Chain replacement
 

I have an old 2000 Raleigh R600 Shimano 9 speed that was ridden a few times and stored til I bought it. I don't ride it alot I mostly use it in the trainer and it is time to replace the chain on it. It came equipped with a KMC Z9200, 1/2 x 3/32" chain. I am having a problem finding this particular chain so would any 1/2 x 3/32" chain work? And what are your recommendations on a good chain?

Any 9 speed chain will work fine. I prefer sram, but others are good too.

I would suggest that you get a chain which closes with a master link; I dislike the Shimano "special joining pin" concept.

I like pinning together my chains, and dislike the masterlink concept. Each person is different. Put it together, and leave it. Lube as necessary.

However, I've become dissatisfied with the Shimano HG73 chains (don't know if I got bad ones?). And am hunting for alternatives.

I've got a Campy Record 9s on one bike. I think it came with a connector pin ready to push in. So far, so good. My next chains to test will be the KMC 9s chains.

Try the KMC 8.99 silver chain. It's a little more expensive. But, very nice.

That's what I have on my mountain bike. It says it's for 6 7 and 8 but will work on a 9 as well?

KMC 8.99 is for 6,7 and 8 speed drive trains.
It will not work on a 9 speed.
For 9 speed you could use any of these models.
The X9.93 (half silvered finish) is a good value/quality chain.

KMC 8.99 is a 1/2" x 3/32" chain. KMC 9.93 is a 1/2" x 11/128" . The KMC 9.93 is backward compatible with 7 & 8 speed set ups. But, the KMC 8.99 is probably not forward compatible with 9 speed set up.

Have you measured your chain to see if it is worn out. 1/16" in 1'.

I like KMC X9.93 and use it on my two nine speed bikes: a tandem with 3x9 and a single with 1x9.

Yep used the Park tool, it's time.

The tool is only a guide. The only accurate to check chain wear is with a ruler or shimano's $60 plus tool.

KMC X9.93 is a good choice. It has an easy-to-reuse master link, and is usually cheaper than SRAM and Shimano chains.

I don't believe that on-the-bike chain cleaning solutions are effective, so I prefer a chain with a master link to clean my chain (in a jar, with degreaser).

SRAM PC-971's are only about a tenner now in the UK, use them on all my 9 speed bikes.

Or Pedro's $16 checker which works just like Shimano's: Chain Checker Plus » Pedro's NA

Went with the KMC X9.93, installed it last night. Thanks for the replies!

shimano no longer makes the cn-41. The only problem with the Pedros is that at %.75 the wear is closer to 3/32". It would be better at .5.