This seems wrong...

The article. https://www.biketiresdirect.com/chai...bility-article

Which says

"11-speed drivetrains require 11-speed chains. Shimano and SRAM 11-speed chains are not cross-compatible; if you have a Shimano 11-speed drivetrain, you need a Shimano 11-speed chain. We sell the Shimano Ultegra CN-6800 11-Speed Chain and the slightly lighter Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 11-Speed Chain."

Not trolling, it just never occurred to me that you couldn't use SRAM with Shimano. Never had an issue before but am just installing an 11 speed system

You can cross brands. That web page is wrong.

It's the difference between the company line, and reality. Each component maker claims that their stuff works best (or only) if you use the specific chain they provide. But chains are maybe the last standardized part left, much to maker's frustration, and you can mix freely as long is the width is correct.

My bike has campy shifters and derailers, a sram chain, and a shimano cassette. It works fine. As noted by several sources, 11 speed removed a lot of exclusivity because cog spacing is so small the differences are accounted for in the slop that's built into the system. Shifters and derailers are all that need match with 11 speed.

Yep. The 'rule' is as follows: The chain needs to be mated to the cassette not cranks. So if you have a 11 speed cassette, chain needs to be a 11 speed width one. Nothing mandates to match the makers of the chain and cassette.

I used for many years on my MTB Shimano chains with SRAM cassettes without problems. Width and pitch (according to number of cogs) is the same between makers. Doesn't matter if is a Shimano, SRAM, KMC or whatever.

Anyone have experience running a KMC on a Campy 11-speed setup? So far I've only used Chorus chains on this bike, but since I have KMC on all my other bikes, I'm thinking of giving it a go on this one.

1. Why doesn't Shimano use master links? It's a proven technology that makes life easier. Is it purely aesthetic so there isn't one link that looks different?. Or do they have a functional reason for not using masterlinks?

2. I understand that Shimano recommends that the chain be installed with the open ended link (exterior plates) facing rearward to make the link as strong as possible. But every link has two sides facing opposite directions so one half of the links in the chain have an open end facing forward. So how does that one link facing rearward make for a stronger chain?