This chain came out of the box with 0.5% chain wear and hit 0.75% after just 742 miles.
I suspect that some of these chains are counterfeit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79K-T0RWV84
When things go wrong with your transmission it's easy to blame the components that YOU have manipulated.
A bicycle is no different than a performance car.
Tuning is critical. Micro adjustments are a fact of life, and a piss poor chain line is a recipe for early chain and casset failure.
I only use original manufacturer parts because I understand that they are engineered to work together in harmony when properly installed.
Semper Fi Shimano, you are the cat's meow!
Just put this new chain on. It uses a quick link instead of the old pin technology. That seemed to simplify installation for me.
I'll definitely pick this chain for my the replacement on another bike.
I urge you to check your chain with a chain wear tool before you install it. I�ve had several new Shimano chains arrive with 2/3 of their wear already present (0.5%) in the new chain. The KMC chains I have bought arrived with 0% wear.
I just can't find a better chain than this for my Shimano 105 set-up. I ride mostly gravel and this chain hold up to constant sandstone and limestone gravel roads. I ride about 4000 miles annually, and go through 3-4 chains/year.
I bought my chains here at different sale prices over a couple weeks. Very confusing. But the chains work well and last as well as my cleaning process of 150 miles. As others have noted an Ultegra drive train is noisier than Dura Ace but it's minor.
What can I say? In thirty years of riding and racing I have broken two chains, and both were nine or ten speed many years ago. Have not broken any 11s or 12s, and I'm no lightweight. Thankfully, Shimano finally joined the quick-link crowd so thorough cleaning and lubing is now a breeze. I typically buy one rung below top tier stuff on consumables. XT is a decent value if you catch a sale.
Have never had any issues with Shimano chains, and this one is no exception. Got this for my friend's bike that I tuned up for him. Really like that it comes with a quick link, as I always order a KMC link to go with the 10-spd ultegra chain for my bike if it happens to be on sale. Not sure if it's just in my head, but I feel like Shimano chains run just a little quieter than KMC, but shifting performance and longevity are very similar, so I tend to go with KMC more often simply due to price, but I like grabbing Shimano occasionally when they have a good deal going.
It's a chain. It does chain stuff - it is reliable, sturdy and durable. These come with a master link aka quick link aka missing link. I use these chains on my Ultegra Di2 11-speed setups. Keep the chains clean and serviced, and they'll last quite a while. I can run about 4,000 miles on one until I am due for a replacement, and I remove them and clean them in an ultrasonic parts cleaner about every 1,500 miles. I clean and re-lubricate them about every 150 miles, or when I get them visibly dirty - whichever comes first.
The quickest and easiest way to renew your drivetrain is by replacing the chain. If you use Shimano Ultegra 11 this is the only chain to buy. Its an exact match with the Shimano 11 drivetrain cassette and chainrings. Replacing the chain more often will reduce wear on the expensive cogs.
