DA 7900 Chain on 7800/Ultegra?
03-13-09, 11:51 AM
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DA 7900 Chain on 7800/Ultegra?
Anyone know if the 7900 chain will work on a non DA 7900 Drivetrain? The width appears the same, and Shimano claims the 7801 chain works on 7900 but not the reverse.
Anyone tried it, any reason why it wouldn't work? The widths are the same, and since the 7801 works, the spacing should be the same, so I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work?
Anyone tried it, any reason why it wouldn't work? The widths are the same, and since the 7801 works, the spacing should be the same, so I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work?
03-13-09, 12:14 PM
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the reason Shimano says 7900 chains aren't backward compatible is because they are asymmetric. The inner and outer plates don't mirror each other. I'm not sure what problems that would cause.
03-13-09, 12:21 PM
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According to this it should work.
Edit: Sorry, I was just looking at the rear drivetrain. That's weird that it wouldn't work with the front.
Edit: Sorry, I was just looking at the rear drivetrain. That's weird that it wouldn't work with the front.
Last edited by jcpups608; 03-13-09 at 12:24 PM.
03-13-09, 12:22 PM
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Shimano says they are not compatible but I don't know of anyone that has tried it yet. I would not be uncommon for a manufacture to lie to us all.
03-13-09, 01:03 PM
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I dare say it will work. Not 100% but only 99.99% sure. Its the same thing as the FD and STI shifters of 7900 supposedly not working with the rest of 7800. My LBS actually told me it would work but not as efficient and crisp as a full 7900 build. However, it does work as he throughly clarified.
03-13-09, 01:39 PM
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This is exactly what i have heard. Plus they are $$$. Just your yourself a sram chain and call it good.
03-13-09, 02:01 PM
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Presumably the new Shimano chains have a locking mechanism (it appears to be removable, unlike SRAM which is one-time use). The DA 7900 is in the same ballpark as the KMC, and the SRAM chain + missing link equivalent also costs about the same. Figured i'd give the DA7900 a shot if there wasn't much to lose.
03-13-09, 03:58 PM
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It's a unidirectional chain designed specifically to work with the new 7900 crank. No idea what the actual application will be like, but I would tend to think the front shifting performance would leave much to be desired.
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03-13-09, 04:02 PM
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Thanks for the all the input, any reason to go with SRAM over KMC? I like having the multi-use removable link for cleaning. 10spd SRAM chains appear to be one-time use unless I have the tool?
03-13-09, 04:51 PM
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I am running the 7900 chain on my DA 7800 drive train right now and, it works flawlessly. No difference between it and the original 7800 chain. Its hideously expensive, but I only purchased it because the local store was out of the 7800 chains.
03-13-09, 04:57 PM
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I got three 7800 chains off Bonk Town for $24 ea. Wait around for that to pop back up again.
03-13-09, 07:50 PM
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my 99% hunch became 100% just now. Shimano would always legally cover their japanese ***** by saying full gruppo this and full gruppo that BUT really it should work. Plus..its better for profit margins if people buy a full 7900 rather than a chain or STI or FD or RD here and there
03-15-09, 07:41 PM
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I bought one of these a while ago from wiggle. I didn't think twice about compatability, just thought i was buying a premium chain.
I threw it on my Ultegra SL group last night and rode it today. It's fine. Might even shift better, front and rear. Certainally no problems that's for sure. The most noticable thing was the silence...erie quiet. Maybe just because it's new, I won't know for a month or so.
Still a waste of money on my part. Even with the hollow pins it's not much lighter. Maybe ten or 15 grams.
I threw it on my Ultegra SL group last night and rode it today. It's fine. Might even shift better, front and rear. Certainally no problems that's for sure. The most noticable thing was the silence...erie quiet. Maybe just because it's new, I won't know for a month or so.
Still a waste of money on my part. Even with the hollow pins it's not much lighter. Maybe ten or 15 grams.
