Welsige

Hi there, nowadays, what would be a good choice for a 8 speed record cassete? Its going to be used with a Chorus groupset.

Is the Campagnolo C9 chain (6.8mm) still a good choice? Its quite pricy here where I live.

What would be other good choices with good performance? I dont want a expensive chain, but it dosent need to be a poor man's chain either, I would like it to have a good finish to look nice on the final build.

I appreciate any advice that you could give.

HillRider

Any 8-speed or 9-speed width chain will work fine. Shimano, Wipperman, KMC or SRAM would all be good choices. Wipperman, KMC or SRAM chains come with master links which makes installation and removal easy.

Tim_Iowa

Where do you live? We could give better advice if we knew that.

All 8 speed chains are cross-compatible. The important dimensions are standardized. You pay extra for: light weight (material, hollow pins or plates) and durability (material).

I highly recommend Wippermann Connex chains; their quick link is the easiest to use and their nicer chains use stainless steel. Starbike has the 8SX for $34.

The Campagnolo C9 chain is a 9-speed chain, so it's narrower than what your 8 speed cassette was designed for. It would probably work, but its "specific scuplting for Ultra Torque rings" would be totally lost on your 8 speed drivetrain.

Find a nice 8 speed chain.

Welsige

Hi, I live in Brasil.

Sadly Wipperman dosent seems to be sold around here, at least the 8 speed one.

I do see the KMC brand on sale, but what about the X and Z models?

SkyDog75

The "X" and "Z" designations refer to the "X bridge" or "Z bridge" stamped shape in the chain's outer plates, presumably intended as a shifting aid. The "X bridge" is the newer of the two designs and is standard on KMC's 9/10/11 speed chains.

For decent chains without a big price tag, the KMC X8.93 or X8.99 should do you fine. The difference between them is that only the outer plates are nickel-plated on the 8.93 while the X.99 is completely nickel-plated.

trailangel

Ya, get the KMC X 8 or 9 speed chain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMC_Chain_Industrial

fietsbob

Back in the day ... Campagnolo bought & repackaged chains from Rohloff .. they were in the Chain business First.

Better to toss a cheap chain early, rather than leave an expensive one on, because of what it cost.

Tim_Iowa

Yep, I've used KMC X8.93 chains; they're cheap and good. KMC makes high-end chains too.

You could order Wippermann chains direct from Europe. That's what I do, and the exchange rate makes them cheaper than buying at US retail prices.

Welsige

I will probably go with a KMC one, probably a X8.99, but just a question:

Wont the "Mushroomed Riveting" of the chain pins influence in the shifting, since old chains had these pins a little more outwards?

Or it dosent matter at all?

HillRider

"Mushroom Riveting" is necessary to maintain strength as chains got narrower and the pins could not be allowed to protrude past the increasingly thinner sideplates. It's also why you should never join a modern chain by pushing a regular pin back into place. These chains have to be joined with a specific design pin (Shimano) or a master link (everyone else).

As to shifting quality, modern chains with their shaped sideplates operating on current enhanced cogs and chainrings shift vastly better than the old, wider chains ever did.

SkyDog75

Minor correction: Campagnolo chains require a special pin as well, plus a tool to peen that pin.

HillRider

It's hard to say what Campy chains require since they have changed their designs, supplier and installation instructions numerous times over the years. The only constant is they require a newer more expensive chain tool with each change, effectively obsoleting the previous expensive tool. So, yes, they do require a special pin (or more accurately a special chain section) to join them.

fietsbob

Rohloff has a pin peening chain tool .. use Wipperman or KMC and they come with quick Links.

Reynolds 

Campagnolo C9 chain doesn't require any special tool or pin.

SkyDog75

Thanks for the corrections to the correction! (I think I'll stick to chains that use a quick link!)

noglider 

I've gotten a lot of good service from many KMC chains. They are the least expensive, and if they're worse than the other brands, I can't tell. Go with KMC, any model.

Welsige

Guys, thank you very much for all the help.

I ended up getting a cheap Sram PC-830 locally, its a little bit narrower then the KMC 8xx models (7.1 vs 7.3 mm), but not as narrow as the C9 (6.9).

I will have my oldie assembled within a week or so

trailangel

KMC X8 chain is thinner than a SRAM 830.

Why did you cheap out with a Campy groupset?

CliffordK

I wouldn't over-spend on a chain. It is a wear item that needs to be replaced, perhaps more frequently than even your tires.

Get a couple of cheap ones, and replace often.

I've mainly jumped to 9s, but something like the IG51 is chromed, and about $8 each if you're willing to order.
New IG51 Compatibility 8 Speed Steel Chain with 116 Links for Road Bike Bicycle | eBay

Welsige

Everywhere I looked I saw Sram PC-8xx width as 7.1mm, and XMC X8 at about 7.3 mm.

My intent was to get a similar item to the Campy C9 chain, thats rated as 6.9mm in width.

I was not aware that Sram chains were of poor quality. Are they, really?

noglider 

My sample size with SRAM chains is one, or close to it. It didn't work out well. But why should I go back when KMC chains are so much less expensive and work fine. When I got a good price on a Shimano chain, I took advantage, but I normally buy KMC.

Welsige

Thanks for you help folks, will keep KMC in mind next chain i need, or if this one ends working badly.

What I think odd is that the left ergos dont change the gear in just one click as my old shimano STI did, seems i have to triple click to change to and from the small to big disk.

Here is it as I took it at the machanic, they messed with its fit because it had to be completelly disasembled because 8 years in a shed takes a toll in dust, spider webs, etc

The good news is that its working, the bad one is that I am not Will have to train a lot to regain muscle.

hueyhoolihan

i pretty much agree with this, too.

SkyDog75

As you've noticed, your Campagnolo front shifter works a little differently than Shimano indexed shifters. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. Generally speaking, you may find that the chain tends to rub the front derailleur cage on some chainring/cog combinations, especially when cross-chained. Some shifters have 'trim' functionality built into them so you can feather the shifter and nudge the front derailleur over a smidge to stop the rub. Your Campy shifters are pretty much infinitely trimmable -- just move a click or two one way or the other.

My own Campy shifters work the same way, and I've come to really like this setup. When adjusted right, it's really intuitive on a double chainring. Swing the lever to upshift. Dump the thumb to downshift. Don't bother counting clicks. Then feather a click or two to trim when necessary.

Going back to the subject of chain selection for just a moment... I don't consider it "cheaping out" to use a non-Campy chain on a Campagnolo drivetrain. When my Bianchi San Mateo was brand new, it came with Campy components and a KMC chain. The combo worked well, so I've never seen a need to spend more on replacement chains. (Plus the quick links used by KMC, SRAM, and Wippermann are nifty.)

D1andonlyDman

I have had good experience with both KMC and SRAM chains, both of which are widely available and inexpensive.