Am I missing out on performance and life span ??
So I run cheap sram nx for about 12 quid a pop change at .75 and get around 450 miles with 60k climbing all off road. Using chainwax when new and then every 150 mile ish.
I've spent twice the price but only got another 150 mile so not cost effective. If I leave the chain to 1.0 wear new chain will not work with cassette.
Getting around 3000 mile from sunrace cassette. This is 11 speed but shouldn't make much difference on what speed you run.
So what is your magic combo.
GT-85 and i don't measure it.
I ride it until if/ever it starts skipping then replace.. But it's very rare.
If I leave the chain to 1.0 wear new chain will not work with cassette.
is that your experience, or folklore?
GT-85 and i don’t measure it.
I'm slightly embarrassed to say that this is what I do too.
No, if I leave it till 1.0 it skips up and down cassette more so when pushing hard. So ends up new cassette at least and maybe chain ring if unlucky.
You only get 450 miles out of a chain? Yikes.
I'm on an XX1 eagle chain and X01 cassette, 1250 miles in and no significant wear as yet.
SRAM 10-51 11 speed cassette currently on 8,951km and still going strong
My last SRAM XX1 chain lasted 7,468km before it reached 0.5%
Mix of on and off road all year round all over the Peak District.
I've found my chains last way longer since I stared to use Putoline a few years ago 🙂
Usually KMC X11 for sub-£20, changed between .5 and .75 - roughly annually (as I have a few MTBs to spread the wear).
I get excellent longevity from my cassettes, so this suits me.
My last SRAM XX1 chain lasted 7,468km before it reached 0.5%
Oil-slick one?
I would be worried if I only got that out of a chain. Im more concerned when buying a chain on strength and durability over price. Tend to run X01 on the bikes although I have an XX1 that came on the ebike which has done just over 1000 miles and not much sign of wear yet
Usually buy a spare when they are on offer
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/16002377570
Is this on an ebike?
I run Sram XX1 11spd chains, gone through a lot of them- always purchased way under rrp. Go to .75 before swap, and consistently get between 1300-1500 miles using (across last 9 chains). Using current fave Banaslip Tungsten All weather lube, this stuff is good.
The one time I used an X1 level chain it didn't last as long and shifted poorly from new, they look similar but they are not.
I'll be swapping to XX1 11-sp chains when I exhaust my current stash of PC1130s. My understanding being the better duarability more than offsets the higher cost.
My understanding being the better duarability more than offsets the higher cost.
Zero Friction cycling has lots of wear charts for different chain types and lube regimes, the more expensive chains are harder wearing and definitely last longer.
One of my roadie mates told me about an article he had read which said it was a waste of time looking after chains, just buy an expensive one! Mind you he is a real contrarian, I shall continue buying cheapish chains, clean them regularly and change them fairly often ,usually yearly. I do have a few bikes to spread the mileage load.
GT-85 and i don’t measure it.
I ride it until if/ever it starts skipping then replace.. But it’s very rare.
This is me too. I just changed the first chain/cassette/chainring combo at 3 and a bit years old. This was the low-rent Eagle kit that came on the bike, (NX or SX? the really shitty one anyway) but I dont' think I'd change my policy even if there was something spendy on it.
I like xx1 chains on my full suss bike - oil slick or gold. Looks bling if nothing else!
My XT 12 speed cassette is now on its 3rd chain and has taken the new chain each time ok. Think I fitted 12 speed August 2020 perhaps - so I feel like I’ve got good value out of cassette / chainring etc. no idea on mileage but it’s been ridden through all sorts of crap and gritty stuff.
After each ride I quickly rinse the cassette / chainring off and give it a quick brush. Chain through a muc off chain doc then rinse off. Apply smoove to each link and done.
I do the same with the kmc x12 ti / gold chain on my hardtail - that’s on a GX eagle cassette and 2nd chain since it all went on Jan 2021.
Once I get into a 3rd chain I’m just riding the lot into the ground until it skips / no longer shifts then will change the lot in one go.
I buy X01 and last chain was at a little under 4000km (I think) and wasn’t yet at .75. Current chain has done a few thousand Km since November 21 when it was fitted and yet to show significant wear. I use Juice Lubes Viking and ride Calderdale Peaks regularly and trips to Wales, Scotland etc etc.
id be pretty cheesed off with just hundreds of miles on a chain
I just replaced my x01 11 speed chain after two breakages in short order. Admittedly the cassette and chain ring needed doing too.
7 years of off road at around 1500mi a year from all of them. Maybe I'm doing something wrong by not measuring or replacing bits individually?
450 miles from a chain is about what I used to get from 9 speed on a heavily abused commuter.
GT85 ???!!! I'm very surprised to hear people using this as a chain lube as it's full of solvent that will wash out better lubricants from the pin/ roller area and it's not really either long lasting or particularly adherent or even a great lube in itself from my experience.
Have I missed something or is my understanding wrong on this issue ?
I’m very surprised to hear people using this as a chain lube
I think what you're missing is they're not, they're using it [as intended] as a water displacer after a ride.
I think you're over thinking it thinking it's used as lube.
GT85 ???!!! I’m very surprised to hear people using this as a chain lube
This pops up every year. Chain maintenance regimes seem to be quite an evocative subject. People are pretty clear on what works best for them.
I’m very surprised to hear people using this as a chain lube
I think what you’re missing is they’re not, they’re using it [as intended] as a water displacer after a ride.
WD-40 is a water displacer.
GT-85 is teflon based lube.
GT85 ???!!! I’m very surprised to hear people using this as a chain lube
What's wrong with GT85 🤣
The final piece of the development process was the inclusion of natural lavender oil, which gave GT85® the pleasant fragrance that has since become distinguishable amongst users
I really do like the smell of GT85 though. I like to spray it on a cloth and clean my bike with it but I haven't used it on my chain since the 90s
My first GX chain only lasted 500 odd miles. Replacement XX or XO (can't remember which) has lasted a lot more and showing no wear yet.
My usual approach is to run a new chain as supplied as it's full of manufacturers grease / wax - only giving the outside a wipe with a rag dampened with IPA to make it less sticky. Only when that needs replacing (after a few hundred miles) I then either oil or more usually degrease completely and then use wax.
Oh - and I've learned not to use wax on the singlespeed as it makes the chain "longer", but soon stretches again and with the lack of a tensioner becomes a pain to keep adjusted. That runs cheap as chips BMW chains though so no issue replacing regularly.
A number of posts imply they're using it as a lube from what I see.
Each to their own I guess.
I have 2 drive trains for my bike packing bike which gets abused over winter.
1 drive train is used solely for bike packing. It's cleaned after every ride and oiled and put away until the next long ride.
The rest of the time I put the old drive train on. It gets cleaned after most rides, left to dry, chain is then wiped down and oiled and left. When the chain gets worn, I swop it. When that chain gets worn I just rotate between the two chains until it gets too bad. Then I down grade the bike packing drive train and buy a new one for bike packing.
It's seem to worked well. It's very reassuring starting a long ride knowing my gears are going to be fine. I find its worked out cheaper over time.
WD-40 is a water displacer.
GT-85 is teflon based lube.
Ah yes, you're right
A number of posts imply they’re using it as a lube from what I see.
I could be wrong but I read those same posts as "I don't lube it, just squirt it with GT85"
WD-40 is a water displacer.
GT-85 is teflon based lube.
Pretty sure I remember some research showing WD40 actually worked better as a chain lube than GT85 (surprising me and others).
Can't find it with a quick Google though.
Anyway, if people are just doing short rides and mainly in the dry they'll probably get away with it.
The rest of us can just keep on using more appropriate products.
Oil-slick one?
No just the bogo standard one. Don't think they do an oil slick 11 speed?
You only get 450 miles out of a chain? Yikes.
Really depends where you ride and such.. if you stick it in grinding paste (sticky sand) and ride or not so miles isn't really a good yardstick IMHO
Also ...
Am I missing out on performance and life span ??
I'm quite literally about to go and stick a brand new Sunrace MS8 and new PC1110 (£12) chain on...
I didn't get many miles out of the last chain but that's because the cassette was already worn...
Pretty sure I remember some research showing WD40 actually worked better as a chain lube than GT85 (surprising me and others).
I would have thought WD-40 would be better in terms of wear as it evaporates off leaving a dry chain, which will pick up less dirt to become grinding paste.
I checked the diary and apparently it's my turn to be the putoline zealot, so blah blah, frier, putoline, lasts ages, might burn your house down
footflaps
Full MemberWD-40 is a water displacer.
GT-85 is teflon based lube.
WD40 is a water displacer but it's mostly solvent and mineral oil, so it does lubricate (as long as it doesn't basically wash itself off, which it can do)
GT85 is pretty much teh same thing but with some ptfe in it. It's not teflon based, it's just got a bit of teflon in it. It does make a bit of difference especially as a penetrating oil but it doesn't make a good lubricant, and just like wd40 it's solvented enough that it doesn't stick well.
Looks like I might need to up my chain.
I was getting 300 miles out of an SLX chain then I swapped for XTR - 1500 miles and counting so far and still at less than .5 wear. 12sp E-bike with Putoline.
I checked the diary and apparently it’s my turn to be the putoline zealot, so blah blah, frier, putoline, lasts ages, might burn your house down
Lolz
Change my chain at 0.75, I get 3-4 chains per cassette. When on my second cassette and original chainring I tend to just ride the same new chain until it starts to skip. Then buy a new chainring, cassette and chain and start again. But I'd have done thousands of Kilometres at this point so the bike will be pretty shagged and will probably be replaced.
I don't tend to ride in a high grit area which means I get decent drivetrain wear. If I lived in a gritty place then I'd go gearbox/hub gears.
I only buy cheap chains for my singlespeed. Not worth the poor wear rate of cheap chains with geared bikes, especially as a worn out chain will kill your expensive cassette and chainring.
I clean my chain with muc-off and stiff brush. I then spray gt85 on before wiping it with a rag. Once dry I apply a wet lube. Works for me. Can't be bothered with Putoline although have almost bought into it in the past, might give it a go one day.