biker222

Has anyone using 11 speed chains ever had a chain break or snap during a ride ?
If so, what manufacturer/model and miles on chain?

Crankycrank

Every type of chain will have someone here that has experienced a break. You may be chasing down a rabbit hole with this question.

fietsbob

how did it break, where ? rivet pull out of the side plate? or what?

As the speeds pack tighter the chain gets thinner, it is part of the way things are..

1) don't force shifts while putting the power down.. + get chains more than 1 at a time , and replace more often..


Personally, I've never broken a chain accidentally, But, I went to IGH from derailleur bikes with 6~7 speed freewheels, and get to use wider chains..

only see 11 speed derailleur bikes when I'm working at the bike shop..



...

shelbyfv

Don't be a tease. Did you break your chain?

HillRider

Riders have had 1,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 11-speed chains break at one time or another. Shortly you will be able to add 12-speed to the list. It could be from improper installation, mechanical damage or just way too many miles. I don't know of any particular brand or model that is more prone to having this happen as it's most often "operator error".

cny-bikeman

+1. A very small sample, from those who choose to answer, is useless. I would think that any chain that has been spec'd as OEM on bikes for several years could be counted on to be dependable.

Iride01 

make and model of chain? Mileage? Doubt they really come into play. Probably more to do with riding conditions and whether the rider is a masher with really strong legs.

HillRider

I've been think about the motive for the OP. It reads like he is a lawyer looking to file an injury lawsuit for a client who was injured when his chain broke and is looking for evidence of a product defect. Am I too suspicious?

biker222

Wrong - Far from it.

The reason I posted query was to get some insight if the thinner plate design/size increases the potential for a chain breaking. Since 11 speed chains have been on the market now for a number of years I thought there maybe some feedback.

I have been using 7/8/9 speed chains for many years and never had a break, but recently started using a 11 speed drive train.

Based on the limited responses it looks like no one has or aware of someone with a 11 speed chain breaking.

CliffordK

I've broken several 9s (HG73) chains, as well as the occasional 5-8 speed chains.

So far, not a single broken 11s (Ultegra, HG700) chain.

I don't run 10s.

There are reasons why 11s may be more durable than 9s and less. In particular, the 11s chains tend to have better peening and locking of side-plates.

fietsbob

Like said above this is a very tiny sample of people who self selected to even answer you, good luck with your bike , be mindful of chain wear ..

better to toss the chain early and spare the wear on the cogs ... cassettes are not cheap.

HillRider

OK, sorry for the accusation. I'm also not aware personally of anyone breaking an 11-speed chain although I'm sure its been done. As you mentioned, 11-speed chains have been on the market in both road and MTB formats for several years and if there was a systematic problem with them I'm certain it would have been reported here and on other bike forums long and loud.

rm -rf

I've ridden close to 2000 hours in the last 8 years, mostly on group rides of 5 to 20 riders. I've never seen a broken chain during that time. Someone mentioned a broken chain with another rider this year. So, 1 chain out of 10,000+ rider-hours.

I think the 10 and 11 speed pin design makes a strong chain, with the ends of the pin mushroomed like a rivet.

In the past, there were reports on BF of cracked side plates. I haven't seen any reports of that problem for years now.

I use a Sram Powerlink instead of the special pin that comes with new chains. The links are simple to install and strong.

The pins:

jeepseahawk

I can't ride 11-speed chains, broke so many I went back to 10 sp.

shelbyfv

Wow- having to replace the entire drive train! An expensive bummer!

Iride01 

So what are your riding conditions that you broke chains so often? Actual off road mountain biking with a lot of hard accelerations to deal with bumps and climbs? Or is this road type riding, similarly with a lot of aggressive hard accelerations?

Do you mind telling something about how they broke? Side plates broke in half, side plates stretched around holes and fell away from pin, etc.

Do you have stronger legs than the average 165 lb cyclist? IE are you built like a sprinter with very strong quads?

Just curious for more information as chain breakage is not something I ever had and don't even know others that have had an actual break. Just a malfunction of a quick-link that may have been installation error.

Dan Burkhart 

Shimano claims their new 11 speed chains are the strongest, most durable chains they have ever made.They attribute this to the inner plate redesign. Time will tell.

CliffordK

Also adding to Iride01's questions.

What brand and model of chain? Did you try more than one brand?

RGMN

I personally haven't broken a 10 or 11 spd chain, but I've had a few 9 & 8 spd chains break. I will say that I've seen a few broken 11 spd chains at the shop. Almost all of them have been on Di2 or etap drivetrains, and the explanation usually goes "Well we were climbing XXXX hill, I'm out of the saddle and reach down to grab a lower gear and BANG the damn thing breaks. I almost crashed." Of course the problem is the bike, not the rider.

Troul 

only time any chain of my experience, & opinion to, a premature failure happened as a result of another component ready to fail or is about to fail taxing the chain to its limits.
A distressed BB that is need of service that goes unaddressed will allow the crank to deflect. Applying the load of cranking motion as well as an unnatural deflection twizzlers the chain. Over a short period of use & likely extended maintenance intervals, the twizzler act will tax the weakest link to a chain assembly; failure.

Replaced solely the chain, holding to address anything else for someone [out of their request] & the brand new chain did not last as long compared to the first one that broke.

CliffordK

Exactly, the Di2 should disengage a clutch on the freehub to allow it to spin freely before shifting.

jeepseahawk

I forgot to put my "." sarcasm quotes in sentence. I have never broken a chain in my life, Fred, Clyde who is very slow up hills, with skinny legs. Chains don't break unless very old/used and rusted.