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#1
08-17-2018, 09:47 AM
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Lifespan of an 11 speed bike chain
How many miles are you getting from your bike chain?
My bike has an Ultegra 8000 cassette and Dura Ace 9000 crankset. After 1300 miles (no rain or dirt riding), I apparently need to replace my KMC 11SL chain because I wore it out. So I am curious, how many miles do you get from your chain? 
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#2
08-17-2018, 09:55 AM
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I've always been told that 11sp chains last longer than 10sp, which I'm finding to be true right now. My 10sp chains required replacement in under 2000 miles. I had a KMC briefly, which shifted poorly and made a lot of noise from the start, otherwise always used 105 and Ultegra chains.
New bike - Ultegra cassette, Cannondale cranks with SpideRings, and the Ultegra chain on there has 2200 miles with little to no measurable wear. I wipe it down every 100 miles or so and use Squirt lube. Kind of surprised how long it's lasting, I'm keeping an eye on it and will replace as soon as it stretches.
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#3
08-17-2018, 09:55 AM
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Quote:
What says its work? Someone with a chain for sale?
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#4
08-17-2018, 09:59 AM
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Quote:
__________________
Chisholm's Custom Wheels Qui Si Parla Campagnolo Last edited by oldpotatoe; 08-17-2018 at 10:44 AM.
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#6
08-17-2018, 10:31 AM
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Small sample size
I just replaced my first chain after switching to 11 speed (Chorus) — it had more than 3100 miles on it. None of my 10 speed chains ever came close to that, neither Campy nor KMC. I too clean and lube roughly every ~120 miles.
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#7
08-17-2018, 10:42 AM
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Chain life is one of those things that seems to vary wildly depending on conditions of rider size and loading, cleanliness and other variables including chain quality.
I expect at least 3k miles from Shimano Ultegra 11s chain, and it's very hilly here. I ride mostly in clean, dry conditions and am under 150lbs. BTW I measure the chain stretch by accurate means, not relying on chain-measuring devices that push two rollers in opposite directions (which pessimistically adds roller freeplay and diameter reduction to the wear figure). I consider worn out as 1/2 of 1% stretch, or 1/16" per foot.
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#8
08-17-2018, 10:46 AM
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Dunno Chains are cheap. Cassettes are spendy. I've been able to change out multiple chains on my wheels and keep running em YMMV M edited to add: maybe I'm mis-remembering? Maybe it's chain AND cassette are both hosed at 1/8"? Someone jog my memory
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#10
08-17-2018, 11:34 AM
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...or ride slower and stay off hills...
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#11
08-17-2018, 11:43 AM
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I think mine last about 2k miles or maybe a bit more, it depends really. Always use KMCs. Lube every 300-400 miles with NFS unless I notice too much grit from a rainy/dirty ride then I clean and relube.
Get yourself a chain checker to be sure
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#12
08-17-2018, 11:53 AM
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Quote:
__________________
Chisholm's Custom Wheels Qui Si Parla Campagnolo
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#15
08-17-2018, 12:24 PM
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Back when I was riding 5,000 miles per year, I did a lot of chain wear research. Campy chains don't wear like other brands. I've ridden both 10 and 11 speed models for 3,000 miles and could measure no significant stretch with a precison 12" machinist's rule. I've even used 10 speed chains for 6,000 miles that showed little elongation. That didn't mean the chain wasn't shot. By that time, the rollers were severely worn, so the rollers were about .006 inch smaller in diameter and the side clearance between the inner and out plates was twice that of a new chain. If you used only one chain with the cassette, it would most certainly have chain skip, with a new chain. What I now use as a check for a worn out Campy chain is a plug gage that I made from a 6mm hex wrench, ground down to a thickness of .070 inch, so it will drop between the rollers. When that happens, I trash the chain, even if the elongation is acceptable. At this point, a feeler gage will also show excessive side clearance.
If you really want to maximize cassette and chain life, buy at least three chains and regularly change between them. You'll never get chain skip and the cassette will last through the life of all of the chains. If you're using a brand that is prone to elongate, I'd buy 4 or 5. A cassette that has been used to the point where one or two cogs skip with a new chain, may still be useable. Buy a new cassette and use the new chain for at least 100 miles, then reinstall the old cassette. Most likely a chain with just some break-in wear will not skip, like a new chain will. Most chain wear gauges bear against the rollers and measure some mixture of elongation and roller wear, so they exaggerate the amount of elongation. Use a precision 12" rule to measure between the pins and you will get a more accurate measurment. Place the end of the rule at the edge of a pin. The pin at the other end will be covered by the rule, when that chain is new. When that overed pin is half exposed, that chain is shot. Last edited by Dave; 08-17-2018 at 04:14 PM.
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