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The wife and I have just bought new e-bikes (YT Decoys) and as they’re 12 speed (currwnt bikes are 11 speed) I need to start stocking up the spares box.
What’s the strongest 12 speed chain that will work with the Shimano group set?
I figure I might as well get the strongest there is as everyone says e-bikes are harder on drivetrains.
Depends a little on what you mean by compatible. Shimano 12 speed is hyperglide PLUS. The plus part of that is provided by the chamfers on the Shimano chains so Shimano will give the best performance. However, lost of 12 speed chains will run on Shimano cassettes perfectly well.
When you say "strongest", are you looking for the chain that will take the highest load before snapping, or the one that offers the most resistance to wear?
Generally, wear life is influenced by the quality of plating on the chain and how clean you keep the chain. Generally going to the higher end of any chain range gives more miles per £.
I use XTR on my 12 Shimano stuff and SRAM XX1 on other stuff.
I also use immersion chain waxing and have at least 3 chains for each bike in regular rotation.
XTR is the longest lasting chain they produce, I'd say as a byproduct of that it's the strongest also.
I've always upgraded the chain to either XT/Ultegra or XTR/Dura Ace as well. I tend to get at least 2 to 3 chains per cassette changing them at 0.5 wear but I'll throw the stock chain back on for the 3rd one if I still have it. With Sram I've had pretty good luck with GX chains but wouldn't go any lower.
For E-Bikes I'd use either a KMC or YBN chain.
They both do E-Bike specific versions.
YBN are a huge Taiwanese company who only make motorcycle & bicycle chains.
I had a couple of YBN chains on E-Bikes & measured them regularly with a KMC digital chain checker & they hardly seemed to wear but I sold both bikes on before I ever wore them out.
I'd just get the mid range KMC, but without the cutouts - i.e. the SL chains, or their e-bike ones.
This is handy. SRAM X0 or XX1 comes out quite well.
https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/latest-zero-friction-cycling-news-chain-efficience-vs-longevity/
I've had great life out of Shimano XT and ultegra chains recently.
Not going to buy SRAM while Trump is trying to annexe Canada.
Not going to buy SRAM while Trump is trying to annexe Canada.