KMC X9L Gold or other bling to replace Shimano HG53 & HG

pilsburypie

Have at the moment a Shimano HG53 on one bike and a HG73 on the other (both 9 speed). Fancy blinging them a bit - nothing more than that!

So will the KMC X9L be ok for both?

Are there any other decent chains that will add some bling?

Aaaaye!

bails87

If they're both 9 speed chains then yes, no problems. Unless your chainrings/cassettes are worn of course.

pilsburypie

I'd hazard a guess that one bike has done around 1000miles and the other about 400 miles....... That shouldn't require new sprockets should it?

bails87

Couldn't say. Buy a chain checker, that way you can replace your chain before it starts to excessively wear the cogs.

pilsburypie

Bought..... a fiver from wiggle....

richg1979

a fiver that will prob end up in the bin in the first week. total garbage.

The Spiderman

richg1979 wrote:

a fiver that will prob end up in the bin in the first week. total garbage.

Eh? Chain checker is a very worthwhile investment!

bails87

richg1979 wrote:

a fiver that will prob end up in the bin in the first week. total garbage.

You do talk some rubbish rich!

Northwind

X9L's a great chain, mine's outlasted a 990 by far already and still isn't dead, in the same conditions. Got another one to replace it with when it does die. In manly silver though, none of your Night Fever nonsense here.

ride_whenever

not too sure on the chain checker front, 12 links should be 12" if it is more than a 1/16 over then replace. If it is over 1/8th then new sprockets and potentially chainrings, but you can check those by seeing how much the chain lifts up. If they're worn then a stretched chain won't move, if the worn chain lifts considerably you are probably okay.

Or buy the rohloff sprocket wear measurer.

bails87

ride_whenever wrote:

not too sure on the chain checker front, 12 links should be 12" if it is more than a 1/16 over then replace. If it is over 1/8th then new sprockets and potentially chainrings, but you can check those by seeing how much the chain lifts up. If they're worn then a stretched chain won't move, if the worn chain lifts considerably you are probably okay.

Or buy the rohloff sprocket wear measurer.

.....Or just buy the chain checker and replace before the chain wears the rest of the drivetrain.

bannedbiker

bails87 wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

not too sure on the chain checker front, 12 links should be 12" if it is more than a 1/16 over then replace. If it is over 1/8th then new sprockets and potentially chainrings, but you can check those by seeing how much the chain lifts up. If they're worn then a stretched chain won't move, if the worn chain lifts considerably you are probably okay.

Or buy the rohloff sprocket wear measurer.

.....Or just buy the chain checker and replace before the chain wears the rest of the drivetrain.

Or use a rule to measure the chain and your eyes to see the wear on the rings/sprockets...

ride_whenever

The thing is, with varied materials used in chains and sprockets, you can have perfect chainrings and a very worn chain and cassette. The "just look at it" method works well if you have an eye for these things, but many people just wont have a clue what to look for. A basic repeatable method for checking is useful.

bannedbiker

ride_whenever wrote:

The thing is, with varied materials used in chains and sprockets, you can have perfect chainrings and a very worn chain and cassette. The "just look at it" method works well if you have an eye for these things, but many people just wont have a clue what to look for. A basic repeatable method for checking is useful.

Fair shout, cant really argue with that! I forget that not everyone's an engineer

ride_whenever

Well most reasonably intelligent experienced cyclist can just look and see, and it is easy to spot wear, but it's where you draw the line and replace that only comes with workshop experience really.

tjwood

Northwind wrote:

X9L's a great chain, mine's outlasted a 990 by far already and still isn't dead, in the same conditions. Got another one to replace it with when it does die. In manly silver though, none of your Night Fever nonsense here.

Was thinking of getting one of these - but from what I can tell the gold colour is more than just bling and is actually due to the coating, a different metal (titanium nitride) from the silver, so the gold ought to be better (more corrosion resistant?)

bannedbiker

ride_whenever wrote:

Well most reasonably intelligent experienced cyclist can just look and see, and it is easy to spot wear, but it's where you draw the line and replace that only comes with workshop experience really.

I ride with a lot of experienced cyclists who are neither reasonable or intelligent...! :P

ride_whenever

i'm a grad student, i know intelligent rarely mates with sensible...

I like to think i'm pretty intelligent, I would never claim to be sensible, nor should any mtber!!!! It is a down-right silly sport.

Also the TiN offers superior friction as it is much smoother and i think a touch harder than the nickel plated ones.

solarflash

Sorry to bring this thread back but does the silver version have the TiN coating too? Parker have it listed on their website as having the coating...

Northwind

No idea. Doesn't seem to need it if it doesn't though.

The only criticism I have of these chains is that they're a wee bit easy to bend, if they chainsuck, because of the slotted plates I assume. Now fair enough any chain can bend when it gets jammed up so it's not a big downer but it's a bit irritating when it happens. Especially if it happens 6 times in a 10-mile race lap

Da Mighty Chicken

solarFlash wrote:

Sorry to bring this thread back but does the silver version have the TiN coating too? Parker have it listed on their website as having the coating...

Not according to KMC it doesn't: http://www.kmcchain.eu/?en/products/multiple_speed/9_speed_derailleur/