Originally Posted by
RollCNY
Shimano advertising specifically says that their chains are optimized for flawless shifting on their drive trains, and they even stamp little x's in the pin link plate. How can you turn that down for, even at 3 or 4 times the price? Marketing isn't cheap.
Granted, I have used KMC chains on all sorts of drive trains with no issues, but their marketing blows monkey chunks.
Problem is I have a piece of crap FSA Vero compact crankset that is shifting like dog crap about now, with the original 105 5700 chain. I plan on addressing this after I look into some other crankset and BB issues. But replacing the chain and cassette are a pretty much definite I think - Ultegra 11-28 cassette and KMC X10.93 chain.
Would like to replace the whole crankset with a Shimano 105 or better crankset and probably an Ultegra BB, but that will be probably some time next year.
As for the finish I actually prefer a darker chain finish, so it won't bother me if the "shiny" on the KMC chain wears off.