Best eMTB 12 speed chain? **UPDATE**

[Tubby G]

Yep!!!

I'm not deleting, I'll leave it on for other's amusement.

It’s a shame you didn’t disagree, and start an argument with yourself, for our amusement

 

[Zaskar20]

Approximately 250 miles per month.

 

[Zaskar20]

3 Months wear with approx 750 miles!
When do I change?
Now, or when it’s above the line below 0.6?

 

[Zaskar20]

So, it’s been 4 months with this KMC DLC chain and I have been impressed. Shifting has been exemplary and, as you can see from the 1st photo above, the plates are still like new!
I have ridden the best part of 900 miles in those 4 months. The rollers have worn to 0.6.
It’s now time to change.
I can’t recommend this chain lube enough. It’s not expensive and does a great job. It’s a light lube that I apply regularly. It keeps the chain clean too.

Now moving on and trying a different make.
SRAM PCX01 Eagle

It’s got me wondering, do the longer lasting chains wear the cassette and chainring more given the same use? If they use harder wearing rollers they would have to, wouldn’t they?

 

[Gary]

Now moving on and trying a different make.
SRAM PCX01 Eagle

fitted to your 900mile worn cassette, jockeys and chainring?
If so I hope you're not intending on measuring it's life and reporting back anything meaningful

 

[Zaskar20]

fitted to your 900mile worn cassette, jockeys and chainring?
If so I hope you're not intending on measuring it's life and reporting back anything meaningful

Actually I was!
2-3 chains in the life of eMTB cassettes isn't it?

 

[Gary]

Then you're deluded.
New chains on worn sprockets and chainrings don't wear at the same rate as new chains on new sprockets and chainrings

 

[Gary]

2-3 chains in the life of eMTB cassettes isn't it?

It's not a firm rule. it's just a theory that was made up and repeated over and over again ad infinitum. There are far too many variables for chain rotation to always yeild the same results. and in many cases it's actually detrimental to drivetrain life.
I don't rotate chains at all. current chain has had over 5500 miles use

 

[Zaskar20]

I don't rotate chains at all. current chain has had over 5500 miles use

Makes sense on emtbs.
If you only use say half of the 12 rings that will cause problems, right?

 

[Gary]

Makes just as much sense for any derailleur system.
No one uses each gear equally.
And even if they did. Each separate sprocket has a different load and wear rate due to each having differing tooth counts, ratios and typical applied torque.

But by all means continue changing your chain every time you wash your socks if you're daft enough to spend hundreds of pounds on a super light 12spd cassette

 

[Zaskar20]

Makes just as much sense for any derailleur system.
No one uses each gear equally.
And even if they did. Each separate sprocket has a different load and wear rate due to each having differing tooth counts, ratios and typical applied torque.

But by all means continue changing your chain every time you wash your socks if you're daft enough to spend hundreds of pounds on a super light 12spd cassette

I am liking the thinking, but my question is I use about 4 of the rings more than the others. Some I hardly use. If the chain does as many as you have done wouldn’t it skip on the rings hardly used?
Obviously it would be fine on the rings that are used most.

 

[johnf0246]

I just changed to a new Shimano xt chain after 3,300 miles of use. I kept the same xt cassette and front chain ring. The number 3 cassette cog skip a little under load, all others work fine. I am hoping the #3 will work in after some light use.

I don’t use lube. I hot paraffin/Teflon the chain in a crock pot every 200/250 miles.

 

[Gary]

I am liking the thinking, but my question is I use about 4 of the rings more than the others. Some I hardly use. If the chain does as many as you have done wouldn’t it skip on the rings hardly used?

My gearing is optimised to my riding so my chainring is 36t and cassette is 11-36.
I use all the gears. But not evenly My most used sprocket being the 13t and least the 36t.
A worn drivetrain will almost always slip on the smaller sprockets first due to reduced chain wrap and fewer sprockets in contact.

Optimise your gearing for the riding you actually do.
I'd honestly question whether a silly little chainring and 12sp 9-52 cassette is optimum for most mtb riding while assisted.

 

[Pdoz]

My gearing is optimised to my riding so my chainring is 36t and cassette is 11-36.
I use all the gears. But not evenly My most used sprocket being the 13t and least the 36t.
A worn drivetrain will almost always slip on the smaller sprockets first due to reduced chain wrap and fewer sprockets in contact.

Optimise your gearing for the riding you actually do.
I'd honestly question whether a silly little chainring and 12sp 9-52 cassette is optimum for most mtb riding while assisted.

Gary, am I correct you run smaller wheels ? Before frying my brain trying to convert you gearing preferences, I wanted to covert them to 29 equivalent

 

[Gary]

27.5 on my eeb

To convert my gearing to a 29er simply go down to a 34t chainring and you'll be close enough.

My preference is still 26" on my normal mtbs. And I run 34t chainrings on those with fairly narrow range cassettes compared to pretty much everyone else.
DH bike is also 26" and on that I run a 36t with custom 5spd 11-19 cassette. And NEVER use the 19 or 17t sprockets I only mention this so you can get an idea what my preferred descending gearing is.

With a motor 36x36 (27.5)will get me up anything I'd ever want to. That'd equate to 34t chainring and 36t cassette sprockets for a 29er

 

[Pdoz]

27.5 on my eeb

To convert my gearing to a 29er simply go down to a 34t chainring and you'll be close enough.

My preference is still 26" on my normal mtbs. And I run 34t chainrings on those with fairly narrow range cassettes compared to pretty much everyone else.
DH bike is also 26" and on that I run a 36t with custom 5spd 11-19 cassette. And NEVER use the 19 or 17t sprockets I only mention this so you can get an idea what my preferred descending gearing is.

With a motor 36x36 (27.5)will get me up anything I'd ever want to. That'd equate to 34t chainring and 36t cassette sprockets for a 29er

Thanks, that makes more sense - so with piss weak fat old man legs and a levo sl I'm still a whimp

 

[Desert_Turtle]

I’ve had very good luck with YBN chains. I suspect that they’re made by the same folks that make SRAMs XO1 chains. They are exactly the same. They have the same hollow pin design and they come pre PTFE coated…SLA1210 is the model #. They are very nice.

 

[SteveRS]

Well, just snapped my GX chain today. I was standing up and pedalling into a jump when it the links snapped in two. Of course the bike was sent into an out of control sideways joyride where I injured both my ankles as well Lol. Anyways, time for a new chain. Still don’t know what the strongest option is. Looks like the X01 is a stronger chain than the GX. Think I will as some LBS as well.

 

[mcboab]

This is my week old XX1 chain , swapped the oem NX? chain & cassetted for XX1 . Snapped on a rocky hill cimb which then necessitated a 3mile push home. The chain pulled a normal hollow pin not the quick link. Going to repair with a 2nd quick link to see how it holds up.

 

[SteveRS]

This is my week old XX1 chain , swapped the oem NX? chain & cassetted for XX1 . Snapped on a rocky hill cimb which then necessitated a 3mile push home. The chain pulled a normal hollow pin not the quick link. Going to repair with a 2nd quick link to see how it holds up.
View attachment 94826

That’s really sucks. Did you not have a chain break? I used the chain break that comes with the Levo in the steer tube to repair it on the trail. Chain break, tube with basic tools are a must have when riding.

 

[mcboab]

That’s really sucks. Did you not have a chain break? I used the chain break that comes with the Levo in the steer tube to repair it on the trail. Chain break, tube with basic tools are a must have when riding.

This is my 3rd chain break in eons (more than a double decade) of riding , the 1st two were aged/snapped side plates (cheap KMCs) this is the 1st new chain stress break for me . There is no tools on a Mondi Crafty and no storage either, Though I'm now carrying a breaker and spare quick link in my camelbak, lesson learned. PS tested the fixed chain albeit on easier (lower Torque assistance) trails and its still attached.

 

[InRustWeTrust]

when my chain broke and I visited a shimano center to buy a new one, the shimano technician recommended a kmc chain for e-bikes as they apparently last better than the shimano e-bike chains.

 

[SteveRS]

I contacted Specialized to ask what chain they recommend for the turbo Levo, and they said either a SRAM XX1 or KMC e12 turbo. After looking at both, I ordered the KMC. The KMC claims up to 7500 km’s and boasts unmatched strength. We’ll see about that. I found out that the GX chain isn’t a strong chain, so either option is an upgrade.

 

[Zaskar20]

Well I’ve opted for an expensive chain “Diamond Like Coating”
I can’t lie, I liked the bling aspect as well as the hardness and durability claims.
Let’s see how long it lasts.
Anyone had any experience of this chain?

It was a great looking chain, but wear wise it was pretty disappointing!

I replaced with a SRAM X0 which looks like its going to last at least twice as long.

This test seems legit regarding MTB chains. Shimano XTR looks like it would be worth the money.
Finding the best bicycle chain: What over 3,000 hours of testing revealed - CyclingTips

Looks like this article is pretty accurate as far as I'm concerned.

 

[SteveRS]

It was a great looking chain, but wear wise it was pretty disappointing!

I replaced with a SRAM X0 which looks like its going to last at least twice as long.


Looks like this article is pretty accurate as far as I'm concerned.

That’s not their emtb chain, the e12 turbo is “ apparently“ the strongest chain. I will give updates once I receive it.

 

[salko]

My Sram X01 Eagle chain has almost 2000kms and wear about 0,25% (measured with a ruler), I think this chain has very good price/performance ratio ...

 

[an12dyw]

Well I’ve opted for an expensive chain “Diamond Like Coating”
I can’t lie, I liked the bling aspect as well as the hardness and durability claims.
Let’s see how long it lasts.
Anyone had any experience of this chain?
View attachment 78948

How did this chain work out on an e bike? i like the look of it

 

[Zaskar20]

How did this chain work out on an e bike? i like the look of it

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