Several years ago (which means likely 5 - the older I get the less relevant time becomes) Tour magazine had as objective a test as could be done with various chains for wear and usable chain life. For a couple of years the article was available on the web but that no longer seems to be the case.
Anyways, this was before 11 speed, so 10 speed was the norm. I don't remember 9 speed being tested. As I recall (perhaps someone's memory is better than mine), Shimano chains lasted longer than all other major brands, including SRAM, Campag, and KMC. Dura Ace came out the best, followed somewhat ironically by 105. Campag Record may have been next followed by Ultegra, then SRAM Red. I think there are too many variables to account for all when it comes to chain wear. Perhaps the more narrow the chain, the more important high quality machining comes into play. I've heard more than a few bike mechs say that SRAM upper end stuff gives up durability for lightness, so maybe there is something to the SRAM lower end chains lasting longer. One habit I've developed thanks to a riding buddy who is a bike mech of 25+ years: once I have to break a chain, I use a SRAM quick link to better enable chain cleaning, whether 7/8,9 or 10 speed. I use Shimano chains on 10 speed (90% of my riding); which ever I can get cheaper on 7/8 and 9 speed. Never had a problem with a quick link, nor can I say one brand lasts longer than another. Empirical evidence at the local bike shop says 11 speed chains last as long as 10 speed chains. Fact is, I spend a lot more on tires than I do chains. Keep the chain clean, keep a bit of lube on it and spend more time riding and less time obsessing - the older I get, the better I become at following that advice! Cheers, Bill in Roswell, GA where fall is just around the corner but we're still waiting for summer to end -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
