Q: Appropriate chain for 18 speed?

David J. Braden said:

Hi,
I'm cleaning up a friend's 18-speed "commuter"; chains these days, of
course, are designed for at least 8 gears rear. I don't yet know the LBS
mechanics (I'm new to my area), and don't fully trust (yet) the one I
met. So, can s.o. please tell me, a newbie, whether or not I can use an
8-speed chain for a cheap bike with its current (6-cog) cassette? It
seems to still be in decent shape, amazingly.

6, 7, 8 can all happily use the same chain. I'm not surprized it runs well. The
smoothest drivetrain of any of my bikes is the '88 Fisher hookoo e koo.

Now as you get to know the local shops you've got an almost perfect test
question. Ask for a chain for that bike and see what they tell you.

Ron

David J. Braden said:

Hi,
I'm cleaning up a friend's 18-speed "commuter"; chains these days, of
course, are designed for at least 8 gears rear. I don't yet know the LBS
mechanics (I'm new to my area), and don't fully trust (yet) the one I
met. So, can s.o. please tell me, a newbie, whether or not I can use an
8-speed chain for a cheap bike with its current (6-cog) cassette? It
seems to still be in decent shape, amazingly.

Use an 8-speed chain.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And what if you track down these men and kill them, what if you
_`\(,_ | killed all of us? From every corner of Europe, hundreds,
(_)/ (_) | thousands would rise up to take our places. Even Nazis can't
kill that fast. -- Paul Henreid (Casablanca).

David J. Braden said:

Hi,
I'm cleaning up a friend's 18-speed "commuter"; chains these days, of
course, are designed for at least 8 gears rear. I don't yet know the LBS
mechanics (I'm new to my area), and don't fully trust (yet) the one I
met. So, can s.o. please tell me, a newbie, whether or not I can use an
8-speed chain for a cheap bike with its current (6-cog) cassette? It
seems to still be in decent shape, amazingly.

TIA,
DaveB

Thanks Ron and David!

DaveB