1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
There are only two reasons to ever suffer through Campy chain ownership and the strange torture that is installation pins and $3,000 chain tools.
1). Campy chains really do last a long time.
2). Some vague belief that nobody else could possibly make a chain that works as well with Campy drivetrains as the Campy themselves.
While 1 is still hanging in there (they really do seem to wear well), after trying the KMC X11-SL, I no longer believe 2 at all.
While I don't have a direct head-to-head, I can tell you the X11-SL was much, much quieter and smoother than the Campy chain it replaced. The difference was incredible, in fact. Shifts, including some highly ill-timed ones on a ride with about 5500' of elevation gain, have been consistent and smooth. At about 700 miles, the chain has been nothing but great.
And the Missing Link is light years better than any replace the pin installation and removal method. Just don't expect the audible click the instructions promise when the two halves engage. Never happened for me, even though the link is definitely engaged. Tested gingerly, could still see a tiny, tiny gap, then rode up a 20% or so grade no gap, locked.
Only a lack of miles and a belief that perfection should be rare keeps me from going with the 5-beer on this.
Thank you for your feedback.