does anyone else have problems with wipperman's being really noisy? its a nice strong chain that can take some serious sprinting but when im just cruisin along, the thing makes my aluminum frame sound like a rattlecan.

Maybe your chain line is off or something?

Yes.

I was using Wipperman 108 track(?) chain 6-7 months. It's kinda loud on my bike too. I use wet lube and then it is a bit quieter. It could be because your chain and/or gears may have worn out. ... But then "108" was pretty loud when it was new too. Recently I replaced it with a low-end bushless track chain for giggles, and it runs so quiet it feels like the chain broke loose. ... I might go back to "108" if this chain doesn't work out, I would rather be loud than to feel insecure.

I ride Wippermann 108's on both of my fixies. It's quiet and tough, made in Germany, and a good price-to-quality ratio IMO.

Had a frustrating problem of certain 108 bushings not perfectly fitting between certain cog teeth and the skipping caused the unnerving rattling noise. Replaced the cog with a Dura-Ace and the problem is gone. The chains are well engineered. Discount cogs not so much.

who used a wipperman IG8? I was always curious about them just cuz they loo super sexy, but I hear it's a beast in weight and noise. Is it true?

For weight, might as well go with the KMC 415H 3/16" ($9) which I found to be pretty quiet and also weighs in at more than 650g. However, you'll need to a wider chain tool and an extra chain as 92-98 links might not make it all the way around. IG8 is only 96 links. Might have to buy 2 ($90 + new chain tool).

yeah i have 2 soma's and 3 dura aces and i generally use the 16t duraace for most commuting/road riding. and my chainline is almost perfect. when i used a cheaper kmc it was silent and then i got a 20 dollar wipperman, and now its loud.

Dude, +1 on the chainline man. I know it's been recommended forever, but wouldn't K415 rattle? You know it, could move side to side right?

On a different note, I heard some chainrings are loud because they are slightly tighter fitting. I think you can reason visa-vasa, but is there such thing as "tight fitting chains?"

Chain hardly moved as it isn't much different than a 1/8th inch chain other than the width of the plates. The only liability of the 415 is the weight and that you need to buy 2 to get enough links. Sturdy as hell though. The Wipperman 108 is the tightest fitting chain I’ve encountered (chains under $20), due to the width of the bushings.

Is that a good thing? I mean it's gotta be good, right?

I think I was wrong. After a month of riding the other chain, I swapped back to my Wipperman 108. Noise increase is pretty minimal. I think was running the chain too slack so it was tapping on my chainring. I have it a little tighter (2-2.5cm P-P to ~1cm P-P) than usual now and things are much quieter.

Running for 6month and still hasn't stretched much. With noise manageable, I am gonna buy Wipperman again. But I should try HKK also ... I am supposed to support the local industry of my own country, you see?

Tried a 108 once and it was ungodly noisy, rattly and I didn't have the patience to attempt wearing it in.

Now using the miche track chain that is 11$ on probikekit, runs silently and smoothly from the get-go.