Cycling UK Forum

TimeTraveller wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 10:26am I've had a few chains in the past (x9) that have been questionable (from both ebay and amazon).
I have stopped buying from both unless its a shop page like Hopkinsons cycles ebay. Now moved over to connex chains, they just seem to last longer and I prefer the link over KMC single use links.
I know many folk get more uses from the KMC link..

AndyK wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 3:08pm KMC don't help themselves much here. Their branding and design are all over the place. There are multiple versions with little explanation as to what the different models are and frequent tweaks to the look of existing models. Variations come and go frequently. On top of that they make OEM chains for various other manufacturers. Some of these will have KMC's own name on but won't look or be exactly the same as KMC's public brands, some will bear the commissioning company's name (e.g. Shimano!) and some will have no name at all. I recently unpacked an M-Wave 10-speed chain, bought from a reputable parts distributor, and out fell a KMC-branded missing link.

And look at KMC's own branded chains. All of the following are pictures of current model X11 chains from KMC's website:
X11R_Grey_BX11RGY18.pngX11_EPT_X11EP118.pngX11_Silver_Black_BX11NB118.png
That's an X11R (grey), an X11 EPT and an X11 silver/black.
Notice how the KMC lettering appears in different orientations on the grey and the EPT, and not at all on the nickel-plated outers of the silver/black. It's a mess.

FWIW I reckon it's likely that the OP's old and new chains are genuine, but KMC tampered with the design in the meantime.

TBaySimon wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 3:12pm

Airsporter1st wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 2:34pm

TBaySimon wrote: ↑8 Oct 2023, 11:04pm Thanks for the replies and I have seen the KMC page re fakes and it doesn't totally help.

With all due respect, in comparing the photo of your chain with those pictured and described on the KMC page, yours is clearly a fake. Not sure therefore why you think the KMC page does not totally help?

My reasoning is it is a different chain. The one on KMC's website is an X10 not an X11. But obviously I do think it is a fake or else I wouldn't have posted.

The seller is adamant it is genuine and that their supplier was Raleigh. Regardless of who supplied I still suspect it is fake.

Hopefully I'll get a reply soon from KMC.

gregoryoftours wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 11:10pm Looking at the chains on the KMC website I think that yours could well be genuine after all. I thought it was fake because the 'x bridge' on all of the KMC chains I've seen before sits proud of the rest of the chain and the chamfered edges didn't appear pronounced enough, but their cheapest 11 speed chain does in fact look like yours to me. Completely flat outer plates with the x etched in, and less of a chamfer than better ones. I'm quite surprised, really.

Airsporter1st wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 9:38pm

TBaySimon wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 3:12pm

Airsporter1st wrote: ↑9 Oct 2023, 2:34pm

With all due respect, in comparing the photo of your chain with those pictured and described on the KMC page, yours is clearly a fake. Not sure therefore why you think the KMC page does not totally help?

My reasoning is it is a different chain. The one on KMC's website is an X10 not an X11. But obviously I do think it is a fake or else I wouldn't have posted.

The seller is adamant it is genuine and that their supplier was Raleigh. Regardless of who supplied I still suspect it is fake.

Hopefully I'll get a reply soon from KMC.

Understood.

I’ve just looked on KMC’s own website at pictures of the X11 and the main thing that strikes me is the sharpness of their “KMC” and “X11” stamping vs. that on yours which is quite ‘blunt’.