Chains??? Help

abarth_1200

Hi everyone.

Having a look at chains and dont quite know what to look for.

I have an 8 speed sram cassette and a kmc X8 chain.

I would like something a bit tougher and durable than your regular run of the mill chain, possibly even a gold one.

What I dont understand is why chains are sold as 8 or 9 or 10 speeds, is the distance between the links different or are the chains just longer?

Can someone enlighten me and maybe recommend me a good chain, would a shimano chain fit my sram groupset, im gessing it would.

Thanks folks.

supersonic

The chains get narrower.

The more expensive ones can be weaker.

Just got a bog standard SRAM 8 speed, they work very well.

allthegearnoidea

KMC chains tend to be stronger than most others, and iirc they do a gold in 8sp??
as super said, they get narrower to work in the same space with an extra cog!

abarth_1200

ah so the 10 speed cassettes are the same overall width as an 8 speed its just the sprockets that get closer together hence a narrower chain.

Thanks guys

Is my above assumption correct then

supersonic

An 8 speed chain is an 8 speed chain, regardless of make - they all work.