Most shop mechanics would be delighted to 'upgrade' your new bike chain. More sales, and your old chain is used to upgrade the old chain on their personal bike.

About $5.99 delivered? I've not used it yet, but the similar stuff I have used seems fine.

I realize I could have bought a bike done, but wheres the fun in that? I am learning and having fun upgrading as I go along.

We just ordered a complete Shimano XTR 9120 brake package with matching 180 MM discs. Does that make you happier?

The transmission is next. ( TBD, dont be surprised if its Di or Srams E shift deal)

Ive pieced together a custom drum kit and studio, and a professional Sim Racing setup. The business I ran was all custom pieced together gear.

So...I prefer to custom personalized build in general, rather than buy an off the shelf build, and I realize it may be more expensive.

I am fortunate to be able to not worry about cost.

It’s Di2. There’s no such thing, and never was, as Di

"Is it a gravel bike? Is it a mountain bike? We’ve got no idea" say the makers. It's a commuter/gravel sort of bike, low-midrange* sort of price, with a 60 mm SR/Suntour fork "for hard-charging, off-road adventures". Did that fool you into thinking that it's really suitable for "light singletrack" as they claim? I would be piling on accessories like rack, fenders, lights, GPS, because weight is clearly not a major consideration, and those accessories are a useful upgrade - or if weight is a thing then a rigid carbon fork might be a better investment, but then you wouldn't be asking "is it a mountain bike" because the answer would be a resounding "no" rather than "marketing didn't know where to pitch this one".

TBF I ride crappy old hardtail "mountain bikes" on "light singletrack", slowly, because I like riding in the woods, not because I'm the coolest fastest MTBer. I ride crappy old road/touring bikes on the road too. I don't think my skill, fitness or commmitment to riding justify buying a shiny new bike when I can happily potter around on old stuff. I could buy a top of the range Marin tomorrow, if I thought it would significantly increase my enjoyment, but I don't think it would. I can't help thinking that one of my hardtails makes a better mountain bike than this Marin, and my tourer, with all the useful accessories, makes a better road/utility machine. But I built them from a frame and a pile of parts, to suit my requirements, so I'm biased. They're as custom as can be. I wonder quite what you're expecting to come of your project, because it's not going to be a mountain bike, but the chain is 10% slicker (allegedly) and it will stop in a hurry (if the tyres can hold on).

But if you enjoy doing your stuff and end up with something that makes you happy then go for it. You just don't seem very well advised, which bothers me slightly.


* I don't know, is €500-1000 entry level, €1000-3000 midrange, €3000+ high end? I don't read the magazines any more. Are there even magazines any more?

I am not a "hard charger" and no one fooled me into anything when I chose this bike as a platform. I am building an all purpose bike and like you I enjoy the woods so Ill be carefully navigating the easiest single tracks I can find and am blessed with several good green trails in the area. Ill be riding paved trails, putzing around town and a lot of dirt roads as I live in the country.

I like the 60 mm suspension fork because Im older and have weak wrists and a sortof messed up rotator cuff in one shoulder and it will provide comfort on regular rides and enough suspension on a granny singletrack to be fine to have some fun with. Admitedly my choice was narrowed down to the same bike without the suspension and a carbon fork but I chose this one.

I have to laugh when everyone tries to figure out what to call their bike or what kind of bike it is. Including marketers.

Its just a bike I can do multiple things with and have a little fun. Im not trying to win the tour de france or some BMX race and need or want a specific bike.

Its a multi use flat bar bicycle for an elderly rider who still thinks hes 35 who like customizing.

Sorry if you misunderstood or I wasn't clear in my intentions. Check my Daves Hot Rod Build thread in General. Youll get a better idea.

I think this price ranges are about right. Maybe high end is 4k+ now

I generally agree, especially in the USA. However there is one guy on here in Indonesia that has a ton of folding bikes, because he can get FnHon frames and genuine Shimano components very cheap, evidently both priced for the sales market and not universal pricing worldwide. It's actually cheaper for him to build up a bike, plus he gets exactly what he wants, and he enjoys the process. He can't resist buying and building, it's so cheap, I'm like that with fine cookware found cheap in Goodwill that I rehab. I'd do the same if I could even get those frames here, much less at his price. And the Shimano stuff is genuine and not counterfeit as has been encountered with some stuff on a south-Asian online selling platform (including, notably, chains).

After spending way too much time reading ZFC, Hambini, Silca et al, I think I can write the definitive treatise based on real world experience.

What chain should I use? Doesn't matter. There are lots of more than adequate chains. I like the SRAM shiny silver and KMC "oil slick" chains because they look really cool.

What lube should I use? Doesn't matter. Some are cleaner than others. My buddy had one that smelled like coconut suntan lotion. If you want a new hobby or part time job, try waxing. But don't expect that to gift you the local KOM.

How do I know if my new chain is counterfeit? If you bought it on AliExpress or Ebay, it is. Don't be a putz, buy stuff at a real bike store.

You should have included

“Are you being bambozelled out of your money? Probably.” Looking at you Silca…$40 for a pound of wax you can buy at your grocery store for $8 $100 for a glorified crock pot. $100 for pre-waxed chains that are going to need to be rewaxed in a few hundred miles.

”Are you making this far more complicated than it needs to be? Definitely!” You don’t need 47 step processes to “clean” a new chain nor, for that matter, to clean a dirty chain. Multiple degreaser steps, rinsing steps, ultrasonic baths, etc. waste time, effort, money, and chemicals. A single rinse in mineral spirits does the job adequately enough.

I've bought SRAM chains and cassettes from eBay and have never had a problem. But that's usually from bricks & mortar stores that use eBay as an easy online outlet. I've had perfectly useable stuff from AliExpress but I've not bought big brand stuff there. I should try it just out of interest.

As you know, a chain that wears out faster then your chain rings and cogs is a good thing. SRAM and KMC do just fine...

Gold chain is the best upgrade . Kmc gold chains are awesome

If going Shimano, I've heard YouTubers recommend XTR. They say it's usually a waste of money to go XTR, but in this case it lasts so much longer that it more than makes up for the higher cost.

You mean like this one?

Gold with cutouts and hollow pins, does KMC do that one? Guaranteed podium with a chain like that.

No - should be mostly black with a few gold highlights, maybe gold fishbone cables, spoke nipples and rotor bolts. But that is a nice bike, I'd have to put black tyres on it, but otherwise quite acceptable.

I like that those are molded black in the center but yellow on the sidewalls and side treads, first I've seen that. Be even better if they were reflective.

It might be nice if that gold was zinc-dichromate plating, which is a bit better than plain zinc for corrosion resistance. Grade 8 fasteners often come with that, but need to be baked to prevent hydrogen embrittlement.

Yes, they do. I have one on the Serotta weight weenie.

I thoroughly recommend upgrading the chain.
But I would first put on 1-2000 or so miles on the original one first!