CHAINS!!!! AARRRGH!!! Has this ever happened to you?

[ChariotsOfTires]

So took my newly upgraded rig to Bonelli Park this morning for a little ride. About a mile into the ride my CHAIN BREAKS. Brand new chain, only 9 miles on it!!!!!
Take the chain back to Incycle (where I bought it) and they warrantied the SRAM 970 9 spd chain. Put a new one on and headed back to Bonelli to continue my ride. Brand new chain working great until mile 1.5 SNAP!!!!!!!! The second chain broke? Seriously? I was prepared this time. Bought a quick link last time at Incycle. Fixed the chain and finished my ride.
Took the bike back to Incycle where I had them put on a Shimano XT 9 spd chain. We have to see if the Shimano Chain will hold up, unlike the SRAM.

Has anyone run into this issue with SRAM Chains?

Related Thread on the upgrades: From Stock to Rock!!! Upgrade Time.

[jamesdc]

The sram chains are absolute crap, I have broken them more times then I can count and I will never buy a sram chain again.

[m0to]

I broke the chain on my Nomad the first week I had it...

[schleppp]

I rode my SRAM chain for 2 years before it snapped, and it was my fault for pedaling through with a branch stuck in my chainring...

[ChariotsOfTires]

I think I'm in agreement jamesdc. I love the shifters and derailer, but the chain sucked.

[ghixon]

Been running 970's for a few years and never had one break yet. Bent a few, but never broke one.

[Tedroy]

Please take public transportation for your safety and ours.

[thephat]

Could be a bad run of chains, all from one box.

I have not noticed a pattern of Shimano chains being stronger than Sram on the whole. I know folks who have had bad luck with Shimano. I know some folks who swear that no 9 speed chain is strong enough for mountain biking.

Also, check for bent teeth on rings and cogs. Are you getting chain suck? Maybe just some dancing in one of the rings? You may have a drivetrain wear issue being exposed by the new chain. Chain suck, skipping gears, and miss shifts under load all can cause chain failure.

[ChariotsOfTires]

Originally Posted by Tedroy

Please take public transportation for your safety and ours.

That is awesome!!! Maybe too phat, but definately not too strong!!!!

[ryandood]

I've been running a 951 SRAM for a few months and it works fine for me.

[station]

Here's a related question. I've heard you can't change your chain without changing your cassette. True?

[thephat]

Originally Posted by station

Here's a related question. I've heard you can't change your chain without changing your cassette. True?

You can, but many mechanics will suggest that you change the cassette, and the rings. It is an easier way to not get yelled at than to take the time to make somone understand all of the issues.

For some, it is worth avoiding the chance that you have to take your bike back to the bike shop. I know that is not most of our attitude, but you guys are not the general public.

I am not talking about our shop here.

[ChariotsOfTires]

Originally Posted by thephat

Could be a bad run of chains, all from one box.

I have not noticed a pattern of Shimano chains being stronger than Sram on the whole. I know folks who have had bad luck with Shimano. I know some folks who swear that no 9 speed chain is strong enough for mountain biking.

Also, check for bent teeth on rings and cogs. Are you getting chain suck? Maybe just some dancing in one of the rings? You may have a drivetrain wear issue being exposed by the new chain.

Rear Cassette is brand new as well as the chains. 07 SRAM 990 9 spd. I was in the middle chain ring both times on similar hills. The chain rings are probably getting close to needing replacement. No chain suck or skipping.

[DirtymikeTDB]

I run Sram 970 chains, And I beat the holy hell out of them, I havent broken a chain in years, last chain I broke was a crappy KMC that came on my old KHS rage.


Jus tot add In I am using them for AM and DH, i weigh in at 245 without gear on and I absolutly pound the hell out of my bike on climbs, out of teh saddle, Hi gear stomp my way up.

It sounds to me that Thephat has it right, just a bad batch of chains, seen this same thing happen before with shimano just the same.

Oh, and I use that quick link on all chains, Except Campy of coarse. I have seen more than a few bikes running stock shimano chains with a sram powerlink on them.

Originally Posted by station

Here's a related question. I've heard you can't change your chain without changing your cassette. True?

Thats a load of crap, it all depends on how long you run the same chain, and how worn you let it get before changing it. Buy a chain checker, and when it says to replace it, do so. I go through about 5-9 chains a year on both the DH and Roadie bike. I use teh Park tools chain checker, and when it hits the .75 mark... New chain. Oh and My cassette is 5 years old.


Here Linky to chain checker
http://www.parktool.com/products/det...at=5&item=CC-2

[faded1004]

my sram 971 broke on my second ride... not sure what happened, =just put on another power link and it has't cause any more problems...

[92se-r]

Never broke a chain. But I don't weigh that much so I might not have as much torque.

[RacinJason]

I have had good luck with sram chains. I am thinking of trying the hollow pin sram chain.
The only time I have noticed them break is when people cut them to short then add the links back on because they shortened it to much.. It's never as strong as the original pressed in links.
I have also noticed that single pivot bikes tend to break chains faster than others set ups..

[Mr. Roboto]

My PC991 Hollowpin chain has been perfect for much longer than I should keep a chain(close to a year). At the moment no signs a stretch. Should replace it, but hey it ONLY has about 3k miles on it.

[faded1004]

i actually want to try out the hollow pin one too...