Any downsides to a quick-link?
03-30-18 | 01:33 PM
#26
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
I always install a new link with a new chain. I do keep used ones in my on-bike tool bags as emergency repair item if I or another rider need to repair a damaged chain but these aren't expected to be used long term.
03-30-18 | 05:23 PM
#28
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
03-31-18 | 02:54 PM
#29
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I just bought a card of 6 KMC links (before I read your post, now I wish I looked harder for the reusable version 
). Here is a picture of the top of the package. Notice that they call out the details (the "Safety Lock" features highlighted in red on the drawing) that make the link non-reusable. I don't know what the reusable version looks like, but I do intend to try to reuse these (at least the non-reusable one that came with my KMC chain).
). Here is a picture of the top of the package. Notice that they call out the details (the "Safety Lock" features highlighted in red on the drawing) that make the link non-reusable. I don't know what the reusable version looks like, but I do intend to try to reuse these (at least the non-reusable one that came with my KMC chain).M/L-11R - KMC Chain
04-01-18 | 02:28 AM
#30
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Here's a downside - I took a spill one day, from my front wheel getting caught in a groove at the edge of a gutter, and when I went to get back on my bike, saw my chain was broken.
Took me ten minutes to find one half of the quick link.
Mind you, I bet it was a freak occurrence, and obviously the link must have been a bit tired.
Took me ten minutes to find one half of the quick link.
Mind you, I bet it was a freak occurrence, and obviously the link must have been a bit tired.
04-01-18 | 10:15 AM
#31
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
04-01-18 | 04:36 PM
#32
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Who knows really what the difference is between the CL555R and non-R version. Even KMC's own website uses the same URL for the photo on both products. I would note that there is no such thing as a reuseable 11S Missing Link (per KMC) that is made for campagnolo chains for some reason.
M/L-11R - KMC Chain
M/L-11R - KMC Chain
FWIW I've (re)used 11-speed KMC links several times on Campagnolo 11-speed chains with no issues.
To the OP's question, I've broken 2 quick links over the years, both on 9-speed chains. 1 was on my commuter, the link broke while shifting, and the 1 was on the mtn bike, the link broke after a particularly rough downhill section. In the case of the mtn bike I'm not so sure it broke as much as it came apart, but the road bike clearly broke. Both quick links were single use SRAM links that had been reused several times so I'm not blaming anyone except myself.
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