KMC 710 and 710-SL are both good and affordable.

Ah yes. I have done that several times because the tool tends to disappear when you need it. IRRC those headsets are made of aluminum, no? My Park wrenches always leave a mark on aluminum cups because the fit is so loose.
I usually go for the KMC Z nickel plated chain. Cheap and looks great

Thanks, price looks reasonable and looks like Scrod endorses the SL model.

One more thing, the wheelset I am looking at is fixed/fixed. And I've read of using a freewheel on such a hub in a pinch. But I also read that it could shorten the lifespan of the hub. Any thoughts on this?

It's totally fine.

I love how they put the word "PRECISION" on the tool as if that makes it so.

Whoever wrote that was either dumb or lying.

The pseudo science revolving around bikes is awesome.

Alternative bike facts.

My two cents on chains. KMCs have performed perfectly for me and seem to last forever. IME the cheaper Z-410 chains (silver, nickel, gold, and painted) seem to have a better quality finish than the slightly pricier SL chains.

More alternative bike facts!

The gold K710SL is coated with titanium nitride and has a much nicer, longer-lasting finish than a gold Z410.

Notice I wrote IME? I had a new-in-nox-with factory goop black/silver 710 and the black paint was rough/wrinkled and flaking and the silver finish was rough and had rust spots. The silver Z410s I've bought have been smooth like chrome. The black Z410s have been slick and glossy. Just my personal experience.

And although their website doesn't claim it to be, I suspect the gold 410s are TN coated as well. It doesn't look like or scratch like paint.

Also, in context, I said KMCs in general last a long time. I didn't say the 410s outlast the 710s.

It isn't.

Also, what does "IME" mean? I'm from the old school and speak in words.

It isn't.

Also, what does "IME" mean? I'm from the old school and speak in words.

In My Experience.

How long a chain lasts is all relative to the amount and type of riding a person is doing. Based on the photos of bikes Squid is posting I am safely assuming that his chains will, in fact, last a lot longer than someone who puts in 200-500 miles a week.

In my experience. I specifically write that when I want to indicate that I am not making a blanket claim that it's a fact 100% of the time. It's just what I have witnessed.

My first post has an error in it. I wrote SL when I should have written 710 without the SL.

Correct and yes, that is going to happen unfortunately.
As long as I dont find a set for $10/ $15 tops somehow, I'm going to stick with park headset wrenches because I only have 1 bike with that oddball headset hardware.

The proprietary tool is aluminum although contact/ force is applied to the inner parts of the scallops which do tend to hide inevitable contact indentations more with their inward curvature.

Of course a person riding 500 miles per week will wear out his/her chain in a shorter time period than I will. But I gotta ask, does that somehow disqualify me from recommending KMC chains over brands that have been noisy, stiff, and wear out after very few miles?

I've been riding bikes regularly for over fifty years, uninterrupted. When the ground isn't covered with snow I ride about 140 miles per week around town. More on weekends when I hit the 76 mile trail near here. I used to live at the beach in SoCal where salty air and sand were factors. I've been through a few chains in that time and have developed a preference for KMC. I just offered Steve my opinion based on my experience.

The Institute of Makers of Explosives: https://www.ime.org/‎

or they are talking about the Iran Mercantile Exchange?

I've always ridden fairly light, racy(?) saddles on my road-going bikes - a 1990 Flite on my sw8 phiksie for years, and currently an Antares on my steel roadie

Have a chance for a minute to get a Brooks at what seems like really a great price, and I wouldn't mind giving one a try, so...

Brooks Swift? Or Brooks Swallow?

TIA...

the LBS was closed on my day off yesterday so I am re-asking this as I'll prob order online as it's harder to get back to the shop this week.

White Industries. They are 100% worth it. Otherwise Shimano or ACS.

If you go with ACS be sure it's the PAWS version, which can be removed with a normal freewheel tool.

I have this tool currently

which took off my current acs crossfire (using the 6 pronged side)

it was my impression this could be used to remove ACS and other freewheels with the other end, yeah?

(not scrod) Yes it can.