i'm going to buy a new chain and wondered what the difference is between the izumi esh and the izumi v.

From businesscycles:

# IZUMI ESH - Shown at right in the photo above the ESH model is made from chromium-molybdenum steel to give it excellent strength and durability. Full bushings support precision rollers. Certified for professional keirin use, and includes NJS approved masterlink.

# IZUMI Model V - Izumi's top grade track chain, seen on the left in the photo above. Keirin certified, plus all the other qualities of the ESH, and then some. . .

what are some of the extra qualities/benefits? i see that it says they're both unbreakable and njs certified. thanks for your help!

Overpriced Izumi chains are nothing but hype. Who cares it they are "unbreakable". I've never broken any kind of bike chain. Durability is more relevant and I just got a whopping 400 miles out of my new $50 izumi ESH chain, until it was stretched well past 1/16" mark and closer to 1/8". I used it on a 100% new drivetrain (EAI cog + Sugino Zen chainring) and cleaned and lubed the crap outta that sucker and only ever road it on dry pavement. I'm going back to cheap-ass KMC and SRAM PC1 chains.

how much chain tension do you run with mihlbach?

I knew this question was coming.....a small amount of slack but never too tight. I rode it pretty hard, but I don't know if that had anything to do with it...I've always ridden pretty hard and have always gotten more than 400 miles out of my chains.

400 miles?get at least 4000 before you get a new one

just asking as ive been riding izumi and hkk chains daily for the last year and a half and both of them have next to no stretch at all.

i dont know about 4000....
mine only last about 1500 and i get kmc bmx chains. loud as **** but they workkkk.

Its the Polish Hammer. This guy rides hard..LOL

KMC makes some good stuff.

S/F,
CEYA!

What sort of chain maintenece do you do and how often?

I've never really been able to get high mileage out of any chain without stetching it past the 1/16" mark, but 400 miles is unacceptable for a $50 chain. I wonder if Izumi has started slipping in cheaper softer metals to save $, or maybe there was a bad batch of chains.

clean/degrease and lube (just the regular rock and roll blue stuff) maybe once a month (more if its rainy). i run my chains kind of slack, tho. id guess a bad batch, perhaps, ive been more than happy with my njs chains, them and toe clips are the only njs parts i own these days, haha.

I wipe my chain down just about after every ride. I wipe until I get no more black stuff rubbing off onto the rag. I relube about twice a week (Dumond tech). If the chain gets really gunky or gritty, I'll degrease it before lubing, but I didn't use my Izumi chain for even a month, so I never had the chance.

quick, semi-relevant question:
if my chain has no measurable stretch, but i'm putting on a new chainring and cog, should i get a new chain as well?

Well, I would double check to make sure there is no stretch...but if that is the case, there is no reason to replace the chain.