Make your chain and cogs last. I lube my chain with Royal Purple gear oil. A drop on each link the night before and wipe it down with a paper towel. Add a little Gibbs oil to the small bottle I use for my RP gear oil 75/145 wt to condition the metal. After every ride no more than two I clean the chain with dawn and a rag. And a little water. A little dawn on the cassette and a paint brush And the cogs are shining, the same for the chain rings. RP cost $20 for a quart, but it lasts most of a year.
I just replaced my 10 speed chain on Pugsley fat bike. In doing the install, I love Sram's coupling link to easily close the gap between ends of chain. Overall, a chain isn't that glamours or exciting unless it's not working and presented problems like my old one with chain stretch and jumping gears. Subsequently, I am happy to report that I am shifting and pedaling without thinking about my chain.
The Scram PC -1051 came as standard OEM equioment on my Focus bike. I rode over 2,500 miles on the original chain and replaced it with the same model. I use Scram chains on all my bikes, & believe that they last longer & work better than Shimano.
Gotta wonder why the connecting link is a one-time use only.
I usually run my road chains 600-700 miles (homebrew lubing every ride), break chain & bathe in solvent & clean cassette, chainrings. By doing this, you can get more mileage out of your chain, cassette & chainrings. Guess I'll buy an aftermarket re-useable connecting link (Connex, etc.) after the 1st bath.
Sram chains run great!!! Who cares if the link is hard to get off. The only time you need to take a chain off is to replace it. Do what the pro's do.
Or if you can't figure out how to clean your chain on the bike get the park tool MLP-1.
I also like this chain for the value. I will stretch out a chain before it sits long enough to rust, so I save money with the 1051 while still having a smooth chain.
Whats the purpose of the power link if getting the chain apart requires a special tool? Wipperman link allows you to easily take chain on & off for cleaning. Not so with the Scram link. This is my last sram chain unless they change the design.