Longevity of current gen Shimano chains - tawk to me

[OlonMusky]

I'm getting a bit cheesed off with the number of chains I went through over the last 2 seasons. It seems that I can only get 1.5k miles out of a chain until it starts playing up due to stretch. Is this normal? I understand that 11 gears require finer chains and the cross-chaining doesn't help but then what's the point having 2x11 setup if you can only use a limited range of gears in the back? It's a 105 groupset I'm talking about here.

[GOATever]

The chains are essentially all KMC. The thinner 11 speed chains are always going to be more susceptible to yaw straining ( caused by cross chaining) unfortunately, there’s only so much they can do, the laws of physics are what they are. Advances in material science, composition can only help so much. So basically, the pay off for a bigger choice of ratios, is relatively reduced chain life, if you choose to use all available ratios. E shift systems (Di2 et. al.) will automatically shift about to minimise cross chaining, and will help reduce yaw strain, you’d have to work hard to get a mechanical shift system to work as efficiently

[Donbot]

My last Ultegra chain lasted about as long as expected. (3 - 4k miles). I haven't noticed any real difference in chain wear with 11 speed.

[okgo]

Haven't changed my chain all year I don't think, it must have done 5000 miles now, still not even showing .5 wear. Perhaps using wax lube has helped in that regard.

[GOATever]

If you look after the chain ( degrease it, clean it re lube it after every ride forex) you’ll get more life out of it, relative to not doing so. Obviously it also depends on how exactly you ride. Lots of stampy rough shifts will reduce its life, relative to smooth shifts, but that is all relative.

[Jimbo.]

That’s not normal. It’s not “stretching”, it’s wearing and elongating, which means the innards aren’t being kept lubricants and/or free of muck. Suspect crap, overmarketed and overthought chain lubricants, and/or lack of lubricant, and/poor maintenance is the primary cause.

[snobetter]

I just got a couple of SRAM 11speed chains from Tweeks for £9 each, I try and swap them about every 1500 miles.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

snobetter said:

I just got a couple of SRAM 11speed chains from Tweeks for £9 each, I try and swap them about every 1500 miles.

Sounds like a bargain - My CX/Gravel bike eats SRAM 11 speed chains - I had one taht only lasted about 800km

[snobetter]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

snobetter said:

I just got a couple of SRAM 11speed chains from Tweeks for £9 each, I try and swap them about every 1500 miles.

Sounds like a bargain - My CX/Gravel bike eats SRAM 11 speed chains - I had one taht only lasted about 800km

My mistake £8: - https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/sram-pc-1110-11-sp...

[GOATever]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Sounds like a bargain - My CX/Gravel bike eats SRAM 11 speed chains - I had one taht only lasted about 800km

1x are notorious for eating chains. Dependant on the range of the cassette, the amount of cross chaining can be relatively extreme.

[BOR]

I'm not completely convinced by 1x due to the cross chaining issue, but I wouldn't go back to 3x or 2x.

I don't personally seem to have too much of a chain wear problem but I do keep on top of chain oiling and cleaning.

But, after replacing a chain in January, I did notice that shifting was crisper, so I suspect that cross chaining is damaging the chain due to the bending load when in top or bottom gear, making it less torsionally stiff if you see what I mean.

I guess one solution, if a solution is needed, would be to mount the chainring on bobbins to allow it to float with the chain to keep everything lined up (like floating brake discs)

[Gruffy]

I get around 5,000km out of Ultegra chains and I don't exactly mollycoddle them. They get regularly topped up with wet lube but rarely given a proper clean.

[GOATever]

BOR said:

I guess one solution, if a solution is needed, would be to mount the chainring on bobbins to allow it to float with the chain to keep everything lined up (like floating brake discs)

You’re right, however that’s a relatively expensive way of solving the problem, and it’s money the manufacturers probably wouldn’t be happy spending, when people would rather just get new chains.

[Dannbodge]

I don't use Shimano chains but KMC (superlight ones too).
I've had over 5000km from my current KMC one and it's not even 0.5% worn yet.

[bakerstreet]

OlonMusky said:

I'm getting a bit cheesed off with the number of chains I went through over the last 2 seasons. It seems that I can only get 1.5k miles out of a chain until it starts playing up due to stretch. Is this normal? I understand that 11 gears require finer chains and the cross-chaining doesn't help but then what's the point having 2x11 setup if you can only use a limited range of gears in the back? It's a 105 groupset I'm talking about here.

First world problems

My chains on my Bromptons run about 2500 miles before they are replaced and that is fairly consistent. Think they are SRAM ones. My Brompton is run year round and it hardly ever gets washed but I try and oil the chain every two or three weeks. I tend to get it replaced as soon as it starts skipping. It can reach the point where the chain jumps off the big ring and thats the last thing you want to happen in London traffic as the motorists in London are of course very sympathetic to cyclists mechanical failures

Chain on my Fuji which runs 11Sp Ultegra is probabaly about 2000 miles old and seems fine. No commuting on that though and I pretty much only go out on it in dry weather these days. Keep that well lubricated too.

[OlonMusky]

Thank you all for your comments. I'm going to clean the next chain more often and see if it makes any difference (I do ride mostly in dry though so am not sure).

[whatleytom]

Seem's to vary greatly on lube and how often you're cleaning.

With wax lube and completely stripping back and ultrasonicing the drivetrain every couple of months I've got a chain which is 7k miles old, and still not even stretched to the 0.5 mark on the chain stretch indicator.

[OlonMusky]

Any lube recommendations BTW?

[whatleytom]

50 different recommendations incoming. I've used squirt lube to good effect. Gunks up a bit if you keep applying without doing a proper clean and doesn't last amazingly well in wet conditions but I'm yet to ride anything that feels as good/quiet or has kept chains going apparently indefinitely

Edited by whatleytom on Thursday 28th November 23:29

[neil-1323bolts]

OlonMusky said:

Any lube recommendations BTW?

I’ve pretty much tried them all , best in my opinion , Morgan blue race oil, or muc off wet lube , others will say different I am sure .