Shimano DM one piece chainring - do they exist?

The XTR is one piece but it's crazy money for a chainring. One up are fine but they aren't one piece, more like a traditional spider with 4 bolts. I'm sure there will be plenty of other non-shimano options.

Both Unite and Works Components do one piece offerings. Sure Superstar might also and Blackspire

Burgtec

Absolute Black must do one piece as well

I've got the unite chainring, nicely machined and does the job

Unite

Works components.

Lost some of those bolts on a ride - tamper-proof bolt that comes loose, terrible design for a single ring.

Mate complained to Shimano and they sent him a new one. Remember Shimano is often two year warranty.

The Deckas ones from aliexpress are solid and very cheap in comparison. I've just swapped them when changing the chain.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4000989542507.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2deu

Burgtec are decent but not cheap.

Blackspire were cheap at CRC but seemed to wear quickly.

Superstar have been saying they're "coming soon" for ages.

Sadly the Deckas ones don't come in the 28t that I need.

I bought a unite one because works components hasn't got one in the size I needed at the time but the silver finish wasn't anything like the photos and the after sales was a bit like dealing with someone on Facebook market place.... i.e go with works components.

Not had a problem with either of the XT ones I have.Ones a bit over 2 yrs old and the other almost 4 yrs old.

Given how well the Shimano ones last, I'd just get a security Torx key and check periodically.

Having had chainrings from all sorts lf different brands, Burgtec are the only ones I wouldnt recommend. Quality in terms of tolerances was pretty poor.

Grumpy with my SLX chainring where the stupid T10 security torx bolts have started to undo themselves 10 months after I sent the chainring back for warranty. More grumpy with myself for not buying a security torx tool to fix these with.

Do XT rings have this problem too?

Not seen an XT do it, but many SLXs have. So many in fact we got Unite to make us a couple hundred SLX-coloured chainrings instead of using the SLX rings for this exact reason - they were/are very good but those were anodised not cerakote ones.

And while we're on the subject of chainrings.

How do some brands think it's OK to charge £70 for a bit of CNC-ed aluminium? Are people actually paying that much?

Blackspire were cheap at CRC but seemed to wear quickly.

Not my experience, but I guess varies on location/terrain etc.

Unite rings retention isn't as good as Burgtec or Blackspire, slightest backpedaling on the 51t cog and the Unite one dropped the chain every time, Blackspire and Burgtec kept hold of it, that's my personal experience, maybe their 30t, 28t size rings fair better. Hollow torx bits are pretty easy to get hold of, as are the bolts if you lose any, seems a simple fix rather than binning the chainring.

Not my experience, but I guess varies on location/terrain etc.

Those and Uberbike are the only chainrings I've noticed to be short-lived.

I do have at least three more Blackspire ones in stock though, so hopefully those will last longer.

And while we’re on the subject of chainrings.

How do some brands think it’s OK to charge £70 for a bit of CNC-ed aluminium? Are people actually paying that much?

The expensive ones are usually from engineering companies, cnc-ing and adonising on site. You've got design, tooling, labour, etc. And a lower output. Relative costs are higher

Want cheap stamped rings then buy the dekas mass produced stuff.

Unite, works, burgtec etc. Are just a different bit of the market and cost more accordingly

Unite, works, burgtec etc. Are just a different bit of the market and cost more accordingly

IIRC Works are about £40 and I might just stretch to that, because I like them as a company.

Burgtec are £50, I can't bring myself to pay that but I know some people will.

Absolute Black & Wolf Tooth are around £75, that's what my comment was about really.

Ideally want Superstar to pull their finger out, so I can buy some in one of their sales. Always found they last very well.

Those and Uberbike are the only chainrings I’ve noticed to be short-lived.

Faiy-nuff, I'll keep an eye on mine a bit more closely 👍

Anyone tried one of those Bucklos rings off eBay, look very XTR for about £16.

My Unite 30t ring has gone totally unnoticed from a it just works point of view.

Looks a lot prettier than the stock Deore one too.

I would get the torx bit and some Loctite, the Shimano chainrings are steel with the rest of crankset aluminium so should last longer than all the aluminium chainrings.

I bought a Deckas one to replace my XTR when it's needed, the machining looks good and the finish is ace, to be fair if you get 1000km out of one, for the price it'll do.

My kids run deckas rings on their CX and road bikes, I've got a collection from 30 to 38t and they're wearing well enough, the 34t one did a season of CX and a season on crit racing under the eldest and its barely marked.

Thanks all for the advice.

I agree with above that it depends on riding. These seem to come apart on me in the Alps but for UK riding seem to hold up ok.

As the bolt heads aren't countersunk in I could get just enough purchase with some molgrips and they stayed all tight today. I literally did a full run of the megavalanche course today so was testing them enough id imagine. No way of warrantying it now though as I've quite obviously tampered with the tamperproof bolts lol.

2 days in La Grave now and then we pass through Briançon. Hopefully bricorama come through with a security torx...

SLX have held fine for me, only UK riding though. Rings only £30.

I bought a unite one because works components hasn’t got one in the size I needed at the time but the silver finish wasn’t anything like the photos and the after sales was a bit like dealing with someone on Facebook market place…. i.e go with works components.

Cerakote stuff rather than the previous anodised stuff? I sent their Cerakote pedals back, they were just grey, then managed to find what might have been the last anodised pair in the country.

The annoying IIRC thing is that they’re not a standard shaped bolt but have an odd shoulder I think… so if you lose them they’re not easy to find a replacement

Literallyjust diacorvered my chainring has lost a bolt and another very loose. Will try the warranty route after reading this.

So are Shimano basically the only ones making two peice rings for their own cranks?

Unite rings retention isn’t as good as Burgtec or Blackspire,

I'm inclined to agree with this - you can see the Unite teeth aren't as steep or square as many others.

The flip aide of that is they run nicer and quieter in filth than many, and I use a chain guide irrespective. I'm happy to use them as my preferred, but I am choking a bit at their new prices.

aren't the shimano ones a alu spider and a steel ring to give the best blend of weight/longevity?

my XT did it, wiggle warrantied it, took 2-3 weeks