Hyperglide+ chain compatibility

I bought a Shimano Deore CN-M6100 12 speed chain for my 11 speed drivetrain thinking there shouldn’t be any problems.  It looks like the chain doesn’t want to mesh with the chainring and keeps riding up and falling off when the bike is on the stand.

After reading up (probably I should have read up before I bought it but 10 euros for a chain is 10 euros for a chain) it turns out this chain is directional and designed to work with full Hyperglide+ drivetrains.

I thought I was safe from dodgy standards with chains but apparently not.  Should it be OK when I’m actually riding given the tension should force the chain to mesh or does this chain just not work with non-Hyperglide+ kit?

I thought I was safe from dodgy standards with chains but apparently not

You’re the one trying to use a 12 speed chain on an 11 speed setup!

You’re the one trying to use a 12 speed chain on an 11 speed setup!

Yes, I’m a radical.

In terms of compatibility using a higher speed chain has always been fine because despite the outer width being different the inner width has always been the same.

Apparently that’s no longer the case.

Shimano 12 speed Hyperglide plus chains have chamfers on the inner plates. This means there’s less room in there for a chainring tooth.

Yeah, I gathered that.  I’m just seeing if anyone has any experience of running it with the wrong chainring and stuff getting bent/worn into an acceptable shape so it works.

Or does it just never work?

When it was first released, some people managed to run 12 speed Shimano chains on chainrings that shouldn’t work. However, it seemed to be rings that had been partially worn, then switched to the Shimano chain. I don’t know if anyone who has made their chainring Shimano compatible by brute forcing a Shimano chain in to it.

Im running a 12 speed Ultegra Hyperglide + chain on a 12 speed non hyperglide+ 105 cassette with no issues

Your issue is the crank as already said, when my 11 speed crank went in for the Shimano recall and i was waiting a while for it to be replaced i spoke to the shop about just replacing it with a 12 speed one and they said that 12 speed cranks are not compatible with 11 speed chains due to the way the chain meshes with the chainrings

Yeah, looking at it in cold the cold morning light I think a trip to the LBS is in order if I want to go riding this weekend.

Just for future reference, are all chains up to 11 speed ‘conventional’ or are there some to keep an eye out for?

Or should I just forget about Sram and Shimano and buy KMC exclusively?

According to their website they somehow make chains that work with all brands which I find a bit odd but OK.

I found this chart online, might help….

https://bettershifting.com/di2-compatibility-mix-ultegra-dura-ace-xtr-xt-and-grx-components/

There really does seem to be a lot of incompatibility in 12 speeds, especially with Shimano having both Linkglide, Hyperglide and Hyperglide Plus 12 speed components. This is why I think I’m leaning more towards SRAM, at least you know that if it says EAGLE on it then you’ll be ok.

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/pages/chain-compatibility-by-chainring-tooth-profile

This is why I think I’m leaning more towards SRAM, at least you know that if it says EAGLE on it then you’ll be ok.

But not AXS…

That’s why I’m leaning more towards KMC.  I don’t really care if it’s been optomised to within an inch of its life but so long as the bike goes forward when I turn the pedals I’m happy enough.