Which 11sp Chain

[Jules59]

Is it possible to distinguish between a KMC X11 and a KMC X11 EPT chain ?
Just wondered what is on my bike.

Contacted KMC via their Whatsapp chat. Almost instant reply - question answered - yes you can. So my chain is a X11 chain with silver and grey links, not EPT which has all grey links.

[Cowsham]

Directional means nothing imo, just another bit of marketing hype.

The Shimano directional HG54 (10 speed) chain definitely needs to fitted the right way round and when fitted correctly gives very good downshifts (going to larger sprockets). I'm generally a bit cynical about such stuff but these chains are very impressive.

I was referring to the KMC chains in the thread above, which can be fitted either direction

This doesn't make sense. It's accepted that KMC aren't directional but the controversy is about the shimano chains.

[Slowtwitch]

The Shimano directional HG54 (10 speed) chain definitely needs to fitted the right way round and when fitted correctly gives very good downshifts (going to larger sprockets). I'm generally a bit cynical about such stuff but these chains are very impressive.

I was referring to the KMC chains in the thread above, which can be fitted either direction

This doesn't make sense. It's accepted that KMC aren't directional but the controversy is about the shimano chains.

If you care to read up thread there was a discussion about KMC chains, and the verdict was that only shimano chains were directional.

[Cowsham]

I was referring to the KMC chains in the thread above, which can be fitted either direction

This doesn't make sense. It's accepted that KMC aren't directional but the controversy is about the shimano chains.

If you care to read up thread there was a discussion about KMC chains, and the verdict was that only shimano chains were directional.

OK

[CJ]

Sounds like a whole box of frogs. Glad I don't have to advise which one to kiss anymore! So I'm definitely sticking at 10-speed. This gear-inflation madness has to stop somewhere and not buying into the Spinal Tap notion that something's better just 'cos it "goes to eleven" seems like an excellent place to draw the line!

[Chris Jeggo]

I am confused.
...
How can you be so sure that the problem is not an excessively worn cassette?

Because I put a brand spanking new cassette on with the new chain. Same result -- no amount of adjusting helps. Put the old shim again back on -- no skip -- put old cassette on -- no skip --

Oh. Am I going mad, or is this the first time you’ve stated that you’ve tried the new cassette, new chain combo? From your earlier post where you described what you did I understood that you’d bought a new cassette but not yet fitted it?

Yes, I thought it was the first time Cowsham stated that.
There's something odd going on here.
Cowsham, have you checked for the possibility that your new chain is counterfeit?

[iandusud]

Directional means nothing imo, just another bit of marketing hype.

The Shimano directional HG54 (10 speed) chain definitely needs to fitted the right way round and when fitted correctly gives very good downshifts (going to larger sprockets). I'm generally a bit cynical about such stuff but these chains are very impressive.

I was referring to the KMC chains in the thread above, which can be fitted either direction

Point taken. I have no experience of KMC directional chains.

[Cowsham]

Because I put a brand spanking new cassette on with the new chain. Same result -- no amount of adjusting helps. Put the old shim again back on -- no skip -- put old cassette on -- no skip --

Oh. Am I going mad, or is this the first time you’ve stated that you’ve tried the new cassette, new chain combo? From your earlier post where you described what you did I understood that you’d bought a new cassette but not yet fitted it?

Yes, I thought it was the first time Cowsham stated that.
There's something odd going on here.
Cowsham, have you checked for the possibility that your new chain is counterfeit?

Sorry about not being clear but I had assumed that you'd understand that 'before I fitted the new cassette ' meant that I'd fitted it eventually. Anyhow there's no point in arguing about words cos it doesn't get me any closer to a chain or fix for the skipping problem, so I apologize for that.

New shimano chain due soon so will update you on the result.

Meanwhile I will investigate the kmc chain -- maybe it is a fake.

[walter_neff]

Decathlon's own brand 11 speed chain is a reboxed KMC (stamped on the link plates), presumably the lowest spec one given that it's only £14.99 for 118 links.

[Cowsham]

I am confused. The behaviour you describe is exactly that which is associated with a cassette that has sprockets which are worn beyond the point at which they will accept a new chain. You cannot tell whether this has happened or not just by looking at the cassette or seeing how floppy the chain is. The picture you posted indicates how much side-to-side flexibility the chain has and says nothing about pin wear.

Measuring the chain length will show you how much ‘stretch’ the chain has, often anything between 0.75 and 1% will skip on a new cassette. But you don’t even need to bother doing this, because the fact that your new chain skips on the smaller sprockets of the old cassette tells you all you need to know! Assuming you know how to adjust a drivetrain, which it sounds like you do.

How can you be so sure that the problem is not an excessively worn cassette?

Because I put a brand spanking new cassette on with the new chain. Same result -- no amount of adjusting helps. Put the old shim again back on -- no skip -- put old cassette on -- no skip --

Have to have a slice of humble pie here.

This is the update.

I eventually got the new shimano chain and had thought at first there was no skip on the old cassette when I fitted it but I have not been out much on the cube since spring I'm mainly on the road bike.

Recently I was in the IOM with the cube loaded up with camping stuff. Going up some lesser hills I stood on the pedals in the 11 tooth cassette cog. SKIP! AGHHH!

When I got home I stood hard on the wee cog again and yes it was still skipping links. I even used my slow motion gopro style camera fastened to the rh seat stay and have video of it.

Couldn't get any other sprocket to skip ( originally the 11T and 13T sprockets were skipping with the KMC chain but with new shimano chain only the smallest one slips )

Anyway I refitted the new cassette with the new shimano chain and no skip no matter how hard I stamp.

I then thought no I'm not going to keep the brand new cassette ( at £70! ) on the bike but save it for when the larger sprockets start to give trouble, so I ordered the two smallest gears ( about £10 each ) and fitted them on the old cassette. No Skip !

Sorry Elcani you and a few others were of course correct about the cassette wear being the cause.