Originally Posted by
fietsbob
actually the way derailleur bike chains are made now is different ..
now the roller rides on the edge of metal that was displaced
from the act of hot-punching out the hole, in the inner link plate.
true 9 is thinner than 8, but the bushing-less construction type is common to both.
You suggesting that the abused chain I just threw out was some relic from the bushing era? it wasn't. It was a perfectly modern KMC chain. The increase in bearing area for 9 to 8 speed chain is substantial. Increased bearing area means lower loads, which means longer life.