Originally Posted by
Kontact
Considering that the side plates have gotten thinner to make the chains narrow, I suspect narrow chains have much less friction between the side plate and pin than they did on 7 speed chains.
I just measured the side plates on my 8, 9, 10, and 11 speed chains. They vary a little by brand but are all very close to the same thickness. It’s the bushings between the plates are what vary in size. That’s why the myth the narrow chains break more often is just that, a myth.