9 speed or more, relative chain wear?
 

I remember going from 7 -> 8 -> 9 speeds, and there was concern that the chain and cassettes would wear out more quickly as the cogs and chains were thinned. I'd expect similar degradation in chain and cog life from 10, 11, and 12 speeds.

Has anyone kept track of chain or cassette wear, for similar use, going from 9 speed up? Part 2 and 3, what sort of conditions were you riding in, and what chain life did you observe on the different speeds?

It's been so long I can't remember. Did this concern prove valid?:foo:

As far as I could measure, chain durability depends mostly on the quality, and maintenance (clean and lubricated lasts a lot longer, while even with a similar maintenance regime, some higher-quality chains last longer).
In other words, to my amazement, 10 and 11-speed chains don't always last shorter than 7, or 8-speed ones.

Can't really say anything about the cassettes. A lot depends on how much time one spends on one, or just a few sprockets. Couldn't find a way to reliably measure and compare cassette wear.

My nine speed goes through chains just a tad faster than the old seven speed. Not enough to worry about for me, maybe two a year max, instead of three in two years. I haven't replaced the cassette, maybe because I keep a close eye on the chain. A friend got surprised with her first nine-speed wearing out a chain and cassette, now she checks it more often.

I went from 7 speed rears to 11 speed rears just over twelve years ago. While I think that my 7 speed chains lasted longer I can't prove it. I did wear out an 11 speed chain in a little less than 5000 miles. But the rings and cogs so far are not showing any signs of issues caused from wear.

It's not a big deal though. At least not to me. The advantages of more gears far out weighs any chain or cassette I might have to throw away. Plus, you get to be in the 21st Century, instead of smug with the delusions of vintage stuff as I was until I dared to try the new stuff.

I thought my old 5/6 speed freewheels used to last absolutely forever. I had troubles finding ones with 12T, and think I had one 12T sprocket wear out many years ago. I wasn't the best at keeping the chain in tip top shape, but chains and freewheels all lasted quite well.

When I went car-free a couple of years ago... and upgraded to 9s & 11s, whew!!! I started chewing up chains and cassettes right and left.

Of course, my miles went way up, and I was putting on as many miles in 1 years as I had been doing in several years earlier. Probably in about 4 years I put on as many miles as I had done the rest of my life.

I'm not quite sure what caused me to have so many problems with the transition to cassettes.

One thing. If one is pretty good at not cross-chaining a 5 speed freewheel, then the chainline is relatively straight.

Go to 11 speed, and a more flexible chain, and one is always pulling a bit to one side or another.

I, also, have no recorded data to show but I think the modern stuff wears faster than the older and wider cogs and chains. Back ith the day before 7 speeds were the boss chains had real bearing bushings. The cog plates were thicker and I know some who say were of a harder steel (softer steels cost less to stamp and form all those shifting aids in).

All this is personal observation, stories told by various industry members and some basic design principles. Andy

I don't know, which is why I ask for data either way.

I never wore out a "10 speed" (2x5) chain with the bushing, but I've ridden a lot further with newer bikes.

The newer chains 10/11/12 speed may be narrower but they are actually designed for a wider deflection angle because of the width of the cassette.

I read a technical article a while ago and a SRAM tech stated that, while it's not ideal to cross chain, it is miles better in terms of longevity than the 7/8/9 Speed.