Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Mountain Biking
Reload this Page >

Best top of the line chains

Search
Notices
Mountain Biking Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Check out this forum to discuss the latest tips, tricks, gear and equipment in the world of mountain biking.
View Poll Results: Best top of the line chain
Rohloff SLT-99
2
14.29%
Shimano XTR silver
1
7.14%
SRAM PC-99
11
78.57%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

Best top of the line chains

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-24-03 | 08:00 AM
  #1  
fatman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Best top of the line chains

According to MTBReview.com, the Rohloff SLT-99 is the best chain. I want to know the opinion of this forum.

Rohloff SLT-99
Shimano XTR silver chain
SRAM PC-99
fatman is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 11:23 AM
  #2  
Maelstrom's Avatar
Wood Licker
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 16,966
Likes: 2
From: Whistler,BC

Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002

I personally use SRAM chains. I like them, they last and are easy to work with. I don't like shimano chains and have no experience with Rohloff.
Maelstrom is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 12:39 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
25 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 7,963
Likes: 1
From: Parrish, FL

Bikes: Lots

In my book, chains are chains. Personally, I'm running a Sram chain now, mostly because of the Power link. I have however, run Shimano chains and purchased the power link seperately without any troubles.

Whatever is on SALE!

As long as it's clean and lubed, you'll get lots of miles of use out of it!

L8R
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
a2psyklnut is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 01:52 PM
  #4  
crashing_sux's Avatar
Monkey
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Whistler, BC

Bikes: Specialized Enduro

This is a funny poll because most people haven't ridden a Rohloff chain. It's like asking what the best car is and then including a Bugatti in the list of choices, they may make a great car but who here has ever driven one?

I have used a Rohloff chain and they are great chains, strong as hell, but not used that much by mountain bikers. They have a bigger following by trials riders, those guys are hard on chains with all of their pedal kicking so they really notice the difference in strength.
crashing_sux is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 02:10 PM
  #5  
Jim311's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Florida
As mentioned above, I've got no experience with Rohloff chains. But I've had bad experiences with Shimano chains. I'm currently riding a SRAM chain with no problems. Really what's most important is proper installation, because for the most part a chain is a chain. Some are lighter than others, but even a cheap chain does the same job as a light chain.
Jim311 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 02:34 PM
  #6  
fatman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Jim311
As mentioned above, I've got no experience with Rohloff chains. But I've had bad experiences with Shimano chains. I'm currently riding a SRAM chain with no problems. Really what's most important is proper installation, because for the most part a chain is a chain. Some are lighter than others, but even a cheap chain does the same job as a light chain.
Yesterday I was riding with a group of 20. My chain snaps and since I didn't have the tools neither the knowledge on how to repair it, I have to return back on foot. I don't want that to happen again. I mention the Rohloff because that was the editor's choice at MTBreview.com. I didn't know about the existance of that chain either. Now that I know I will consider it as an alternative, perhaps you too.

By the way the chain on my bike was the Shimano HG-53.
fatman is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 02:46 PM
  #7  
Jim311's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Florida
I dunno. I really don't have any reason to change from SRAM. The only chains I've had negative experiences with were Shimano. Does that Rohloff chain have a powerlink like SRAM does? That should be a big deciding factor for you. Being able to quickly remove your chain for repairs or cleaning is crucial. I also suggest you pick up a chain tool and learn to use it my friend!! You wouldn't have had to walk out! I'm surprised none of those 20 people you were with have one.. I've ALWAYS got one!
Jim311 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 03:06 PM
  #8  
late's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,952
Likes: 1,513
From: Southern Maine
Hi,
I use the Wipperman stainless steel chain. Seems ok. I may go with Sram for the powerlink next time. I have gotten a little fanatic about chain cleaning (I'm a slob by nature, so regular cleaning fits my defintion of fanatic
late is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 03:12 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
25 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Wipperman CONNEX chains are as good or better than Rohloff and maybe cheaper.
Just because some magazine promotes a chain to satisfy advertisers egos, doesn't make it the be all, end all product on the market.
for most everyday riders SRAM is more than adequate and, IMHO will last longer than Shimano.
L J Horton is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 04:29 PM
  #10  
montlake_mtbkr's Avatar
www.titusti.com
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Seattle

Bikes: Titus Switchblade, Trek 4500

My chain snaps and since I didn't have the tools neither the knowledge on how to repair it, I have to return back on foot.
You can get a Park Tool mini-chain Brute for about the cost of a cheap chain. Pop the broken links out and put the chain back together. However I have a shimano HG-53 on one bike and the only reason it's still on there is because I can't remove it!! I can't get the pins to budge more than a millimeter or so with my chain tool and I tried about 5 different pins. Be glad your chain broke and just get a SRAM PC-59.
montlake_mtbkr is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 08:11 PM
  #11  
mindbogger's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by montlake_mtbkr
You can get a Park Tool mini-chain Brute for about the cost of a cheap chain. Pop the broken links out and put the chain back together. However I have a shimano HG-53 on one bike and the only reason it's still on there is because I can't remove it!! I can't get the pins to budge more than a millimeter or so with my chain tool and I tried about 5 different pins. Be glad your chain broke and just get a SRAM PC-59.

heehehe same with me. Broke my hg-53 recently and i swapped it in for a SRAM PC-59. Makes it a lot easier to take off and now I don't hafta carry a tool around
mindbogger is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-03 | 08:54 PM
  #12  
fatman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Ok lets say that you have the chance to put the best chain available on your bike for free no matter how expensive. Which one will it be.

Originally Posted by L J Horton
Just because some magazine promotes a chain to satisfy advertisers egos, doesn't make it the be all, end all product on the market.
MTBReview.com is not a magazine. Just a site where a buch of biker like us reviews bikes and products. The editor's choice are based on those reviews not on the opinion of the board owners.
fatman is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 12:03 AM
  #13  
Raiyn's Avatar
I drink your MILKSHAKE
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 15,061
Likes: 3
From: St. Petersburg, FL

Bikes: 2003 Specialized Rockhopper FSR Comp, 1999 Specialized Hardrock Comp FS, 1971 Schwinn Varsity

Originally Posted by montlake_mtbkr
You can get a Park Tool mini-chain Brute for about the cost of a cheap chain. Pop the broken links out and put the chain back together. However I have a shimano HG-53 on one bike and the only reason it's still on there is because I can't remove it!! I can't get the pins to budge more than a millimeter or so with my chain tool and I tried about 5 different pins. Be glad your chain broke and just get a SRAM PC-59.
A pair of bolt cutters will get that sucker right off. Seriously.
__________________
Raiyn is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 04:28 AM
  #14  
Kev
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 0
Mindbogger you still have to carry a tool.. Figure if your chain brakes, the chances of a complete link braking off are pretty small. I've only broke one chain so far, on the trail simple snapped at the one link. So in order to put it back together I had to remove that link where it busted. Now I could have used the removable link, but then would have had to remove half a link to use, so needed chain tool. Rather then do that and have a very short chain I used my chain tool to put it back together and finish my ride. Since was only 1 link shorter, still shifted fine.
Kev is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 10:51 AM
  #15  
fatman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Ok I will go with the SRAM PC-99 hollowtech, thanks for your suggestions!!
fatman is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 11:46 AM
  #16  
RegularGuy's Avatar
I am a lonely visitor
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 2
From: Where even Richard Nixon has got soul

Bikes: Michelle Pfieffer, the Carbon Fiber Wonder Bike: A Kestrel 200 SCI Repainted in glorious mango; Old Paintless, A Litespeed Obed; The Bike With No Name: A Bianchi Eros; RegularBike: A Parkpre Comp Ltd rebuilt as a singlespeed.

Originally Posted by fatman
Yesterday I was riding with a group of 20. My chain snaps and since I didn't have the tools neither the knowledge on how to repair it, I have to return back on foot. I don't want that to happen again. I mention the Rohloff because that was the editor's choice at MTBreview.com. I didn't know about the existance of that chain either. Now that I know I will consider it as an alternative, perhaps you too.

By the way the chain on my bike was the Shimano HG-53.
No one in the group had a tool and the ability to use it?

I always ride with a chaintool and a master link.

My preference for chains is anything but Shimano. I'm not anti-Shimano, but I really dislike those special pins.
__________________
Religion is a good thing for good people and a bad thing for bad people. --H. Richard Niebuhr
RegularGuy is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 12:18 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
25 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 7,963
Likes: 1
From: Parrish, FL

Bikes: Lots

Actually, I'm running a Sram chain, but I'm running the PC - 69. A bit more heft to it, but a very durable chain. No problems as of yet with it.

L8R
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
a2psyklnut is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 12:23 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 0
fatman, I stand corrected.

But, If you are getting a free chain, I'd go for the wipperman.You won't be sorry.
__________________
ljbike
ljbike is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-03 | 02:05 PM
  #19  
Jim311's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Florida
I run a PC-99, by the way.
Jim311 is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.