Best 11 speed chain for Dura Ace Mechanical???

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gmakris
Posts: 139
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2014 10:36 am

by gmakris

I would choose only DA chain. Its very light with excelent performance and cheap. It should be more quiet combined with other DA parts.
You could also use a KMC or SRAM 11s connector with it (it works for me)

Titanium22
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 7:57 pm

by Titanium22

salesguy wrote:VN just did a nice article on chain wear and measuring.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/12/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-chain-wear-measurement_390085

I always measure using a ruler or measuring tape, more accurate than chain checkers and much cheaper. I would not throw out a chain at 1/32", assuming you are accurate and repeatable in the measuring technique.

I used to run wipperman and sram chains on my 9 and 10spd setups, now with DI2 and 11spd I only run the new HG900 (or HG901) chains and they work great. They are cheap enough that I see no reason to skimp on something cheaper, and I don't think more expensive KMC chains offer any advantage.

In short I'd run the HG900 chain, run it till 1/16 and replace. Pretty simple.

Oh and I only run CS-6800 cassettes and I'm pretty sure I've never worn one out (end up selling at end of season).


Thank you for the advice and article. I too run the 6800 cassette, after reading and experiencing failure's from the DA Cassette. I'm told they are now better, but still expensive!

In the article if you look at the chains, the DA is the longest and the Sram Red and DLC about joint shortest. When we change the chain after so little "stretch", it makes you wonder if you might get a bit more life out of the "short" chains, which must be less than 12" across the pins using the steel rule when new? Although the picture shows a difference of approx 1/16" over 100 links.

by Weenie


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nick707
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:04 am

by nick707

i use dura ace.
DA will replace ultegra.
Because, similar performance and more cheaper.

NTMAD8R22
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:43 am
Location: Newport Beach, CA

by NTMAD8R22

I'm on Di2 9070. I started off with KMC X11SL and then switched to a Dura Ace Chain. The KMC was noisier. I liked the DA chain better, but the difference was marginal at best. The best chain is a clean chain :)

zirinpio97
Posts: 43
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:09 pm

by zirinpio97

With my Di2 9070 and SRAM 1190 cassette I use KMC X11SL gold and after 4000 km the shifting still perfect.

BdaGhisallo
Posts: 3261
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:38 pm

by BdaGhisallo

Go with the CN-HG900 - you can't beat it. I started on 11sp DI2 with the DA chain but transitioned to the HG900 once it was available and it is the best option, imo.

5DII
Posts: 281
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 7:52 pm

by 5DII

Shimano discontinued their CN-9000 in favor of HG900 (XTR chain) due to supposed better shifting. There is now a CN-HG901 chain, anyone know the difference between that and the HG900 chain?

Ohnooo
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 6:56 pm

by Ohnooo

5DII wrote:Shimano discontinued their CN-9000 in favor of HG900 (XTR chain) due to supposed better shifting. There is now a CN-HG901 chain, anyone know the difference between that and the HG900 chain?

This latest HG-X11 version is smoother, quieter and longer lasting than the Dura-Ace CN-9000 chain it replaces. To achieve these improvements, it features a new special asymmetric plate design so make certain the writing is on the outside during the install. The CN-HG901-11 is Shimano's top 11-speed chain offering and the latest and greatest chain for Dura-Ace 9000 and XTR M9000 11-speed components. additionally, the CN-HG901-11 can be used with all Shimano 11-speed groups.

Information found at Excel Sports

fromtrektocolnago
Posts: 1145
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:15 pm

by fromtrektocolnago

I'm on Dura Ace except that I choose to use Ultegra for both chain and rear cassette.
Colnago C-59 (Dura Ace)
Firefly(Ultegra)
Colnago C-64 disc(ultegra) with Bora 35 wheels

stormur
Posts: 1173
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:50 pm
Location: FIN

by stormur

the ONLY thing which you can't beat in chain field is Campagnolo Record. All the rest is beated by it :) . Better than anything shifting performance, longer lifespan, quieter work. I use C chain exclusively on any drivetrain brand.
Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.
Mark Twain


I can be wrong, and have plenty of examples for that ;)

oopssk8
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2016 6:46 am

by oopssk8

I've used several chain but i can tell the diffenrence clearly.
however sram chain most durable among them. I believe :)

Stueys
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2014 1:12 pm

by Stueys

NTMAD8R22 wrote:I'm on Di2 9070. I started off with KMC X11SL and then switched to a Dura Ace Chain. The KMC was noisier. I liked the DA chain better, but the difference was marginal at best. The best chain is a clean chain :)


This. I did exactly the same for the same reasons.

salesguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:27 pm

by salesguy

I prefer the HG-900/901 chain (current dura ace) as well.

Currently have 9213 miles on the same chain, it's showing barely 1/16" elongation over 12". I'll probably replace it soon.

Clean often and use Chain-L

Darceking
Posts: 226
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 1:48 am

by Darceking

Bumping an old thread. But I just installed 2 x KMC SL11 Gold chains on my DA9000 with Ultegra cassette. I just wouldn't gel. In the middle gear at the back and down it would just make a ticking noise. You could index the noise away but then the shifting would be shit. I took it to the local bike shop and he re cabled the entire bike, checked the RD and made sure the hanger was good and still made the noise. Replaced the chain and it disappeared. So I took the other bike in and replaced the chain straight away and again, the noise went. Now I have 2 chains with less then 100km on each doing nothing. Thinking I might buy a SRAM cassette and see if that makes a difference

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evan326
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 8:51 pm
Location: RVA,USA

by evan326

I almost had the opposite. I have DA9100 FD, a 105 chain and cassette. Got a xg1190 cassette, 105 chain was much noisier. After getting the kmc x11 sl, things are much quieter and smoother. It's lighter too!

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