Feedback on top only chain guides wanted

What do you like or dislike about any chainguides you have used? Specifically top guides (or the top part of a full guide)?

Cheers, Euan

biggest issue is that they can get jammed up with the chain if it does come off.

I’ve twice had to dismantle top guides mid ride to retrieve dropped chains that are jammed in them.

It’s not a big enough problem to stop me using them but it’s worth considering.

Been running a 1X MRP and not had any issues.

Slight jam when I came off but the load of mud/bush that was wedged in there was the cause of the grief.

When I do go NW I’ll likely just keep it on.

Assuming that the better the guide is at keeping the chain on means the harder it is to un-jam if it does come off (ie in a crash) does that mean you would want one that is simple/quick to remove to free the chain?

Slight jam when I came off but the load of mud/bush that was wedged in there was the cause of the grief.

What that debris caught in the plastic guide itself or just generally between the chainring and frame/backplate?

The blackspire one I have is easier to free up as the ‘cage’ bit has no bottom to it so you can just slide it up the guide to free the chain.

The MRP one is more like a front mech cage and trickier to sort out as the chain threads through it.

Neither lose the chain on anything like a regular basis and thick mud has been involved each time.

On the subject of chainguides, are there any other pitfalls? I’ve got one to fit my Mojo ( SSC XCR high direct mount) now I’ve gone 1×10 and removed the MRP 2x that I originally had on. Is it really necessary with a Superstar IO ring and clutch mech?

And about fitting it. I fitted the device so it doesn’t foul the chain at the bottom of the suspension travel, based on the 42T cog, but then it seems to sit high above the chain and won’t do anything to stop it coming off, just catch it if it does. Should I chance that I’m not going to be going fast downhill in the 42, and just set it to a bit more than sagged travel for clearance? Confused.

Had no problems with a 1x MRP top guide.

@Scapegoat – Running a IO ring and clutch mech I found I can remove the bottom roller (kept the taco bash-guard on), but I’ll occasionally drop the chain if I remove the top guide – always happened in a race 😡

My e13 top guide has been faultless for the last few months. Well, until I forgot I had fitted it and smashed it removing the cranks… 😳

Just been using the cheap superstar components one since going 1×9 – despite some negative feedback on the reviews about being flimsy etc i’ve had no problems at all in the last year or so, been rock solid.

I’ve had an e.13 XCX and now an MRP 1.X (both BB-mounted). Can’t say I notice much difference, but in fitting the MRP was easier to adjust for the chainline. The XCX wouldn’t not rub without a half-assed bodge. Once working they do their jobs in much the same fashion though. I did bend the backplate of the MRP in a crash, but it bent right back.

I’ve not bothered with top guides since they invented N-W chainrings and clutch mechs. dropped the chain once in about two years which is less often than the guides used to jam and its considerably easier to reset.

What that debris caught in the plastic guide itself or just generally between the chainring and frame/backplate?

Both. Bike and I took out a right hand berm and slid a while so twigs/bush/mud was in the guide, back plate etc. Only happened once (the clogging, not the falling off).

I think the more flimsy the guide the more you’ll be able to mash the chain into an even worse position.

I fitted a Super Star one at the same time as my SS narrow wide (didn’t trust the hype), it came off on the 2nd day of the Alps as it caused more jams than without. Didn’t drop a chain for the next 3 weeks out there (or since).

I wouldn’t bother with one if I was you, just get your chain line and length correct and fit a clutch mech and N/W instead

Tom kp

This Blackspire one….

….Is brilliant IMHO.
Not dropped a chain ever over about 3 months with a N/W and a C-mech.
Has a Taco too so great protection.

home made top guide has been fine on my cx bike (not a NW ring, none clutch mech), will be fitting one to my mtb soon when that goes 1×10, see how it goes.

This Blackspire one….

does that display say 1192g? ouch.

wwaswas – Member

biggest issue is that they can get jammed up with the chain if it does come off.

That

Pain.in.the.arse

Picked up a clutch mech and NW ring over Christmas, superb, I never want to use a chain guide again.

My MRP is nice- light, strong, well made, easy to set up My old Superstar one was semi-decent but the cage was a little brittle, and the backplate really a bit too flexy. And it was a bollocks to set up without rubbing, I think the cage just isn’t quite the right shape. But it did the job

I’m not using any guides now though- thick/thin rings are ime more reliable than chainguides on standard rings, and much better when they do fail (since chains can jam in chainguides and always take longer to remount, whereas with a thick/thin it’s the work of seconds to sort). Thick/thin + chain device may very well be better still but I don’t feel I need it- and it strikes me that there’s a whole extra world of chain-refitting bollocksness there to be visited.

I used a Paul’s chain guide for a while.

Takes a bit of effort to get closely aligned with the chain.
Would drop off about once a ride (not sure exactly how).
Getting the chain back on with the guide is a PITA.

Now use clutch mech + Narrow Wide ring which I find much better at retaining the chain. Dropped chain maybe twice on an Alps weekend on my hard tail.

This Blackspire one….

does that display say 1192g? ouch.[/quote]

Nah…. 119.2
Manufacturer says 131g.. It’s light as a fat feather.

Thanks for all that. The reason I’m asking is that I’m in the middle of redesigning my own top guide and am just curious what issues everyone else has had.

I personally can’t get away with just a NW and Zee mech, I need a guide too.

Cheers, Euan

jimfrandisco – Member
Just been using the cheap superstar components one since going 1×9 – despite some negative feedback on the reviews about being flimsy etc i’ve had no problems at all in the last year or so, been rock solid.

+ 1.

I’m 1×10 now, N/W and clutch mech- never dropped the chain, plenty rough stuff too. I use to drop the chain every few rides when I was 2×9 for comparison.