SRAM Flattop Chain Link

[Cat3roadracer]

My final question on this topic - are all flat top quicklinks the same? In my haste I ordered four and they say “For use with Eagle 12 speed chains only”.

I have a Force AXS chain, I’ll be good, correct?

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by Cat3roadracer

My final question on this topic - are all flat top quicklinks the same? In my haste I ordered four and they say “For use with Eagle 12 speed chains only”.

I have a Force AXS chain, I’ll be good, correct?

Eagle is not flat-top.

There are 3 SRAM 12 speed chain designs:
- Eagle (mech and AXS pre-Transmission)
- Road AXS
- Transmission

Only the last two are called “flat top”, as far as I’ve ever heard. They’re also the chains that have the least cross-compatibility both within Sram and also with other brands.

[Cat3roadracer]

The Eagle links I got today are flat top.

[Strain]

I've only used Shimano and KMC links as of yet and with wax I have to remove my chain weekly. I've used two chains and the same links for about a year. No issues and still snap in place.
I'm about to build a new bike as soon as the custom frame arrives with a SRAM groupset and I intend to do the same.

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by Cat3roadracer

The Eagle links I got today are flat top.

Maybe it’s a Transmission link? The Eagle links are kidney bean shaped…
https://www.pitcrew.nz/cdn/shop/prod...242&width=1800

Oh, looks like Sram calls both “Eagle” - so you have a T-type quick link, which still isn’t compatible with road AXS chains.

[yazel]

Originally Posted by Alistair

Maybe it’s a Transmission link? The Eagle links are kidney bean shaped…
https://www.pitcrew.nz/cdn/shop/prod...242&width=1800

Oh, looks like Sram calls both “Eagle” - so you have a T-type quick link, which still isn’t compatible with road AXS chains.

Funny enough… I’ve got some Eagle (not transmission) links that are exactly the same as the road 12 speed links.

[Cat3roadracer]

Originally Posted by yazel

Funny enough… I’ve got some Eagle (not transmission) links that are exactly the same as the road 12 speed links.

This is it.

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by yazel

Funny enough… I’ve got some Eagle (not transmission) links that are exactly the same as the road 12 speed links.

Sram lists them as separate parts.

Eagle (non-T):
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cn-plck-12s-a1
Clearly labeled “Eagle”

Eagle (T-Type):
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cn-plck-ttyp-a1
Clearly labeled “T-Type”

12s Road:
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cn-plck-d1
Only labeled “SRAM”

[gospastic]

They are definitely not the same. Eagle link and chain is thicker.

Flattop on the left, Eagle on the right

[yazel]

Originally Posted by Alistair

Sram lists them as separate parts.

Eagle (non-T):
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cn-plck-12s-a1
Clearly labeled “Eagle”

Eagle (T-Type):
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cn-plck-ttyp-a1
Clearly labeled “T-Type”

12s Road:
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cn-plck-d1
Only labeled “SRAM”

Good point. I should have said they appear the same at face value. Both are seemingly “flat” top. Definitely different links for sure.

[yazel]

Originally Posted by gospastic

They are definitely not the same. Eagle link and chain is thicker.

Flattop on the left, Eagle on the right

Yep, the Eagle link is about .22mm thicker than the road one on my calipers.

[Cat3roadracer]

I stand corrected. Appreciate it Gents.

[Alistair]

This thread rustles my jimmies. SRAM, what are you doing?!?! This is so dumb (and confusing). Blarg.

The 10 and 11 speed era was nice - the big two were mostly cross-compatible. Didn’t really have to think about chains - just buy one and it worked.

[Jdm]

My LBS sold me an eagle 12-speed quick link...months later, I realized that it wouldn't correctly fit my flattop chains.