Are these chains worth the money? Why? Or Why not?
Yes, they are only $35. So they are cheaper than Shimano or Campy, require no tools, and are nickel plated so don’t rust as much. What else do you want.
Curious timing. I got a Performance catalogue in the mail yesterday, which has a Wipperman Connex 10 spd chain on sale for $49.99 from $69.99. I really liked the original Wipperman that came with my 2004 P3. It has been replaced by a couple of Shimano chains after the first 1800 miles on the bike. It is approaching another chain replacement date, so I am sort of in the market.
My first question when I saw the catalogue was why was it on sale if it is such a good chain.
Now, my question is, where do you buy one for $35?
Now, my question is, where do you buy one for $35?
http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=10+Speed+Nickel+Connex+Chain&vendorCode=WIPPERMN&major=1&minor=11
Thank you!
Now, wouldn’t you know it, but the Shimano Wipperman specific chain (6.1 mm vs 6.2 mm for Campy) is $45! Still, a better deal than Performance Bike.
Biketiresdirect.com has great Wipperman pricing.
You know that Wippermann has two 10-speed Shimano specific chains right? The 10S0 and the 10S1 with the difference being that the 10S0 is nickel plated and the 10S1 uses stainless construction and hollowpins making it lighter but in general I think both are considered to be more durable than Shimano chains.
Just ordered 6 from www.lickbike.com on Tuesday. I go with the cheaper 10s nickel ones for my Campy drivetrains and usually pay $35 each. Lick Bike has them for a ridiculously low $25 right now.
Yup, with the hollow pin chain costing $85.
I just had a Whipperman stainless steel chain break on me this past weekend. First chain I ever had break in 20 years of biking and doing tris. I did notice some hairline cracks in the chain before it broke.
I went and got a SRAM chain. The local LBS didn’t carry Whippermans and I needed a chain asap. Rode 50 miles today and the chain worked fine. Knock on wood.
Lots of reports on roadbikereview.com about wipperman chains breaking or cracking.
Not sure if the problems been fixed.
I went to Wipperman after my first 2 Campy chains broke on me. One on the trainer and one outdoors (fortunately only one plate broke so I was able to limp home). The Campy chains broke with 1500 miles or so on them. I’ve never had a Wipperman break on me. I did notice on link with a hairline crack, and I quickly replaced the chain. I’ve been replacing the chains every 2-4000 miles.
I put a wipperman on a new build using shimano and FSA components and the wipperman skipped (yes I had the right chain). I replaced with a shimano ultegra chain and problem solved.
Same thing - Wipperman chain skipped on my 11 & 12 tooth gears. I keep it as an emergency spare.
You might want to check to see if the connecting link was right side up. See link below. I had same problem but instantly fixed with reinstallation.
Good point. I’m about due to replace the chain, so maybe I’ll slap the Wipperman back on, paying attention to the connector link.
“Not sure if the problems been fixed.”
last year wippermann got a bad batch of stainless from their provider, and some of their stainless chains were problematic (the stainless plates). the problem is confined to those chains in that batch.
any wippermanns made over the past year or so are fine and, of course, the nickel chains never had any issues.
i run nickel wippermanns on my bikes without any issues. i certainly would run stainless as well, if they were this year’s vintage.
I’ve been using a Wipperman 10X1 (campy stainless) on my DA 10sp for the last couple of years, no skipping even on the 11t. It’s got well over 10k miles (not sure how many) and isn’t even remotely close to the stretch wear limits. I run a separate chain and cassette for races that only has ~1000 miles on it. No issues, I would never go back to a non quicklink style chain ever again. It’s way too easy to take the chain off and clean it up.
"last year wippermann got a bad batch of stainless from their provider, and some of their stainless chains were problematic (the stainless plates). the problem is confined to those chains in that batch. "
The Whipperman that I had break on me this past weekend was put on my bike last year. Maybe it was a bad batch one.
Great chains. The Connex link makes it easy to clean and convenient when you have to pack your bike.
My kid has used some of their chains including a couple colored ones like the blue one below.
Sergio
Sergio,
You might want to let your son know that the HRT monitor will work a lot more consistently if it is worn next to the skin. ; )