I have the friction facts test, but looking for other input.
What is the 11 speed “best chain” and what makes you think it is the best?
Do you think that the type of chain matters if you are running SRAM vs Shimano?
A regular chain and Squirt lube can get pretty close to the other waxed chains for a lot less money.
A regular chain and Squirt lube can get pretty close to the other waxed chains for a lot less money.
Yeah…not looking for a waxed chain…I was wondering about brand and model of chain. Best for some could be a mix of weight/shifting/quiet, etc.
Oh! My apologies. I thought you were looking for a waxed racing chain.
One of the chain optimization companies mentioned wipperman chains being “smoother” out of the box. IE the metal had less rough edges, microscopically.
Jason at friction facts tested a few and normally went with Dura ace.
I like wipperman quick links for ease of use.
Without testing equipment it’s hard/impossible to measure a difference between two good clean chains with good lube/waxing.
I’ve started doing doing hot wax recently and wonder about using my xc ski wax. Could give me some nice colours too.
I think Jason tested a Floro wax and it didn’t do well. Most ski wax is likely to hard compared to paraffin.
To the OP, Dura Ace, KMC (which makes shimano) are my go to chains. I’m running a Gold KMC, well because, Goooooooollllldddddd…
One of the chain optimization companies mentioned wipperman chains being “smoother” out of the box. IE the metal had less rough edges, microscopically.
Jason at friction facts tested a few and normally went with Dura ace.
I like wipperman quick links for ease of use.
Without testing equipment it’s hard/impossible to measure a difference between two good clean chains with good lube/waxing.
I’ve started doing doing hot wax recently and wonder about using my xc ski wax. Could give me some nice colours too.
It was Premier Bikes that said that, that’s why they use that chain. Tried a wippermann chain because of it and liked it better than the kmc gold I had before.
The pins, rollers and links of the Connex chain are smoother out of the box (but still 16-18 micro inches Ra vs 20- 22 for other chains)- but that does not tell the whole story because that Connex chain is also manufactured to very close tolerances. In essence it is tight. Without our process it will be tight for a while. It will last forever - but that may not be what your looking for.
Without our process I would opt for one of the other chains mentioned above. KMC, Shimano etc…with Squirt.
Those chains are loosely manufactured compared to Connex and will have less friction (when properly lubed) out of the box.
the old man has been writing about wippermann chains since 2001. but, of course, nobody listens to what i say because i’m on the take; or because i’m not as smart as the average guy and as we all know in the internet age the average guy actually knows more than the guys who spend their lives working in an industry.
nevertheless i think with what you’ll see in the comments to your question that the old man gets vindicated, which happens every now and then.
wippermann is what you get when a chain company makes a chain. some other chain is what you get when a bike component company, that if anything is an expert in cold forging, not in chain making, needs a chain to fill out its groupkit.
if you want a REALLY good chain you get a chain from premier bike (dan kennison here) because you get the bicycle chain version of a bored and ported hot rod engine, for very little more than what you’d spend on the stock version.
You might look at the YBN chain. The guys at Molten Speed Wax recommend them and that is where I got mine.
The reason I recommend these is that I put 2 years of use on a 10 speed gold YBN before upgrading to 11 speed. When I went to line up the used YBN with a brand new Campy Record. There was absolutely no difference in length between the old and new chain across 108 links. I have used a lot of chains and there is always a noticeable difference in length between old and new chains.
THat being said, I did order a Premier to give it a try. We used to use a similar polishing process on car and motorcycle engines and always noticed performance gains.
Thanks…that is helpful! Will check them out.
How would this chain hold up to the rigors of daily commuting (ie. Dirt, etc.)? It might seem like overkill for a commuter bike, but I also train on the same bike.
As long as you keep it wax lubed (squirt type lube) it will last 4,000 - 5,000 miles - the life of the chain. The wax keeps the contaminants out nicely. If it gets dry (no lube) then you loose the nice honed plate surfaces to grit which increase the friction.
if you want a REALLY good chain you get a chain from premier bike (dan kennison here) because you get the bicycle chain version of a bored and ported hot rod engine, for very little more than what you’d spend on the stock version.
This this this
I have these chains on all my bikes now. They are highly choice.
if you want a REALLY good chain you get a chain from premier bike (dan kennison here) because you get the bicycle chain version of a bored and ported hot rod engine, for very little more than what you’d spend on the stock version.
I can buy a sram red chain for $35. $135 for a premier chain does not meet my definition of “very little more.”
To be clear, I have no commentary on the quality or value of that chain. This statement just strikes me as a bit off.
if you want a REALLY good chain you get a chain from premier bike (dan kennison here) because you get the bicycle chain version of a bored and ported hot rod engine, for very little more than what you’d spend on the stock version.
This this this
I have these chains on all my bikes now. They are highly choice.
Do you use these chains as your race chain as well? Do you feel they are comparable or better to Ceramic Speed/Iced Friction treated chains?
Yeah I will use as race chain. I have no idea how them compare to Ceramic Speed but if I had to guess I suspect they are just as good if not better
if you want a REALLY good chain you get a chain from premier bike (dan kennison here) because you get the bicycle chain version of a bored and ported hot rod engine, for very little more than what you’d spend on the stock version.
I can buy a sram red chain for $35. $135 for a premier chain does not meet my definition of “very little more.”
To be clear, I have no commentary on the quality or value of that chain. This statement just strikes me as a bit off.
well, i don’t mean very little more than ANY chain. i mean very little more than a GOOD chain, like, say, an untreated wippermann. and i THOUGHT that slowtwitchers had a better price, like $110 or something. but i might be wrong on that.
Thanks, Dan. I’ll take this to heart. But, I’m older than you. So I may not be listening or I may forget. Now get off my yard.
;-))
Shimano HG601 with a Connex Quick Link plus Rock 'n Roll Gold for training. Connex Chain (cleaned at home with mineral spirits and then hot wax lubed) with Connex Quick Link for races. Based on DK’s comments here, I need to wear this one out and then buy one of his 