preferences?

 

[ianrauk]

Steve Abraham has said that he is very surprised at how long lasting and durable Connex Wipperman chains have proven to be.
You can't get a much better recommendation then that.

That's what I will be getting next time I need a chain.

 

[S-Express]

Ironically, a Wipperman chain is the only chain which has ever failed on me. I would just buy whatever chain you can find for the lowest price (but not a Wipperman).

 

[steve50]

I use Sram the price can be a bit steep depending on where you buy from so worth shopping around, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sram-x1-11-speed-chain/rp-prod122544

 

[smokeysmoo]

KMC X chains, (9 & 10 speed), have been utterly reliable for me for years now after a Shimano chain failure.

KMC X 11 HERE.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

SRAM PC1130 etc etc

A MTB chain on a road bike @steve50 ?

 

[steve50]

SRAM PC1130 etc etc

A MTB chain on a road bike @steve50 ?

My bad, i hadn't realised it was an mtb.

 

[Apollonius]

A chain is a chain, but the KMC link system is better than the Shimano pin system. A lot better.

 

[simon.r]

I'm a big fan of Shimano, with the exception of their chains. KMC or SRAM for me normally, but interesting to see @ianrauk / Steve Abraham's comment on Wipperman...

 

[ianrauk]

I'm a big fan of Shimano, with the exception of their chains. KMC or SRAM for me normally, but interesting to see @ianrauk / Steve Abraham's comment on Wipperman...

From the man himself.

I'm astonished at how well the Connex chains last! They sponsored me for the year record and I grossly overestimated how many chains I would need because I based it on my previous experience of chain wear. These Connex chains are the most enduring I've ever used and I have only used a 3rd of them as a result!

 

[S-Express]

From the man himself.

I'm astonished at how well the Connex chains last! They sponsored me for the year record and I grossly overestimated how many chains I would need because I based it on my previous experience of chain wear. These Connex chains are the most enduring I've ever used and I have only used a 3rd of them as a result!

I think I'm beginning to understand why he is such a fan.........

 

[bruce1530]

Thanks all - have gone for a KMC one, same as was originally supplied with the bike.

For a while, I was tempted by a Shimano one, despite what has been said above - simply because it was the only 11 speed chain my local Halfords had in stock, and they’re open til 8pm tonight - but then I remembered its a bank holiday, at least in Scotland, so they’d be on sunday hours, so closed!

So I ordered a KMC one, which will be here later in the week. I’ll remove a link from the old one if I want to go out in the interim - I gave it a good clean with some muc-off degreaser - it was amazing just how much brown grunge came out, and the chain is much more flexible now. It’ll do until the new one arrives.