I have been running Sram Eagle on my bikes from February 2018 and a total of about 20 000km. During this time I have tried, tested, liked and hated both OE Sram / Shimano and third party chains, so this post will be a re-cap of my findings with all those chains. I will include a link in the header of each mini-review to one of my favorite online stores, R2 Bikes in Germany.
A short disclaimer before I get into it: The mileages mentioned are verified by Strava, but testing conditions and even bikes have not been consistent. I have ridden these chains as mountain bikers do: In various conditions ranging from dry, warm summer days to below 0 °C winter rides. The chains have been cleaned and lubricated after each ride, but have not had any special treatment such as waxing applied.
I will also speak about elongation, which is not correct for a chain, as the chain pins wear and this creates play in the chain and causes a worn chain to appear longer, or elongated, when compared to a new one. But elongation is easier to measure than pin wear, so deal with it!
 |
| Easy elongation comparison: Hang 2 chains with the same number of links from a level nail. KMC chain on the right with 817km, Sram X01 on the left with 2500km. Which one do you think is better? |
My criteria for retiring a chain based on elongation:
Good - 1/4 or less link elongationOK - 1/3 link elongation
Poor - 1/2 link elongation => Chain is scrap
Horrible - More than 1/2 link elongation = Chain is scrap
____________________________________________________________
Sram XX1 Eagle
Introduced at around the same time as X01 Eagle, both chains have now been around a good 4-5 years.
The difference between XX1 and X01 chains is the surface treatment. Where as X01 is nickel plated, XX1 chains are TiN coated in Black, Gold, Rainbow or Copper. There are no performance benefits to the coating except perhaps better rust protection. I have also not noticed any longevity difference between XX1 and X01, as the pins and rollers are the same.
The TiN coating is hard and does not wear quickly, but especially the black chain will eventually show wear on the side which contacts the cassette during shifting.
EXCELLENT
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed drives (Not compatible with Shimano chainrings)
Closure: PowerLock
Coating outer chain link: Titanium Nitride
Coating inner chain links: Titanium Nitride, flow link technology
Pins: Hard chrome plated, hollow
Color outer chain links: Black, Gold, Copper or Rainbow
Color inner chain links: Black, Gold, Copper or Rainbow
Weight: 252g / 126 links
Weight: 5/5
Finish: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Shifting 5/5
Compatibility: 12-speed drives (Not compatible with Shimano chainrings)
Closure: PowerLock
Coating outer chain link: Titanium Nitride
Coating inner chain links: Titanium Nitride, flow link technology
Pins: Hard chrome plated, hollow
Color outer chain links: Black, Gold, Copper or Rainbow
Color inner chain links: Black, Gold, Copper or Rainbow
Weight: 252g / 126 links
Weight: 5/5
Finish: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Shifting 5/5
____________________________________________________________
Sram X01 Eagle
The original Sram Eagle chain. Is it worth the premium? YES!I have run 4 X01 chains, and all are showing less than 1/3 elongation after approximately 2000km, which is excellent! This is especially impressive when you compare it to the runner-up, the GX Eagle chain, which will usually be worn out at maximum 1200km, but can last as little as 800km.
Shifting performance is also hands down the best in the group, with again, only the GX Eagle chain coming close when new. The best part of about the X01 chain shifting is that the performance will remain consistent throughout the chain's life cycle and doesn't deteriorate noticeably even after 1/3 link of elongation.
The X01 chain typically costs around 50€ so about 20€ more than the GX Eagle chain, or around 1,8 times the cost of the GX Eagle chain. However, the durability is also much better and one can expect at least double mileage from the X01 chain when compared to GX, let alone the third party options below. The hollow pin constructions also means the X01 is the lightest chain on test, and the Sram Powerlock quicklink works very well and can be re-used multiple times. It also comes in a trendy oil slick finish!
Out of these chains the X01 takes the clear win both on shifting performance and durability. Sram claim it's the quietest, strongest and most wear resistant chain in the world, and I'm inclined to believe them in the case of the X01/XX1.
THE BEST VALUE!
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed drives (Not compatible with Shimano chainrings)
Closure: PowerLock
Coating outer chain link: nickel
Coating inner chain links: chrome plated, flow link technology
Pins: Hard chrome plated, hollow
Color outer chain links: silver
Color inner chain links: silver
Weight: 252g / 126 links
Weight: 5/5
Finish: 4.5/5
Durability: 5/5
Shifting 5/5
____________________________________________________________
Sram GX Eagle
Another original Sram chain, but from a lower tier group than the X01. The only differences between the GX and X01 chains are the pins and inner links, which are hard chromed on the X01. Otherwise performance is very similar when new, but wear rate of the GX chain is MUCH higher. I've had to replace GX chains anywhere between 800 - 1200km, so they last less than half the mileage of the X01, but cost about 60% as much as the X01. A quick 1+1 calculation results in the GX being worse in all aspects, but still better than most of the 3d party offerings.AVERAGE
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed drives (Shimano not tested)
Closure: PowerLock
Coating outer chain link: nickel
Coating inner chain links: black anodized, flow link technology
Pins: standard
Color outer chain links: silver
Color inner chain links: black
Weight: 270g / 126 links
Weight: 3/5
Finish: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Shifting 4/5
____________________________________________________________
Shimano XTR / Dura-Ace CN-M9100
Top-of-the-line for Shimano 12-speed. Can it match Sram XX1?I have run 3 XTR chains, and quite frankly have been unable to wear one out. I have managed to break 2 chains after rock strikes. The first one was at 2500km and the second at 2900km and both chains still showed less than 0,5 wear, so these would still have had life left in them. It seems Shimano chains are even longer lasting than the venerable XX1.
Shifting performance of all the Shimano 12-speed chains is, in my opinion, 100% the same: XTR, XT and SLX. I have not tested Deore, but I don't expect it to be much different.
The XTR chains typically cost around 55-65€ so about 20€ more than the XT M8100 chain. Is this worth it? Well, if you value weight over anything else. Otherwise performance and durability is not any different from the cheaper XT chain.
Shimano chains are a tough one to judge as performance is SO similar. Bascially the only reason to buy XTR is weight: The hollow pins weigh around 10g less than the solid pins used in XT. When compared to Sram chains it's also important to remember that they are not 100% interchangeable. Shimano chains are also not available in bling colors, if that's your thing.
EXCELLENT
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed Shimano Hyperglide+ compatible drivetrains only
Closure: Quick Link SM-CN910-12
Coating outer chain link: Siltec
Coating inner chain links: Siltec
Pins: Hollow
Color outer chain links: Chrome
Color inner chain links: Chrome
Weight: 267g / 126 links
Weight: 4.5/5
Finish: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Shifting 5/5
____________________________________________________________
Shimano XT CN-M8100
I have run 2 XT chains, and quite frankly have been unable to wear one out even at 3000km. If you keep the chain clean and lubed with a proper wax / dry drip lube these will easily last a season for most riders.Shifting performance of all the Shimano 12-speed chains is, in my opinion, 100% the same: XTR, XT and SLX. I have not tested Deore, but I don't expect it to be much different. Shifting does become a bit vague after approximately 2000km as the seems to develop lateral play, but it still works fine, just not as good as new.
The XT chains typically cost around 35-45€
EXCELLENT
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed Shimano Hyperglide+ compatible drivetrains only
Closure: Quick Link SM-CN910-12
Coating outer chain link: Siltec
Coating inner chain links: Siltec
Pins: Solid
Color outer chain links: Chrome
Color inner chain links: Chrome
Weight: 278g / 126 links
Weight: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Shifting 5/5
____________________________________________________________
Sunrace CS12s
A low-cost option, mainly known for their rather cheap, but poor cassettes. I bought this chain just to test it, as it costs roughly the same as a GX Eagle chain, only to find out the cost is the only comparable thing between the two.Shifting performance is noticeably worse when compared to the "base line" GX Eagle chain, with noticeable lag and imprecise shifting, even when new. This is not the only problem, the biggest problem is that after approximately 400km the chain is showing MORE than 1/2 link of elongation, so for my riding that would mean I would need to buy 12-14 of these every year! This is hands down the worst chain in the group and cannot be recommended to anyone under any conditions. The included chain lock is also terrible and does not like to close or open properly.
GARBAGE!
Material: chromoly steel
Compatibility: 12-speed drives
Closure: quick link
Coating outer chain link: nickel
Coating inner chain links: teflon (questionable, as the color is identical to the outer links)
Pins: standard
Color outer chain links: silver
Color inner chain links: silver
Weight: 268g / 126 links
Weight: 3/5
Finish: 3/5
Durability: 0,5/5
Shifting 1/5
____________________________________________________________
KMC X12 TI-N
Quality third party, or is it? Quite bluntly: NO! This was the second worst chain in the test group. The promises of normally very durable, and XX1 level titanium nitride coatings and special shift ramps led me to buy this chain when I bought the Yeti SB150.Shifting performance was iffy at best, very poor at the worst even when new. I thought this was down to a worn cassette, but compared to a GX let alone an X01 Eagle chain, I found out it was indeed the chain. The original Sram chain shift heaps better, more consistently and faster than the KMC even when new, and the best part: An X01 Eagle chain with 2000km was showing half the wear and elongation of the KMC, which I retired at 817km and 1/2 link of elongation. The included chain link is OK, but it's not supposed to be re-used.
ALL SHOW, NO GO!
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed drives (Shimano not tested)
Closure: KMC quick link
Coating outer chain link: titanium nitride coating
Coating inner chain links: titanium nitride coating
Pins: Standard
Color outer chain links: gold
Color inner chain links: gold
Weight: 268g / 126 links
Weight: 3/5
Finish: 5/5
Durability: 1/5
Shifting 2/5
____________________________________________________________
YBN Yaban 12-speed
Also considered a "quality" third party option, I got one of these chains with my e13 cassette and frankly expected quite a bit from it, only to be sorely disappointed! Note that the chain that comes with the E13 cassette is not the hollow pin version, so it could be that there are differences between the two as there are with different tier Sram chain. It's next to impossible to find any concrete information on this chain online, apart from the Yaban catalog.Shifting performance when new is about on par with GX Eagle with no noticeable lag or roughness. The finish looks similar to Sunrace, and upon closer inspection I would be hard pressed to say these could very well be 2 identical chains. This is backed-up by the VERY poor durability! I've ran the E13 cassette with 2 chains and at one point I had this YBN and a GX Eagle chain in the loop. What was the outcome? The GX Eagle chain is still usable after about 1000km, but the YBN had to be ditched at roughly 800km due to very heavy wear and elongation. I retired the chain at 1/2 link elongation, while at the same time the GX Eagle with higher mileage was still showing about 1/3. Shifting was surprisingly good all the way to the end, with noticeable deterioration only about 100km before the chain was retired. The included chain lock is OK, but not on par with Sram, especially if opened and closed a few times.
AVERAGE
Material: steel
Compatibility: 12-speed drives (Shimano not tested)
Closure: quick link
Coating outer chain link: claimed chrome, TBA
Coating inner chain links: claimed chrome, TBA
Pins: Standard
Color outer chain links: silver
Color inner chain links: silver
Weight: 272g / 126 links
Weight: 4/5
Finish: 3/5
Durability: 3/5
Shifting 3/5
____________________________________________________________
EDIT: 27.7.2023, updated with information on XX1.
EDIT: 23.8.2023, updated with information on Shimano XTR / XT
Comments
Post a Comment