Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Izumi "V" chain

Anybody have any experience with these? Are they worth the dough? Thanks.

The fifty dollar one? "Super Toughness?" Yeah - the engagement screw for linking is pretty solid. I have never heard or seen anything bad about these. A bit expensive, but if it is part of your braking system, I would get a stronger chain. I think Judah said he has stretched out an Izumi Eco, and I know that while they stretch, they have never broken on me.
I have one of the mid-range Izumi's on my track bike, and use the Eco's for the street.

Yeah, the $50 job. Pricey for sure. I'm really curious what a $50 chain rides like.

I have one, but haven't used it yet. So that's not helpful. I have HKK Vertex chains on two bikes, though, and they cost the same. So to answer your question about how a $50 chain rides... not much differently than a $15 chain, but it's a quality item that will give you that real nice feeling you can only get when you've spent too much money on something that's totally unnecessary. In all seriousness, these chains are beautifully made. In the end you get what you pay for.

From Business Cycles (http://www.businesscycles.com/tchain-izu.htm) website:

Caveat emptor: The Model V and ESH shown above are the only two Izumi chain models that are described in Izumi literature as being designed for track racing. Be advised that Izumi's "Eco" models are not track chains, despite erroneous claims you may occasionally read elsewhere (one website that listed them as such has since closed down, so I see them on ebay now mostly). The standard black Eco model is described in Izumi literature as for "baby carriages and . . . minibikes" (they don't mean the motor-driven kind). The variations of the Eco chain that are plated in a tacky gold or silver finish (the plating adds some corrosion resistance over the plain black model, but they're otherwise the same as the black one). Just because a chain is 1/8", doesn't make it a "track chain".

I have the Model V but haven't used it yet. I have the Model ESH on my track bike. Its quiet when well lubed. I don't use it with the master link. I just break the chain when I need to clean it or remove/add links.

I don't run one, so I can't say how accurate this is--but I've heard the screwed-together masterlinks have a tendency to come undone with street riding. They're meant for smooth tracks, and apparently the road vibrations can shake them loose over time. Maybe someone has experienced this? I'd hazard a guess and say you can't really put locktite on a chain (or shouldn't, at least), so I'm not sure what the solution would be.

I just break the chain when I need to clean it or remove/add links.

threadjack. once when cleaning my chain, a friend said that it was very unwise to break a chain and clean it if you run without a front brake. i understand the theory here, but is it that dangerous?

The ECO chains are NJS stamped - I never knew that the committee was concerned about the strength of a baby carriage chain! LOL
I think the NJS thing at the non-competition level is pretty much a palm-grease anyways. I wish TOMITY would school us on this one...once and for all.

I was actually looking at the HKK Vertex over the weekend - $38.50 for the black and navy one from Business Cycles.

jrowe - does that masterlink screw work pretty well? Ever come loose on you or do you tighten it?

Since I've been riding brakeless for almost two months now, it's been a concern to get a tougher chain - the question is, how tough and how much does it matter from chain to chain?

Define "dangerous." :)

I think a chain improperly installed runs a greater risk of breaking/snapping on the road. Even chains properly installed can snap under the wrong circumstances.

As long as the chain pin is pushed in correctly with a chain tool with the same amount of the rivet showing on both sides of the side plates then you should be okay. Check the chain a couple of times making sure it runs through the drivetrain smoothly.

As a precaution I do not abuse my equipment:

I always run a front brake.

I always try to smoothly back pedal to cut speed while slowing.

I do not skip.

I do not skid.

No, the screws have never come loose on my HKK chains, and I've replaced pins with no problem. The problem in most cases isn't with the chain, but with the chain's owner and his maintenance schedule.

Define "dangerous." :)
As long as the chain pin is pushed in correctly with a chain tool with the same amount of the rivet showing on both sides of the side plates then you should be okay. Check the chain a couple of times making sure it runs through the drivetrain smoothly.


I take great care when breaking and replacing my chain. I just wanted to hear another opinon, thanks.

i have the "super toughness" chain on my track bike and am very happy with it; it's very quiet, and rather smart-looking if i do say so myself.

i didn't use the master link because the whole concept is unfamiliar to me. i learned to use a chain tool properly 30 years ago and it's just the way i do things. the track bike is set up 48×16 so i have a lot of extra links.

50 clams is a lot for a chain, to my way of thinking; i used to replace them every year because they were cheaper than chainrings. i am going to have to be more serious about cleaning the izumi v, however. i've used the park cyclone, on the bike, and it works but is a pain on a fixed gear. anyway, i think it's a good chain but if you get one, you should protect your investment by, as jose r so wisely stated, not abusing it.