Wippermann Connex

[garygkn]

I was looking at the Wippermann Connex 10SX 10 Speed Chain and wondered if this chain was equal or surpassed both Shimano or Campag offerings?

I was looking at getting a spare 10 speed Campag chain.

[reohn2]

I'd say a chain made from spaghetti was better than a Shimano chain.Campag chains get good press on here from Meic and MickF.

The only time I used a W/mann chain(9sp) it lasted about as long as the cheaper Sram chains I always use.

[tatanab]

I believe that Wipperman make or made Campag chains. I've used Wipperman chains in 8, 9 and 10 speed flavours and quite like them, especially their joining link.

[ChrisButch]

I've been using a Wipperman 10sp stainless steel chain for about 3 years. No problems, no discernible wear. And the Connex connector is undoubtedly the most user-friendly of the quicklink options. No tools, no fiddling, no special knack, no swearing.

[mcslaski]

I've been using a Wipperman 10sp stainless steel chain for about 3 years. No problems, no discernible wear. And the Connex connector is undoubtedly the most user-friendly of the quicklink options. No tools, no fiddling, no special knack, no swearing.

+1 for the connex link, easily the best

[Tonyf33]

Wipperman's that I've used (8 and 9 speed) have all been good but not bought any lately, also ignore what others say about Shimano chains. Either they don't know how to look after their running gear or like many cyclists they have 1 bad experience & automatically everything else made by X company is garbage. I've used shimano chains for years & never had problems.

[reohn2]

Wipperman's that I've used (8 and 9 speed) have all been good but not bought any lately, also ignore what others say about Shimano chains. Either they don't know how to look after their running gear or like many cyclists they have 1 bad experience & automatically everything else made by X company is garbage. I've used shimano chains for years & never had problems.

Whilst any chain is good some just don't last,Shimano got a bad press in that respect,they also got a bad press recently for outer plates cracking around the rivet,something CJ reported on at the time.
Every Shimano chain I've ever tried hasn't lasted very long in comparison to Sram which I've stuck with because they last quite well and aren't expensive.
As I said above,I tried a Wippermann but didn't get any more mileage out of it than Sram and it cost more.
So unless Shimano chains have got better recently I'll stick with Sram and their very good powerlinks,which some folk have trouble with but I don't.
In fact TBH I don't understand what all the fuss is about P/links
If you like Shimano chains then go ahead and use them but don't go putting people down who have tried them and found them lacking,Shimano lost my custom for chains a while back and having a stupid joining pin did them no favours at all IMHO.BTW I know I could buy a Sram/KMC or other P/Link type joiner but I get one free with every Sram chain I buy.
Oh,and whilst were at it,I do know how to look after my chains!

[LWaB]

The SRAM 10sp link is a PITA but their 8sp and 9sp links are good. I understand that Wippermann makes Mavic's chains, which are often reasonably priced.

[Brucey]

.... I understand that Wippermann makes Mavic's chains, which are often reasonably priced.

Found the 10s here;

http://www.slanecycles.com/mavic-10-speed-chain-p-22822.html

pretty reasonable @ £14.99.

CRC had them cheaper than that at one point.

If Slane's description is to be believed this is equivalent to the 1/2 stainless wipperman model, with Nickel plated outer links?

cheers

[RickH]

Brucey - your link is to a Mavic chain, it should have been this one I think

http://www.slanecycles.com/connex-10s8- ... 22825.html

But note that it is the 10S8, the nickel plated one, rather than the 10SX, the stainless steel one.

I am unsure of the benefits of the stainless version over the nickel plated one & whether it is worth the significant extra cost of the SX over the S8.

Rick.

[Brucey]

Brucey - your link is to a Mavic chain, it should have been....

yes, a Mavic chain (as suggested by LWaB) manufactured by Wippermann (and a better spec, and about half the price).

The spec indicates that the mavic chain is part stainless i.e. a better grade than the Ni plated wipperman.

The chains with stainless inner side plates seem to wear better in the real (damp) world than non-stainless ones. Stainless outer side plates are primarily for decoration. I'd say.

cheers

[RickH]

yes, a Mavic chain (as suggested by LWaB) manufactured by Wippermann (and a better spec, and about half the price).

The spec indicates that the mavic chain is part stainless i.e. a better grade than the Ni plated wipperman.

The chains with stainless inner side plates seem to wear better in the real (damp) world than non-stainless ones. Stainless outer side plates are primarily for decoration. I'd say.

cheers

Sorry, I'd missed that comment about the mavic chains.Do you know if they come with the connex quick link? For me, that is a major plus point for the Wipperman chains - the only time I eveer use my chain tool (apart from coming to the rescue of another cyclist) is to shorten a new chain and I do regualrly remove the chain when cleaning things thoroughly..

Rick.

[Brucey]

I understand that the Mavic chains do come with a wipperman quicklink. When Wipperman had a 'quality issue' with their link a couple of years ago (they would crack for no apparent reason), unsurprisingly, the mavic ones broke too.

cheers

[123malford]

I've used Sachs, KMC and Connex links and for me the Connex was the easiest to use. I remember being told some years ago ( 10+ ? ) by the LBS which supplied only Campagnolo that their experience with customers using Wippermann chains was that due to the hardness of the latter's steel the wear rate on Campagnolo sprockets was much increased. I have no idea whether this is true, although it would appear logical that of two materials in frictional contact the harder will last longer and wear will be accelerated on the softer. I used a Wippermann 808 on a Sachs Maillard 7sp for many winters before changing the chain and most used sprockets. I liked it. In saying that for both Campagnolo 8sp and 10sp I have only ever used Campagnolo chains ( both with KMC links ) clearly the components of their drive train are design matched so why alter this ?

[Mark1978]

I've ordered a quick link thingy, together with a Dura Ace 10 speed chain. The question is how I go about installing and getting the right length.

I would assume that I would want the same number of links as my current chain, minus one for the quick link thingy, does that sound right?