Managed to twist my 'deore' chain. Is there anything under £20 that is worth looking at for xc duties?

sram would be my choice.

kmc chains i like, thinks its a 9xl or sumit, they do lots of different ones

SRAM PC971 should fit the bill

Shimano HG93 or CN-7701 for £20.95

sram pc 991 or 971

sram pc951 for 15 quid

KMC X9 93 (they make the Shimano chains too but don't let that put you off, the design of their own ones is totally different) You can just about get an X9L for £20 but prices have gone up on those, loads of people seem to have stopped stocking them.

SRAM PC971 .. no brainer, no fuss

+1 for the KMC X9. Wouldn't go for the X9L unless your light, not convinced on light chains durability for heavier riders. Suprised at the amount of recommendations for SRAM chains, imo they suck. Mind you I haven't used one for years, have they improved?

Merlin sent me an X9SL last time as they had stock issues with the X9L (which I liked a lot). But the SL just seems to be that bit too skinny, if it chainsucks it twists…

I just paid slightly over £20 for a SRAM PC991 from Merlin but using their ebay shop. Very good so far. Also got the 990 cassette – with just a wee bit of red anodized spider "bling" on show… 😉

This chain will be in the same condition when you take it back off, no matter how much abuse you give it.

Don't need to oil it, can leave it out in all conditions. This one has a lovely brown coating, so its more expensive.

Makes a lovely noise, so you know its working too.

I started using KMC chains after having one fitted by the nice chap at the 24/12 after mine got a kink in one of the links at 1:30am.

They seem to work well, are reasonably priced & the powerlink is easy to use.

My KMC is holding up nicely so far. Better than the quite frankly shite shimano I had before!

Sram PC991 £17.50

Cheapest SRAM chain you can buy. Remember, the more you replace it the longer everything will last.
That goes for the cleaner you keep it too.

Keep it real.
Ellis.

I never undertood the vitriol aimed at shimano on here in the past – all I use – last 9 years and zero fails…

Have seen a few nasty sram failures whilst in a shop and also my mate snapped his ( side plates parted )and ended up with a bust collar bone

i used to use old style 8 spd sachs no problem….

apul

Found a KMC X9 93 at Parkers for £11.50 so chucked a couple in the basket.
Thanks all

CORRECT! = SRAM

FAIL! = Shimano

KMC all the way

any chain you wish and a manual in how to fit it/detect drive train wear and change gears it would seem ..

but ive seen more link snapages on sram 3 (by that i mean total plate material failure not rivet failure) than shimanos 0

fisher said it was a bad batch ! hasnt detered me

EccentricEllis and trail_rat make valid points.

But may I be the very first on this thread to suggest Wippermann chains… 8)

971 on my winter roadbike and xc.

Depends on how many miles you do and budget.

I don't want £100 chain every 3 months…etc

Sram 971 is a good chain and chage every 3-4 months of high miles.

Also a chain checker will save you loads in chain money. Only £6 in shops.

Skool – nice find!

Having got onto my third entire drivetrain in three years I'm being a bit extra geeky about keeping my chain clean and measuring for any stretch. TBH the 991 does feel smoother than my 971 before it.

Our other bikes all have mid level Shimano chains – TBH they seem okay too.

Also worth noting that untill you start getting into the drilled pin and milled plate chains the difference between them is coating – ie 951 and 971 – more nickle plating ie less rust !

Skoolshoes, cheers mate. That's my choice of chain anyway! Ordered three, with the £5 voucher thing, that's £15.83 each!!!!!!!

No worries! Might have to get myself a couple before they sell out.