Cassette and Chain best buys

joebe
joebe Posts: 333
edited April 2008 in Workshop
Time to replace my cassette and chain(s) for a 10speed 105.

The questions are:

Are SRAM hollow pin chains Shimano compatible, or are there specific ones now they have their own groupsets.
What about their cassettes? I know they used to be

Any one tried KMC or wippermann chains?

105 vs Ultegra Cassette?

I want to avoid the 105 chain as I can't be bothered with the connecting pins and would prefer a powerlink of some kind.

Cheers
pink is the new black
Doris hanging out by the river

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I'd get a KMC chain (they're ace) and a 105 Cassette.
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  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    I've had excellent results too with KMC chains on an otherwise shimano drivetrain.

    There is no reason to get the Ultegra cassette over the 105.
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    I'm running a KMC 10L on my Campag. bike, and it's very nice - Seemingly much better than the prev. Veloce chain, but maybe that's because my recollection of the Campag. chain is one of it being dirty and worn.
    The 10L is about 20 quid cheaper than the 10SL.

    The Wippermann re-usable link is much easier to release in order to clean the chain, whereas my KMC re-usable link is a real pain to break - I'm also a little concerned that the KMC re-usable link is perhaps not designed to be opened/closed that often, judging by the way it clicks together.

    I cannot, however, comment on the Wippermann chains, as we only use the re-usable link (on a Campag. Veloce chain).
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i like KMC chains - got them on all my bkes - from the fancy 10-spd gold 'SL" version on my new carbon wonder - to the 1/8" track chain on my fixed gear - they are all excellent.

    as for cassettes - the last shimano one I bought - I got from ribble - I originally wanted the 105 model but it wa £25 and the tiagra one was £11.99 - holding them both in my hand I couldn't telll the difference so went for the tiagra one - it was fine!
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    I used SRAM chains over Shimano for many years on 7sp/8sp/9sp, for the <massive> convenience of the missing link, never had any problems, thought (still do) that they're great.

    But when I got 10sp I found that it's a one-time-use link, might be easier to join than Shimano's pin, but no more use if you want to split and rejoin the chain for cleaning, maintenance or to take it off when you fly.
    So I'm using KMC 10sp, where the link is reusable, and they're fine too.

    SRAM 8 & 9sp cassettes are interchangeable with Shimano, again used them and they're great, but their 10sp cassettes are for use with SRAM Force/Red/etc shifters and aren't compatible with Shimano 10sp STIs, I'm pretty sure.

    I wouldn't bother with an Ultegra 10sp cassette over 105 10sp - maybe a few grams in it, but not much at all and no fancy metallurgy that's worth the difference in price.

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