Mountain Biking - Are chain tensioners worth it?

Often times I jiggle my majestic horse so much that the chain falls off. Someone I know has a chain tensioner. I'm wondering, should I get one?

I used a chain guide on my old full suspension bike because I dropped the chain all the time. Put the guide on and never dropped it. They work. The only thing is that there is no triple ring tensioners only doubles and single. And you need to take into consideration if the guide will fit on your frame and how it's mounted. Some times suspension pivots or other factors will keep the guide from fitting. And if you don't have any ISCG mounts you will need a chain guide that mounts to the bottom bracket.

Long story short chain guides work and if you don't mind the extra cost and extra weight get one.

Cheap/light/stupid easy to install/works well. Especially if you are running only two rings/bashring setup, and you already have a bashring. Not a full on DH guide -whish is overkill for most, but works very well. I've never had any issue with chaindrop in several years of using mine with regular trail rides, droppy rides, riding lift served stuff.

http://www.blackspire.com/qs/product/83/5947/263221/0/0

check out the BB chain guide from Yess! products... its pretty bad ass and not as ugly....

http://www.yesspro.com/

I had a DMR chain tension on my DJ for a while, but switch to an ENO hub from White Industry...

check out the BB chain guide from Yess! products... its pretty bad ass and not as ugly....

http://www.yesspro.com/

I had a DMR chain tension on my DJ for a while, but switch to an ENO hub from White Industry...

yebut...that is also meant more as a SS or single ring up fornt guide. the blackspire stinger guide lets your run your two rings/bash/shifter combo, and has no moving parts to get ganked up other than the bearing/roller...

how ugly can it be, when all you really see is the roller anyhow? IMO, most chainguides are so overbuilt for anything other than full on DH riding. stinger or something similar + bashring + front mech should work very well in the majority of cases. otherwise something is screwy with your setup. granted, if onoy running a single front ring rather than two, that changes things as well.

to the OP: make sure you're not running too much chain. run a shorter cage rear mech if you can. make sure your b-tension screw isn't adjusted out of whack.

. . . The only thing is that there is no triple ring tensioners only doubles and single . . . .Not entirely true. Heim 3-Guide does three rings.

http://www.sicklines.com/2008/03/19/heim-guides-bought-by-ethirteen-components/

Only one hitch: You either have to find a NOS Montara-made 3-Guide or wait for e.thirteen to finally release their 3RS version. As of now, it's still not a listed product on their web site.

Not entirely true. Heim 3-Guide does three rings.

http://www.sicklines.com/2008/03/19/heim-guides-bought-by-ethirteen-components/

Only one hitch: You either have to find a NOS Montara-made 3-Guide or wait for e.thirteen to finally release their 3RS version. As of now, it's still not a listed product on their web site.

Just when think I get up to date on the latest bike technology. Someone comes out with something new. :(

Often times I jiggle my majestic horse so much that the chain falls off. Someone I know has a chain tensioner. I'm wondering, should I get one?

Let me try to understand... when you jiggle your "majestic horse", you find that it lacks the necessary tension to perform as intended? I'd suggest talking to your doctor.

let me try to understand... When you jiggle your "majestic horse", you find that it lacks the necessary tension to perform as intended? I'd suggest talking to your doctor.

zing!!!