It has been quite a while since I ask questions of this group, now Longbikes needs chain advice. I need to explore switching chain manufacturers for our trusty Longbikes. I have always tried to use Shimano drive train components, but not being able to buy chain in bulk rolls requires us to piece together three chains to build a Slipstream or Eliminator. This is extra pins and labor to do so. SRAM makes it impractical to buy bulk due to their OEM purchasing requirements. They have a minimum purchase requirement per factory shipping location (chains come from Portugal) which prevents us from buying SRAM chain in bulk. With Shimano and SRAM both unavailable, that leaves KMC. I remember hearing negative comments about KMC chain years ago, but would like input on their current chains, particularly the following high end models: X9.xx Z9200 Z9900 If there are problems with these KMC's I will not think of going there, but if on the other hand they are viewed as competitive quality products, I may. Being able to buy 500 ft. rolls of chain and assemble the chain with only one connector / pin offers us some inventory and labor reasons to change.
Please email me directly or post replies. Thanks for the help.
[bulk chain sources] that leaves KMC. I remember hearing negative comments about KMC chain years ago, but would like input on their current chains
Cannot offer insight on KMC, but if you find a reasonably priced source of quality bulk chain would you consider selling it by the length retail? Those of us piecing 2.3 chains together with two extra quick links might appreciate the option of a one-piece chain...
The risk of quick link failure is small, but it has happened to me while riding (once in 8000 miles and several chain replacements). The link was lost, so I'm not sure what the failure mode was... Cutting exposure by 2/3rds would be nice.
I remember hearing negative comments about KMC chain years ago, but would like input on their current chains, particularly the following high end models: X9.xx Z9200 Z9900
Greg:
You might check in with Steve Delaire at rotatorrecumbent.com. He uses KMC on his Rotators for the reasons you listed - I don't know which model. My new Tiger will have the KMC, which I'll probably wear out before switching to SRAM.
My LBS thinks KMC chains are just fine and apparently RANS and Lightning do too as they use them on all their models. Most Bent riders stay with the stock KMC chains and when it comes time to replace it they go to SRAM or Shimano. Ben Fox
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
It has been quite a while since I ask questions of this group, now Longbikes needs chain advice. I need to explore switching chain manufacturers for our trusty Longbikes. I have always tried to use Shimano drive train components, but not being able to buy chain in bulk rolls requires us to piece together three chains to build a Slipstream or Eliminator. This is extra pins and labor to do so. SRAM makes it impractical to buy bulk due to their OEM purchasing requirements. They have a minimum purchase requirement per factory shipping location (chains come from Portugal) which prevents us from buying SRAM chain in bulk. With Shimano and SRAM both unavailable, that leaves KMC. I remember hearing negative comments about KMC chain years ago, but would like input on their current chains, particularly the following high end models: X9.xx Z9200 Z9900 If there are problems with these KMC's I will not think of going there, but if on the other hand they are viewed as competitive quality products, I may. Being able to buy 500 ft. rolls of chain and assemble the chain with only one connector / pin offers us some inventory and labor reasons to change.
Please email me directly or post replies. Thanks for the help.
There's a bent shop about 50 miles from me that has a big role of chain just sitting there on the floor of hid repair shop. Not sure ofthe brand though. SRAM and Shimano need to get on the ball.
Damon
Quoted message said:
It has been quite a while since I ask questions of this group, now Longbikes needs chain advice. I need to explore switching chain manufacturers for our trusty Longbikes. I have always tried to use Shimano drive train components, but not being able to buy chain in
bulk
Quoted message said:
rolls requires us to piece together three chains to build a
Slipstream
Quoted message said:
or Eliminator. This is extra pins and labor to do so. SRAM makes it impractical to buy bulk due to their OEM purchasing requirements.
They
Quoted message said:
have a minimum purchase requirement per factory shipping location (chains come from Portugal) which prevents us from buying SRAM chain
in
Quoted message said:
bulk. With Shimano and SRAM both unavailable, that leaves KMC. I remember hearing negative comments about KMC chain years ago, but would like input on their current chains, particularly the following high end models: X9.xx Z9200 Z9900 If there are problems with these KMC's I will not think of going
there,
Quoted message said:
but if on the other hand they are viewed as competitive quality products, I may. Being able to buy 500 ft. rolls of chain and assemble the chain with only one connector / pin offers us some inventory and labor reasons
to
Quoted message said:
change.
Please email me directly or post replies. Thanks for the help.
Greg The sales pitch KMC gave me some years ago was that they make 98% of Shimano chains. They claim the last 2% is made in third world countries for third world countries. Back in the days when we were pushing pins back in to piece together 3 sections of chain the failure rate was 10%. Since we switched to bulk chain and quick links it has dropped to basically none. ( I personally failed 1 quick link, with a style that they no longer make) Speedy Rotatorrecumbents.com
Quoted message said:
It has been quite a while since I ask questions of this group, now Longbikes needs chain advice. I need to explore switching chain manufacturers for our trusty Longbikes. I have always tried to use Shimano drive train components, but not being able to buy chain in bulk rolls requires us to piece together three chains to build a Slipstream or Eliminator. This is extra pins and labor to do so. SRAM makes it impractical to buy bulk due to their OEM purchasing requirements. They have a minimum purchase requirement per factory shipping location (chains come from Portugal) which prevents us from buying SRAM chain in bulk. With Shimano and SRAM both unavailable, that leaves KMC. I remember hearing negative comments about KMC chain years ago, but would like input on their current chains, particularly the following high end models: X9.xx Z9200 Z9900 If there are problems with these KMC's I will not think of going there, but if on the other hand they are viewed as competitive quality products, I may. Being able to buy 500 ft. rolls of chain and assemble the chain with only one connector / pin offers us some inventory and labor reasons to change.
Please email me directly or post replies. Thanks for the help.
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either style, pushing pins back in on chains is increasing the risk for failure Speedy
jtaylor said:
"S. Delaire "Rotatorrecumbent"" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Back in the days when we were pushing pins back in to piece together 3 sections of chain the failure rate was 10%.
Were those normal pins (&chains) or the single-use shimano ones?
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