Cycling UK Forum

Hi all,

Got an old tourer a friend will be using soon, i'd like to replace the chain as it is very old but it is only a 5 speed. Any recomendations on a model chain to use?

Thanks,

any 7/8 speed chain will work OK. KMC ones seem OK for the money to me.

In general terms you often pay more for shiny links that don't actually make the chain last any longer, so fairly basic chain models are often the best value.

BTW if the freewheel is at all worn, any new chain will jump like crazy (under load) on the worn sprockets.

cheers

Thanks Bruce,
I was hoping to go KMC actually as I have plenty of them QuickLinks from my main bike.

Did a search for KMC 5-Speed though and it was saying it was suited mainly for single-speed. I never knew any 7/8 speed will work - will look out for this.

Just to confirm, the 5-speed the chain will be used on is very old (1980's) there should not be an issue with the thickness?

Thanks,

the sprocket thickness of 5,6,7 speed cogs (and some but not all 8s) is the same at 2mm, so any chain for 7s will work just fine on any 5s freewheel, even though the sprocket spacing varies.

As long as the freewheel isn't worn....

cheers

As Brucey says 7/8 speed chain should be fine. I use it on a 2X5 speed bike with Suntour cogs. I've used only SRAM on that bike (the original was Sedis), but you may find KMC last longer.