Campagnolo 11sp chains

antlaff

Hi

besides LBS is there a cheaper way on linking a new chorus 11sp than using Ultralink 11sp Chain Tool (UT-CN300) @ £140 approx!! do most just get LBS to swap over?

Wirral_paul

Lezyne do a much cheaper version that does the job (worked fine for me anyway)

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/wl.aspx?3&req=0-L_1_MT_CT11SP

I should add however, I'll be fitting a KMC 11 speed chain link at some stage though - just for the convenience of being able to remove the chain easily. Campagnolo spare pins are pretty expensive. If doing it again then i'd say go for the KMC link. Glad I have the tool now though as a permanent repair can be done on a broken chain if required using the spare pins

flasher

KMC 11 speed Missing link?

£12.99

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-11-speed-chain-links/

ugo.santalucia

12.90 for a link? 140 for a tool? Bllody hell, one needs a mortgage to run 11 speed... I'll stick to my 9 and use any standard tool to open/lock the rivets

ajb72

ugo.santalucia wrote:

12.90 for a link? 140 for a tool? Bllody hell, one needs a mortgage to run 11 speed... I'll stick to my 9 and use any standard tool to open/lock the rivets

or just buy an 11 speed KMC chain in the first place - not much more than a Chorus chain and comes with the missing link connection.

Velonutter

Any chain tool will shorten the chain and as Flasher said get a KMC quick link around £12 for two, been using the 10 and now the 11 for years.

Chrissz

ajb72 wrote:

or just buy an 11 speed KMC chain in the first place - not much more than a Chorus chain and comes with the missing link connection.

What he said

tonybanham

If you do buy the Chorus 11 speed chain you could use the 11 speed link by YBN avaiable from Merlin @ £1.99 +PP each (code:YBNQR11).

Seems to work well- I have been using one for several months now.

proto

Velonutter wrote:

Any chain tool will shorten the chain and as Flasher said get a KMC quick link around £12 for two, been using the 10 and now the 11 for years.

Yep, as already said, KMC Missing link. Had them on 10 speed and now on 11 speed. Work a treat.

antlaff

Thanks all looks like the KMC route is the firm favourite - just need a splitter, chain and the money!

How does the KMC chain compare to the chorus ? Is it more durable or more suitable to the links?

Wirral_paul

KMC chains are generally excellent - may as well go for one and get the £12 missing link included in the price.

antlaff

Wirral_Paul wrote:

KMC chains are generally excellent - may as well go for one and get the £12 missing link included in the price.

Thanks didnt pick up on that

neeb

Why on earth don't Campagnolo (or Shimano for that matter) adopt a similar solution? Is it because KMC have the copyright on missing link type connections? It's not as if they must make a lot of money selling £140 chain tools...

As it happens I forked out for the infamously over-priced 11sp tool (I also have the 10sp one, mug that I am..) and it works very well, but I have to wonder why I bothered. On the one hand, £140 isn't that much to spend every 5 or 10 years (every time Campagnolo add a sprocket..) for a tool you use regularly, the tool itself is by far the best chain tool I have ever used and I have never had a chain break, but on the other hand if the missing link works so well it seems bizarre that it's not standard issue.

antlaff

Does the missing link come with all KMC 11sp chains? its just wiggle has 2 the L & SL with only the SL stating that its included?
L
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-x11-l-silver-11-speed-chain/#more
SL
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-x11-sl-silver-11-speed-chain/#more

Chrissz

I got an 11spd chain splitter from Ice Toolz for about £30 and used a PowerLink or Missing Link to join the chain - much cheaper, easier option!

Lucky Douglas

Or just stop taking the chain off.

rolf_f

Lucky Douglas wrote:

Or just stop taking the chain off.

But if you ride your bike, they wear out.......

schlepcycling

Tonybanham wrote:

If you do buy the Chorus 11 speed chain you could use the 11 speed link by YBN avaiable from Merlin @ £1.99 +PP each (code:YBNQR11).

Seems to work well- I have been using one for several months now.

Is the YBN link reuseable?

tonybanham

Yes it is re-usable, just swapped over to a compact chainset, undid the YPN link, shortened the chain & re-joined with same link.
A cheaper solution than the KMC link

ajb72

Worth noting that KMC do not recommend the quick-link on their 11 speed chains as being re-usable. Don't know if this has anything to do with the narrower profile but unlike the 10 speed versions it may not be a great idea to keep removing the chain for cleaning etc.

FransJacques

neeb wrote:

Why on earth don't Campagnolo (or Shimano for that matter) adopt a similar solution? Is it because KMC have the copyright on missing link type connections? It's not as if they must make a lot of money selling £140 chain tools..

No they don't have the patent on it b/c SRAM/Sedis/Sachs (take your pick) do it and so does Connex. In fact it's only the big 2 (C & S) who don't offer this. Everyone who does their own wrenching has a bunch of KMC or Sram quick-links on their bikes and in the toolkit.

In fact, you should always ride (esp off-road) with one in your seatbag or taped somewhere safe in case of a chain failure.

antlaff

Sorted getting chain tool, new chain, KMC link and ordering some YPN links as back ups in the saddle bag just in case. Thanks all