[Closed] 10 speed chains - Buy cheap, buy twice?

That's nearly 9 months, I'd say that IS cheap?

KMC X10. 73s if you don't mind grey or 93s if you like shiny. Generally can be found on offer for less than £15, just stock up and change often (a lot more often than 9 months...).

KMC shiny too

1091R is the best 10-speed chain out there.

I've never had one fail even when very well worn. Can't say that for XTR unfortunately.

Wiggle have them at a good price at the moment.

Yeah, will be keeping a closer eye on the chain in future. Have always been a fit/forget chap but swapping drive train to a new frame and need a longer chain.

Spotted the KMC chains but as I'd never heard of the company was suspicious.

Interesting question as I'd always been lead to understand that in terms of material strength and wear resistance, they were much of a muchness. The extra money pays for fancy finishes, hollow pins, cuts in side plates and improved riveting methods.

However, I've always favoured shiny and Sachs - sedis - sram chains.

KMC x10-93 and x9-93 here, dead easy to fit and just keep going
can usually find them for about £12 on ebay

I've been happy with the Selcof one I got from P-X/O-O. Nothing bad has happened in 800 odd miles on and off road. Hardly conclusive, not got the chainchecker out either.

KMC make great chains, they're pretty much the only brand of chain we use in bike trials and are great quality!

KMC here too X10-93. Dead easy to fit and haven't failed me yet.

What makes a chain "dead easy to fit" compared to other chains?

Just curious, as two of you have said it.

Got a Selcof chain really cheap from Planet X a few months ago, a few thousand Audax KM later it's still working well.

KMC. Far less chain snapping than SRAM.

The 'wear' is much the same with any chain but with KMC you can run it to destruction and it won't fall apart early. Yes it's two fingers up to Park Tools and their backhander they must get from chain companies for producing their chain checker 😉 , but I go on the basis that replacing chains three times by changing them early when they are still perfectly good, doesn't "save" the cassette. It lasts just as long in my experience over three chains as running one chain to death. The reason for the early change of chain really is because cassettes mesh with the current wear of chain but are less happy with new ones. Let it run and it won't work with new ones any more, but it's still perfectly fine with the old chain. If the old chain isn't dead, why change it?

That's my current experimental theory anyway, and so far it's working. A year on the current cassette and chain and seems fine. Not snapped chain. KMC.

Ps. Add to the mix... Squirt lube. Constantly shiny chain, possibly less grinding grit damage.

Previous experience of SRAM was that they wore out quicker than anything else. Shimano snapped. Now I use either Connex or KMC, whichever is cheapest when it comes time to buy. I'm also of the deadkenny school of thought when it comes to changing chains/running it into the ground.

Bike-discount.de have the 1091 chains for £23 which is cheaper than CRC do the 1071

+1 kmc x10

sandwicheater - Member

Spotted the KMC chains but as I'd never heard of the company was suspicious.

KMC make most Shimano chains, fwiw. They do me well (X10-93 usually) though they're not quite as good a deal as the 9-speeds usually were. Come with a powerlink too.

Having said that I think I've got 105 chains on both bikes just now as they were silly cheap.

KMC X10-93 has always been long lasting for me but CRC have [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kmc-x10-73-10-speed-chain/rp-prod120675 ]KMC X10-73s for £11.99[/url], which seems good value if you don't need shiny.

Rio, £12 is perfect. New frame and need slightly longer chain or I would have just used the old one.

CRC also got [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kmc-x10-93-10-speed-chain/rp-prod120676 ]KMC X10 93 at only £3 more[/url]