2019 Trance E +2 Pro which replacement chain?

[Mat_Ron]

I have an 2019 E +2 and am looking to replace the cassette due to the chain skipping off of the 11 and 13 tooth cogs. I am going to replace the chain as well and want to go with a Shimano chain that is recommended for that cassette. Has anyone replaced both cassette and chain, and if so which chain did you use? How is it? Asking because the bike comes with a KMC chain and not sure if I need to stay with that. Thanks.

BTW, the bike has far less than 1000 miles on it and considering that I have also had issues with the hub and had the freehub replaced, I'm not so excited to have to replace the cassette and chain already. I see the chain is rated for 4500 miles. I may just keep the original chain for now. One thing is for sure across all of the different E-bike brands, they all seem to eat through hubs, cassettes, and chains far quicker.

 

[GrahamPaul]

If you've worn out your cassette then you must change your chain as well - and I would always change the front chain ring at the same time.

Using a worn chain on a new cassette will kill it in double quick time. Using a new chain on a worn chain ring will kill the chain and the cassette in double quick time.

Your chosen cassette will have a choice of chains. If you go to the Shimano site (that's the second time today I've put that link up) and put in the cassette number, look at the Dealer Manual (DM) and it will give you details of suitable chains. Beware: Shimano chains are uni-directional! Get yourself a speedlink as well, rather than relying on the pin.

Depending on how you ride, 1000 miles is not bad for drive train life on an EMTB. There are some folks in here that are happy to get 300 miles! If you do a lot of road miles in turbo in those small cogs, you can expect rapid wear. You might consider getting yourself a larger front chain ring so that you can use some of the larger cogs - there'll be less wear on the teeth because they won't engage so much.

Happy fettling.

 

[Mat_Ron]

Good advice. Thanks.

 

[Stretch40]

Hi I'm one if them that only got 300 miles I've done loads of research and came up with this I'm running a deore 11-36 steel cassette cheap as chips them I'm now just running a standard deore 10 speed chain as people have done loads of tests and that chain will carry 1000kg breaking force the shimano ebike chain 1150kgs and the kmc ebike one 1100kgs I'd be amazed if my long legs could generate anywhere near enough power plus motor to break it I've ridden it through the shittest of winters another 200miles or so and there's no measurable wear yet by guage the ebike specific ones may be stronger but by a tiny amount and I can buy 2 deore chains for one ebike nearly 3 actually so I'm sticking with that hope that helps?

 

[DrStupid]

I've bought a Connex-10Se, because connex stainless chains supposedly have better durability than the rest, making them actually cheaper per mile than even the economy chains.

We went to Germany to test the most popular bicycle chains. Here's what we found: – VeloNews.com

Could all be ?? though.

I wont know for at least a few months, as my current setup wont die, and I've got a box 8 speed drive train to kill in the que. I'm going to eventually pair the connex chain with an advent-x drive train... eventually.

 

[GrahamPaul]

I've bought a Connex-10Se, because connex stainless chains supposedly have better durability than the rest, making them actually cheaper per mile than even the economy chains.

We went to Germany to test the most popular bicycle chains. Here's what we found: – VeloNews.com

Could all be ?? though.

I wont know for at least a few months, as my current setup wont die, and I've got a box 8 speed drive train to kill in the que. I'm going to eventually pair the connex chain with an advent-x drive train... eventually.

Very interesting article linked. Many thanks.

Looking forward to you Connex experiences, which shouldn't be too long coming as, according to Gary, your Box 8 should expire pretty quickly

 

[DrStupid]

Very interesting article linked. Many thanks.

Looking forward to you Connex experiences, which shouldn't be too long coming as, according to Gary, your Box 8 should expire pretty quickly

Yes. I said months, but it could be just hours away! Hope springs eternally.

 

[Evolution Stu]

I had the Trance 3 for 6 months and did a tad over 1000 miles on it and had 2 cassettes and chains. I think 500 miles is a reasonable average for a bike that gets used off road on hilly terrain.

I note that you haven’t mentioned MEASURING your chain wear? The mileage they are “rated” for is completely and utterly irrelevant.

Get yourself a chain measuring gauge and then make the decision to change based on sound data. Your Shimano 11speed has a recommended change point at 0.50% wear. I used to stretch mine to 0.75%.

I am now on a 2020 Trance 2 with Shimano 12 speed, got it in mid february and have just clocked 650 miles. I’m just on the second chain having accidentally pushed The original to almost 1.0% wear.

I only checked it as it started to feel rough, you could feel the chain rotation. The miles have crept up on me as I’ve started to commute to work on it During lockdown which is 100 mile a week...

Keep an eye on your chains, those miles rack up!

 

[DrStupid]

Very interesting article linked. Many thanks.

Looking forward to you Connex experiences, which shouldn't be too long coming as, according to Gary, your Box 8 should expire pretty quickly

I installed the Connex-10Se today along with a new HG500-10 Cassette.

I skipped the box-4 8-speed test for now.

The sram pc-x1 11 speed chain lasted about as long as a shimano CN-E6090-10. Somewhere around 250-300 miles, before the 5% wear gauge would fit. The shifting was getting dodgy even before the chain showed 5%, so I swapped the cassette too.

 

[Stretch40]

Silly question but why were u running a 11 speed chain on 10 speed cassette?

 

[DrStupid]

Silly question but why were u running a 11 speed chain on 10 speed cassette?

Tech FAQ: Chain width explained, compatibility queries answered – VeloNews.com

I've not encountered an 11 speed chain that doesn't shift well on my 10 speed.

They certainly seem to wear out at the same rate.

11 speed chains at 118 links are sometimes easier and cheaper to find than 10 speed chains at 118 links. You typically have to buy over priced ebike chains to get a 10 speed chain long enough to fit long chainstays and a large cassettes, where a normal 11 speed chain fits.

When I first started messing around with 10 speeds... I couldn't find a 10 speed chain long enough locally, so used an 11 speed instead.

Once the 10 speed chain showed up, I installed it and couldn't tell the difference in performance.

The best 10 speed derailleurs also seem to be 11 speed derailleurs. Lol.

 

[Stretch40]

Oh OK but there is a small difference in dimensions between 10-11 speed also I'm only running 11-36 with 34t front chainring and I'm using standard 116 link deore chain £15.00 I have no idea what people use a 50 tooth on a ebike I ride some very steep tech climbs and I've never wanted easier gear? Also the deore cassette is cheap as chips ?

 

[DrStupid]

Oh OK but there is a small difference in dimensions between 10-11 speed also I'm only running 11-36 with 34t front chainring and I'm using standard 116 link deore chain £15.00 I have no idea what people use a 50 tooth on a ebike I ride some very steep tech climbs and I've never wanted easier gear? Also the deore cassette is cheap as chips ?

I also see no need for 50T, but I like the 42t of the 10 speed m6000 cassette. New world hurts!

Having also run the 11-36 with a Zee derailleur and liked it, but to be honest think the rd-m8000-gs is just as robust, shifts better, and can span the larger cog 42T with ease, working perfectly with an Xt 10sp shifter.

One thing about 10sp... there are lots of options.

 

[Stretch40]

Yeah I think 10 speed should be the ebike standard lol I found a xtr 10 mech for buttons but thought it's a bit over kil for and ebike don't know about u but I've found my deore shifter feels nicer than either of the slx or xt it's got more of a click bit like a sram action?

 

[Evolution Stu]

Maybe some us simply aren’t as fit as you. I found that once I got past about 20% gradient my 36 was bloody useless to me.

(off-road of course - not smooth tarmac.)

 

[DrStupid]

Yeah I think 10 speed should be the ebike standard lol I found a xtr 10 mech for buttons but thought it's a bit over kil for and ebike don't know about u but I've found my deore shifter feels nicer than either of the slx or xt it's got more of a click bit like a sram action?

I think I like the xt over the deore, but its likely down to what I'm used to. I'm not very persnickety.

 

[DrStupid]

Maybe some us simply aren’t as fit as you. I found that once I got past about 20% gradient my 36 was bloody useless to me.

(off-road of course - not smooth tarmac.)

To make the 11-36 workable for me, I needed to run a 30T chainring, which came with it's own set of problems, the first being that it didnt fit. Lol.

After I accidentally ripped the zee derailleur in half, I mounted an xt 11 sp medium cage derailleur, mated to either a 11-40 or 11-42 10sp cassette, and have basically been wearing out chains with it since. I find this combo suited perfectly to my trails and ability for now.

 

[Stretch40]

Hi I'm def not fit I'm 42 in July and have 4 kids so only get to ride maybe once a week then twice a week in summer if I'm lucky lol yeah I suppose diffrent people live in diffrent terrain so horses for courses I was tempted by a 42 for when we do Innerleithen or Glen tress as they have long climbs? I dropped to 34t as the 11and13 tooth sprockets were useless as u could get over the limiter before u needed them tbh I'm tempted by a 32t front? Why won't the 30 fit?

 

[DrStupid]

Hi I'm def not fit I'm 42 in July and have 4 kids so only get to ride maybe once a week then twice a week in summer if I'm lucky lol yeah I suppose diffrent people live in diffrent terrain so horses for courses I was tempted by a 42 for when we do Innerleithen or Glen tress as they have long climbs? I dropped to 34t as the 11and13 tooth sprockets were useless as u could get over the limiter before u needed them tbh I'm tempted by a 32t front? Why won't the 30 fit?

The 30T chainring needs to be offset so the chain doesn't hit the spider. I think this is a problem with all 30T CR on104 BCD spiders.

Anyhow, the CR bolts that came with the 30T CR didnt work with the Trance spider, leaving the chainring loose, even with the bolts bottomed out. With some juggling of hardware and I sharp file, I managed it.

In the end though, I prefer the 32T CR on my trails which are tight single track.

 

[Stretch40]

Oh OK I found when I changed to a 34 I had to buy bolts with top hats as the praxis chainring has built in threads but the aftermarket one was plain so needed top hats? I really wish I could figure out how to upload the American Market software do the limiter kicked in at 20mph ?

 

[Evolution Stu]

I upgraded my 36 to a 42 and found it much nicer for the real killer climbs.

I am in a unique position that on climbs I couldn’t manage well I could get off and try a Friends IDENTICAL bike But with a 42 and then another Bike with a 50.

Between us we owned the Trance 1 2 and 3

That is us after the 3’110 ft climb from sea level to the top of the highest place you can legally ride in England. Helvellyn summit.

Not many people lucky enough to be able to do that kind of bike testing between themselves I guess. So I knew what I was getting before I upgraded.

 

[Evolution Stu]

This is the kind of thing that my 36 and me couldn’t overcome. If we had to stop, I just couldn’t get it to move again.

 

[Stretch40]

That's alot of climbing tbh I do alot steeper than probably some of that but nowhere near the length maybe 1000ft in one go or bit more but nowhere near 3500 that's a long climb ?

 

[Evolution Stu]

Im really looking forward to getting over there on the new bike and seeing how it feels with a Fox36 up front and a 510% casette. Should = less assistance needed from the motor. ??

especially as I myself now weigh 55lb less than my last trip. ?

 

[Stretch40]

55lb I've gained 7-8lb during this covid thing lol mind I'm 6ft6 and still only 82-85kgs depending? Congrats on the loss takes alot of hard work mate ?

 

[Evolution Stu]

Thanks. Buying this bike was the catalyst. Then I just rode as hard and as often as I could and counted calories properly, making sure I always burned more than I ate.

 

[Stretch40]

Just showed the wife lol ? she's doing slimming world so u know your struggle ?

 

[DrStupid]

The Connex-10Se chain on the shimano hg-500-10 11-42 cassette, shifts decent but is certainly louder.

It makes more of a clunk than a click, when shifting.

Oddly, the shifting and the associated sounds seems to improves after about 40 miles, with some pretty visible witness-marks on cassette.

I ordered a sunrace 11-42 cassette to compare to the shimano for shifting smoothness running the Connex-10Se.

I'll report back later.

 

[DrStupid]

I've installed the sunrace CSMS3 10 Speed 11-42 cassette, and I do think it shifts quicker and queiter than the hyperglide cassette when using a Connex-10Se chain.

 

[KuRi]

I also need to replace my Fathom E+2 pro chain soon, but I can't find no where to buy the original KMC e.10 Turbo chain...

I have a shimano ebike 10 chain... should I install this? no problems at all? It comes with no fast link, but I have a new KMC fast link for 10 gears chains... is it compatible?

Do you know how many links do I need? To buy a new one before removing current one if needed

Thanks!!!