Young Version

I'll be getting a Regina Oro track chain for my next project.

Fugazi Dave

I've had about three HKK Vertex chains now and they're hard to beat.

16v

This is what im currently running.



Wipperman 1g8! talk about overkill...

Fugazi Dave

Yeah, but they look awesome and are insanely durable. I ran one for a really long time. Probably get another one eventually.

pazzmore

I actually like the noisy sound the Izumi chains make. They sound like "easy running" to me. Great chain.

bleedingapple

Ive been using a Pintle halflink chain and am looking to get something new... the pintle seems to capture a lot of sand and stuff and get all grindy with it... I do like my half link otherwise but wasn't sure if it was overkill... I was thinking of trying the shadow conspiracy halflink next or some other track/ss specific chain, thus the thread... I certainly don't care too much about weight more just smoothness and longevity and strength wouldnt be bad either heh...

TheBikeRollsOn 

I use a KMC z510 and like it just fine, except it needs a bath. But I like the looks and pricepoint of the 710, will probably be my next chain, whenever that will be.

veganwar

HKK chains are nice but I thought they were near impossible to get these days. The Izumi chains seemed to wear uneven quickly. So now it is nothing but KMC Kool Light chains. You can tell when it is getting time to replace it because it gets pretty loud.

bbattle

Good chain. And it only comes in that steel color; always a good thing. Since I normally have to shorten the chain, I don't use the quick link. I do have it on the roadie, though. No troubles after years and many thousands of miles.

Squirrelli

I've been using the SRAM PC-1 for awhile now, it's quite good, I like it.
I saw a KMC chain at the LBS, I asked them what model it is and they had no clue.
It says 9K-2 on the plates...do you guys know what model they are?

Sixty Fiver

I run some KMC 3/16 utility chain on my polo bike... I had a little extra after fitting a chain to a Worksman cargo trike.

This is a 1/8 cog in the rear.

herbsandspices

I like the Wippermann 108 chain. Good quality at a decent price.

Fugazi Dave

I believe they stopped distributing them in the US, so they sometimes sell for silly prices. An eBay search right now shows BIN prices from $35-55 for HKK Vertex chains in different colors. For comparison when I was in Japan last fall I picked up a new HKK Vertex for about ¥2,400 (IIRC) in Osaka.

Tomo_Ishi

Around the same price in Tokyo. But that's for the blue ones, chrome plated (or gold-plated) versions go over 4000 yen. ... I think Wippermann 108 are cheaper and comes with chrome plating.

Fugazi Dave

Ah, the price of bling...

the_don

I have the HKK Vertex.

I got it because it was cheap.

It was blue, so it matched my bike.

I pedal, bike goes. Job done.

Got it from Dept inbetween 渋谷 and 原宿 on 明治道り just up from Carnival.

True story.

cleanupinaisle3

SRAM PC-1. It's cheap and it works. Also I like its darker gunmetal colour.

Yo!

I used a shadow conspiracy V2 half link for a while and on a track bike, it's overkill. It's heavy as hell and I was always readjusting chain tension. There have been so many complaints to shadow conspiracy regarding their first version of the half link and chain stretch; they claim to have solved the issue with the V2, but I'm not really buying it. Unless you have to have a half link in order to get your rear wheel completely slammed in the dropouts, stick with a standard 1/8" track chain. IMHO, I think half links are out of place on fixed gears that aren't 700cmx.

I also used the PC-1 for a while on my BMX's. This is a cheap chain that usually comes with stiff links; they get the job done, but I usually steer clear of the PC-1 and Z 1/8" chains.

Tomo_Ishi

Addendum : It's got NJS stamp. Prolly, cheapest NJS stuff. Yep, even CA-NJS cost over 4000 yen.

Sixty Fiver

NJS does not immediately confer quality but rather, that a part meets a certain standard of equivalency.

As far as strength goes, a wider chain does not immediately become stronger because of it's added width as the forces on a single speed chain are not lateral... I find that as far as wear goes (or lack of it) that the KMC Kool chain is superior to most. SRAM chain runs out very smoothly but I have found that the KMC equivalents offer better service life.

Long wearing chains will extend your drive train life and uber light racing chains are not as ideal for day to day riding as more utilitarian chains... the KMC K chains are heavy but they run forever and look sweet. The finish on the plates is also very nice and it cleans up real nice.

Although the msrp is higher the K chain does sell for a discount just about everywhere and as I get my chains at cost know the shop markup on ss chains is ridiculous at about 250 %.

Find a 1/8 chain labelled for 3 speed use and you will get an immediate discount because the chain comes in a different package... label something BMX, SS, or NJS and you will pay an added premium.

the_don

I only noticed the stamp after I got it home and was fitting it.

I'm still weary of the bolt it uses to lock the chain, but I have been checking it once a week or so and it is fine. Gonna get a chain stretch measure soon to see how it is doing in that regard.

Tomo_Ishi

I know what you mean. I punched that connection link out and used Izumi link which use clips. But then that bolt is really tight fitting, so you can use that "red" bolt lock on it and freeze that thing for eternity. ... Oh wait that's gonna make it hard to take off chains, huh?

Six jours

I have never had any trouble with the Izumi screw. I was concerned about it too, but am now perfectly confident in it.

Cyclist0383

For 3/32" I've had great luck with SRAM Salt Shaker chains. They are coated for rust resistance (it's damn wet where I live), quiet, last a long time, have a quick link, and are dead cheap at between $10 - $12 at the LBS. They also make a 1/8" version, but I haven't tried it.

TejanoTrackie 

Did yours include a square nut? Mine did, but it was not attached to the link and I lost it. I put the screw in without the nut, and it remained tight through several track sessions. Later on I discovered the nut on the floor, and installed it for good measure. I also installed an Izumi bolted half link to get the correct chain length.