i just use the KMC or SRAM 11 speed ones

Why not just buy a SRAM chain? Comes with the link included. I can’t be arsed with Shimano chains, purely for that reason.

I’m guessing the majority of new bikes come with Shimano chains (mine’s got a 105 set-up so I got a Shimano chain as standard).

Spin the cranks so that the link is on the top run of chain.

Stand on pedals.

The link will click into place.

Stand on pedals.

The link will click into place.

This. Though you don’t usually need to stand on the cranks… if the bike is in the stand just put the rear brake on and push on the pedal with your other hand.

I’ve only ever had this when opening the link again immediately after installation. After you’ve put a few miles on the chain, the normal squash the plates together and compress the link at the same time by hand trick always works.

I’ve found the old school chain tool rejoining method to be unreliable on modern (well, 10 speed) chains.

Is that a chaintool on the special shimano joining pin? Or a chain tool to push the part removed pin back into the chain?

If it’s the former, carry on, it’ll work fine until you next need to break the chain, then use a quicklink.

If it’s the latter, you’ve probably knackered your chain and you are at a fair to middling chance of smashing your nuts on your stem when the chain snaps……

Right I’m not going 11speed until decathlon start doing their £1.50 power links like they do with 10speed
I was umming and aging about it, but I’ll stick with 10 for now!

I use KMC and even re use them on 11 speed Shimano chains. You need one of these to open and close the link easily.

spacing is getting thinner and therefore the mech movement is less so it needs to be perfect as it has smaller tolerances

Still on 9 speed myself but all single ring these days