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Shimano Ultegra 11 Chain

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Shimano Ultegra 11 Chain

Old 06-17-21, 03:04 PM
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I bought an 11 speed 105 Shimano chain about 3 months ago on ebay. I found them but they are pricey and from all I can tell it completely a Shimano Chain not a copy. I put it on my bike about a week ago and as always the quick link is never easy to set even with the proper tool. I have to use a lot of muscle to get it to click. I do have one spare new 11 spd in the pile too. But parts are hard to come by no groupsets.
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Old 06-17-21, 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
No chance. Book it, mark it...revive this thread in a year.

Currently a ton of parts at Shimano don't even have restock dates for this calendar year. OEMs are selling 2023 and further out bikes to dealers.
I better take better care of my Ultegra chain, installed on 4/11/2021 after this incident:

Broken 105 Chain - Bike Forums

Psimet2001 Do you have any advice regarding how long the Shimano factory chain lube is good for?
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Old 06-17-21, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by SoSmellyAir
Too late, all gone.
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Old 06-17-21, 03:40 PM
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Still available here for $40:

Shimano XT HG701 11-Speed Chain - Southern California Bike Shop | Jax Bicycle (jaxbicycles.com)

I just have ordered one for local pick up.
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Old 06-17-21, 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
Obviously the forum hasnt had you berating us enough for everyone to have figured this out sooner.


I have ordered multiple genuine Shimano components this year for less than msrp. ebay and wait. europe and wait. Both have netted me cassettes, shifters, and chains. 2 cassettes and chains for a 9sp road bike and 1 cassette and chain for an 11sp road bike. I actually intended to get KMC chains and was surprised to see the Shimano 11sp for less.
You clearly deal in higher volume than my anecdotal limited experiences and I fully agree that some product is limited. Maybe I happened to luck out and need product that wasnt limited.
Anecdotally, I ordered two Ultegra cassettes this past November and now prices are $20 more per cassette.
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Old 06-17-21, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by KJ43
Jenson still has the resin finned pads (L03A) in stock for a great price. I just got a set today.
The UK Guys would light your inbox up if you had them to ship overseas. In one group that's all they've been asking about.

EDIT: Just check with Shimano - they simply list them as "Backordered" with no date. Q (largest US distributor and who handles Shimano outside of Shimano NA) lists L03A due in stock in one warehouse in September. The second warehouse in may 2022. They have no date for the 3rd warehouse.
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Last edited by Psimet2001; 06-17-21 at 04:01 PM.
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Old 06-17-21, 03:59 PM
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I threw this meme together a week or so ago and it did well in the lighter side of bike mechanics group.
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Old 06-17-21, 04:05 PM
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Back to the thread - Shimano lists HG701 as being back in stock hopefully by "Late September to Late October"....and they'll be gone in 60 seconds once they hit inventory.

Q doesn't list the 701 chain anymore but the 901 they simply list as out of stock with no date for return.
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Old 06-17-21, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by SoSmellyAir
Psimet2001 Do you have any advice regarding how long the Shimano factory chain lube is good for?
How long a lube lasts is really dependent on the conditions. Some will actually clean the factory lube off of a new chain right form the start. I do not recommend that. In general I lube chains over existing lube. I do that starting a couple hundred miles in usually. Less if it's been used in rainy weather.
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Old 06-17-21, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
How long a lube lasts is really dependent on the conditions. Some will actually clean the factory lube off of a new chain right form the start. I do not recommend that.
Thank you. Sheldon Brown said the same, so I figured there is no point to do so because I will never take the effort to wax the chain.

Originally Posted by Psimet2001
In general I lube chains over existing lube. I do that starting a couple hundred miles in usually. Less if it's been used in rainy weather.
Being in southern California, I only ride in dry conditions. This chain has 270 miles on the Shimano factory lube so I should do it this weekend, maybe after first squeezing in one more ride of around 30 miles.

Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 06-17-21 at 04:38 PM.
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Old 06-17-21, 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Pacelineg
Do you happen to have photos of both to compare the real vs counterfeit? I'd like to see what to look out for.
I’m on vacation now and I only have access to a picture of the fake one.



I can’t remember what text was different on this fake box. Something was extra I believe.

The text on the chain itself is the giveaway. And the plastic of the bag. Note how it’s cheap like a grocery plastic bag.

The real DA is a sturdy hard plastic bad designed to hold the chain and keep the lube fresh—I’d guess.
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Old 06-17-21, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Greatestalltime
I’m on vacation now and I only have access to a picture of the fake one.



I can’t remember what text was different on this fake box. Something was extra I believe.

The text on the chain itself is the giveaway. And the plastic of the bag. Note how it’s cheap like a grocery plastic bag.

The real DA is a sturdy hard plastic bad designed to hold the chain and keep the lube fresh—I’d guess.
Dura-Ace chain has hollow pins, which is not the case in the above picture, so that is the clearest giveaway. Also, my Ultegra chain came neatly arranged with all links at the same level, and it seems that the packaging (sturdy bag backed by folded instructions within box) was designed to keep the chain that way during transport and storage.
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Old 06-17-21, 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by SoSmellyAir
Dura-Ace chain has hollow pins, which is not the case in the above picture, so that is the clearest giveaway. Also, my Ultegra chain came neatly arranged with all links at the same level, and it seems that the packaging (sturdy bag backed by folded instructions within box) was designed to keep the chain that way during transport and storage.
Very good point on the hollow.

That’s it. I knew when I looked at them it was something clear and that’s more obvious than the text.


Here’s a real DA one
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Old 06-17-21, 05:24 PM
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Old 06-17-21, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Greatestalltime
Sorry, is your chain installed inside out? The photo appears to be in focus but there are no text on the chain? The exterior of the chain is the side with the text.
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Old 06-17-21, 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by SoSmellyAir
Sorry, is your chain installed inside out? The photo appears to be in focus but there are no text on the chain? The exterior of the chain is the side with the text.
It sure looks like it is installed backwards.
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Old 06-18-21, 05:46 AM
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Originally Posted by SoSmellyAir
Sorry, is your chain installed inside out? The photo appears to be in focus but there are no text on the chain? The exterior of the chain is the side with the text.
I didn’t know it mattered as long as it was going the right direction. Seems to have been performing ok.

I’ll pay attention next time. Thanks
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Old 06-18-21, 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by SoSmellyAir
Anecdotally, I ordered two Ultegra cassettes this past November and now prices are $20 more per cassette.
After 3+ months (!) waiting I just got noticed a pair of st-4725 shifters is heading my way. Crazy times. Glad its only non essential items and not my dinner that's missing in action.
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Old 06-18-21, 06:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Racing Dan
Crazy times. Glad its only non essential items and not my dinner that's missing in action.
Racing Dan that really is a good point. I was about to post something on the topic. Your comment stopped me in my tracks. (what's happening to me?)
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Old 06-18-21, 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by ARider2
It sure looks like it is installed backwards.
Yeah. I had no idea. I thought it only mattered that the quick link was going the right direction. I’ll check me other bikes when I get home. I guess I got a 50/50 chance they are correct.
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Old 06-18-21, 07:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Greatestalltime
I’m on vacation now and I only have access to a picture of the fake one.

I can’t remember what text was different on this fake box. Something was extra I believe.

The text on the chain itself is the giveaway. And the plastic of the bag. Note how it’s cheap like a grocery plastic bag.

The real DA is a sturdy hard plastic bad designed to hold the chain and keep the lube fresh—I’d guess.
Thanks very much for posting that photo, I'll be sure to pay more attention on my next purchase.
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Old 06-18-21, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Greatestalltime
I’m on vacation now and I only have access to a picture of the fake one.



I can’t remember what text was different on this fake box. Something was extra I believe.

The text on the chain itself is the giveaway. And the plastic of the bag. Note how it’s cheap like a grocery plastic bag.

The real DA is a sturdy hard plastic bad designed to hold the chain and keep the lube fresh—I’d guess.
I have 2 boxes of Shimano 105 and Ultegra chains and they look like this I don't see a difference between this as a fake and the real one. I know the ultegra I have is not a fake and as I said I bought the 105 about 3 months ago it was 126 link chain. Granted not dura ace but the fake is not all together obvious to me and I am a mechanic.
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Old 06-18-21, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by deacon mark
I have 2 boxes of Shimano 105 and Ultegra chains and they look like this I don't see a difference between this as a fake and the real one. I know the ultegra I have is not a fake and as I said I bought the 105 about 3 months ago it was 126 link chain. Granted not dura ace but the fake is not all together obvious to me and I am a mechanic.
Ill take a pic Sunday when I get home. It’s a very slight difference. The quality of the box is noticeable too.
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Old 06-18-21, 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by deacon mark
I have 2 boxes of Shimano 105 and Ultegra chains and they look like this I don't see a difference between this as a fake and the real one. I know the ultegra I have is not a fake and as I said I bought the 105 about 3 months ago it was 126 link chain. Granted not dura ace but the fake is not all together obvious to me and I am a mechanic.
Perversely, it may be theoretically harder to spot fake Ultegra or 105 chains than Dura-Ace because Dura-Ace has hollow pins.

I will post a picture of the Ultegra chain after I have picked it up. Right now I only have an empty box from the one I am currently using.
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Old 06-18-21, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Greatestalltime
Yeah. I had no idea. I thought it only mattered that the quick link was going the right direction. I’ll check me other bikes when I get home. I guess I got a 50/50 chance they are correct.
Supposedly the chamfers on the surfaces of the outer link plates are slightly different, such that the interior facing outer link plates are optimized for downshifts on a Shimano cassette (i.e., moving from a physically smaller to a bigger cog), whereas the exterior facing outer link plates are optimized for upshifts on a Shimano chain ring (i.e., from the smaller to the bigger). I only learned this a few months ago when I installed my Ultegra chain (CN-HG701) because it did not matter with my prior generation 105 chain (CN-HG600). Some do not believe this and claim that it is an elaborate hoax by Shimano to have its logo facing the right. If that is the case the hoax must be targeted at those with much better eyesight than me.
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