What chain to use on a Specialized Levo?

[Andrei]

So I have a 2019 Specialized Levo, had it since late November 2018. On my local Specialized store, they told me today that my chain was stretched by 0.5 and needed to be changed. I found it a bit expensive (maybe because they overcharge on their store). My ebike has from factory a KMC X11ET 11 speed chain, with Missing Link.

What chain do you recommend? Do I have to use ebike specific chains? Could I use any 11 speed chain with same length as the original one?

(I ride 6 days a week, mostly for commuting around town, with some jumps I find on route)

Thanks!

Andrei

 

[Mcharza]

In our tests we have found the original KMC X11ET to last the best

 

[jxj]

Lots to read about this. There is a thread titled "Chain Life" on this Specialized brand forum that has lots of discussion on options.

 

[Apples]

So I have a 2019 Specialized Levo, had it since late November 2018. On my local Specialized store, they told me today that my chain was stretched by 0.5 and needed to be changed. I found it a bit expensive (maybe because they overcharge on their store). My ebike has from factory a KMC X11ET 11 speed chain, with Missing Link.

What chain do you recommend? Do I have to use ebike specific chains? Could I use any 11 speed chain with same length as the original one?

(I ride 6 days a week, mostly for commuting around town, with some jumps I find on route)

Thanks!



Andrei

Just out of interest how many miles have you covered ?

 

[Tamas]

So I have a 2019 Specialized Levo, had it since late November 2018. On my local Specialized store, they told me today that my chain was stretched by 0.5 and needed to be changed. I found it a bit expensive (maybe because they overcharge on their store). My ebike has from factory a KMC X11ET 11 speed chain, with Missing Link.

What chain do you recommend? Do I have to use ebike specific chains? Could I use any 11 speed chain with same length as the original one?

(I ride 6 days a week, mostly for commuting around town, with some jumps I find on route)

Thanks!

Andrei

I’m using the cheapest 10€ SRAM PC1110 and get 2000km out of it before it reaches 0,75% stretch. It’s only 114 links so if it’s not enough you could get a 120 links PC1130 for 15€.
I was skeptical at first about the cheap ‘non ebike specific’ chains but they worked out great. I highly doubt that I could get 3x more life out of a 3x more expensive chain. Personally, I don’t miss the fancy coatings of the more expensive chains, I clean and lube them regularly.

 

[Neilvx]

I only ever get the cheap 120 link chains and just remove a couple of links down to 116.

Never had a problem and men’s you can swap them out more often ??

 

[Andrei]

Just out of interest how many miles have you covered ?

Approximately (I have to take my bike to the shop and have it scan by Specialized since the Mission Control app does not give me total mileage), 1100 km = 684 miles.
I use it around the city, jumping from ledges, running down stairs, hopping stuff, etc.

 

[Andrei]

I only ever get the cheap 120 link chains and just remove a couple of links down to 116.

Never had a problem and men’s you can swap them out more often ??

I will stretch it out more and around 0.75 I'll make the change. I'll try the SRAM PC X1, not the XX1 since I haven't seen good reviews compared to the cheaper X1.

 

[Andrei]

I’m using the cheapest 10€ SRAM PC1110 and get 2000km out of it before it reaches 0,75% stretch. It’s only 114 links so if it’s not enough you could get a 120 links PC1130 for 15€.
I was skeptical at first about the cheap ‘non ebike specific’ chains but they worked out great. I highly doubt that I could get 3x more life out of a 3x more expensive chain. Personally, I don’t miss the fancy coatings of the more expensive chains, I clean and lube them regularly.

I think I'll have that as another option before making the purchase at 0.75, I was thinking about getting the SRAM X1 too.

 

[Tamas]

I think I'll have that as another option before making the purchase at 0.75, I was thinking about getting the SRAM X1 too.

You can stretch it out to 0,75 no problems. The chain checking tools are very ‘conservative’ in my experience as most don’t factor in the roller wear and makes you change the chain too early. It’s a good business for bike shops though...

 

[Andrei]

You can stretch it out to 0,75 no problems. The chain checking tools are very ‘conservative’ in my experience as most don’t factor in the roller wear and makes you change the chain too early. It’s a good business for bike shops though...

Yeah you're right, the shops will always want to make you spend money when and where you don't need too, although there sre exceptions.

 

[Mcharza]

My very good friend, who owns a bike shop told, that you can stretch the gain out to 0,5 3 times and change just chain. No cassette change until fourth time

 

[Andrei]

My very good friend, who owns a bike shop told, that you can stretch the gain out to 0,5 3 times and change just chain. No cassette change until fourth time

Good to know, thank you. Hopefully by then I'll save up some money for a good cassette.

 

[Tamas]

My very good friend, who owns a bike shop told, that you can stretch the gain out to 0,5 3 times and change just chain. No cassette change until fourth time

Same if you stretch the chains to 0,75.

 

[Mcharza]

Same if you stretch the chains to 0,75.

You're right, 0,75 is a maximum before change

 

[Xeretic]

Before Levo I used cheapest SRAM 1110 chain on my fatbike and it works great. Purchased 2 SRAM 1110 chains for when my factory chain gets stretched to 0,75.