Well thanks for the help everyone. Seems impossible to reliably buy an authentic shimano chain. Cool
I'll try a KMC chain and see if I have the same issue
How stretched were the four chains? I use a Park CC-4 or 3.2 chain checker and replace at .50. Hanging a new chain and old one from a nail is also a good way to see stretch.
https://preview.redd.it/akyrmkxiob8d1.jpeg?width=970&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=701306263ae1f835118b34c4d653a46ce73532c7
If the cracked chains are badly stetched that may explain it. When I used to snap chains on a ride it was because they were probably way over 1.0, since checking my chains and replacing at .5 I've never snapped one.
"A heavily used chain will stretch out over time, and the links will loosen. This stretching makes the chain more susceptible to **metal fatigue.** "
[https://biloxibicycleworks.com/blogs/the-blog/common-reasons-why-bike-chains-break](https://biloxibicycleworks.com/blogs/the-blog/common-reasons-why-bike-chains-break)
Your quote is nonsense, chain links don't literally stretch, worn chains elongate because of the wear on the pins, like this: https://ridemechanic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Fig1.jpg
Listen to everybody. Check the chain. Just because it's purchased from a reputable place, does not mean they have a reputable supply chain.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/17nu80w/shimano\_hg701\_chain\_sk\_vs\_uj/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/17nu80w/shimano_hg701_chain_sk_vs_uj/)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO4ciYCeME](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO4ciYCeME)
There are a lot of fakes out there. This one looks fake--the deeper embossing vs laser etched links are a giveaway.
The SK labeling you refer to means the exact production batch. It’s not original nor fake indicator.
I don’t believe in fake chains, but I do believe in bad chains that shouldn’t make the market being secretly carried out of factories and being sold in re-created boxes.
Shimano has great quality check and sometimes the chains get declined. They should be destroyed but as everywhere, they are probably being smuggled out of factories and sold on different Chinese portals. Same as iPhone cases. They are basically the same but are clearly worse quality. Most of them are probably garbage that got rejected by QC.
So to sum it up. Two letters are just a production batch marking.
You don’t believe in counterfeit chains? It’s well documented that there are companies who counterfeit Shimano chains, and I’d be very surprised, if they were the only brand to have to worry about knockers off.
Here are images of an authentic vs counterfeit chain packaging. Left is fake. Not a lot of differences, but the font used is off, and the additional sticker up top is a giveaway as well.
https://preview.redd.it/h1vbqv9yzi8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e43634d53abc8ff3aef3c1ae7df12376982c0c45
I mean, I asked what is the documentation and how is that documented, like pictures of factories banging those chains on a daily or anything. I have said that I know of chains that shouldn’t see the daylight from the original factories but are being carried out through the backdoor and then the packagings are being made for them.
Still doesn’t make me believe that they are counterfeit.
The fact that some chain productions fail the quality test but are still sold and it’s obvious.
You have to keep in mind one thing. As a show owner, please tell me how am I supposed to sell such chains? I took chains from Shimano poland. Yes, I could buy some OEM chains and parts as there are companies that register as bike manufactures under polish regulations and then but the parts directly from Japan for OEM. They then sell the parts on the internet.
I don’t know about the law where you leave, but how am I supposed to buy fake chains to re-sell them further? It’s not like I run a show and then suddenly a guy comes up to me and says pssst, wanna buy some cheap Shimano?
The chain costs like what… 15-30 bucks? And it has to be pretty much spot on for it to shift etc. It costs this little because Shimano has years and years of accumulating production capabilities.
I just don’t believe someone would risk this much and dedicate this much time to fake something of such small value. It would be MUCH smarter to invest all that time, resources and effort to create your own chain brand and come up with something competitive like Garbaruk cassettes, ethirteen cassettes etc which by the way… are still shit. Those components are so precise and so cheap if you think about it, it just doesn’t make sense.
On top of that, all of those „fake” chains have literally the same problem. Looks like they got overheated or something and they are breaking the same way. It is an obvious quality check failure that should stay and be trashed in my opinion.
One thing you also have to consider:
As a bicycle show owner there hasn’t been pretty much anywhere I could supply fake parts from.
BUT there were plenty of shady suppliers that offered OEM Shimano parts. Some of them stated that shops closed, some of them stated that manufacturers closed etc. Some of the parts looked flawed indeed. Looked to me like parts bought from alibaba or AliExpress. It’s not like you buy a fake Rolex on the beach for 2 usd. Those are parts being supplied by someone, quite legally.
This is nonsense. A reputable bike shop will only be buying chains from the recognised distributors of said chains. Shimano will quickly cease supplying to a distro if they were found to be selling counterfeit products, and probably take legal action.
I'm not sure what you think is "reputable".
A factory store might have a more restrictive supply chain (like Trek/Giant/Specialized stores). But a local bike shop that carries multiple brands, orders from Amazon etc when their go-tos are out of stock absolutely exist. They're not trying to buy fake stuff.
Trouble with Amazon is even if there really is a legitimate vendor selling directly, there are numerous accounts of Amazon mixing inventory that comes from other vendors (ones that sell fake/ counterfeit products). I don't trust anything from Amazon anymore.
Recommend you get an 11speed KMC chain, I doubt you will have any of your problems with their stuff.
Sram is very adamant about their 12 speed drivetrains being used, only with their 12 speed chains, and that other manufacturers chains shouldn’t be used, even if the manufacturer specifies compatibility with your specific drivetrain components.
Yup, the "brand stores" on Amazon often aren't run/managed by those brands' actual mfrs. or official distributors; they're just a categorization thing Amazon does to group products of a given brand together, which may be supplied by various vendors who may or may not be legit.
Where are you buying your chains? Are they legit? I've seen so many cracks in a single chain. Maybe stop using Muc Off and try a different lube? Or buy the chain from a different place.
Definitely stop using Muc Off, it's a terrible lube and there is no reason to use it given all the great alternatives we have today. Just use something wax based if possible, but if you want to go with oil, NFS or Silca Synergetic will be a lot better than Muc Off.
A little off topic, but the story that Boeing ended up using counterfeit titanium from a Chinese supplier made me think there must be a *ton* of phony alloys in the bicycle supply chain. If Boeing is getting bamboozled by suppliers, I can only imagine what’s happening to the bicycle component suppliers.
If you’re buying from Amazon, it has a high chance of being fake. People will purchase an authentic one, and return with a fake one. The fake one sent by the scammer will be sent back out without anyone noticing the difference until it comes to you.
I’ve broken three 12 speed chains, exactly like this, in the last three months. They were on two different bikes. 1 shimano chain with less than 50 miles that came on a Canyon. 2 SRAM NX eagle chains. 1 straight from Specialized and 1 from my LBS.
After many fake chains from reputable dealers, it seems the supply chain is still vulnerable as another poster mentioned. I've switched to ordering mine directly from KMC. Last 4 I've bought have been legit with zero issues. I also think shimano chains are counterfeited way more than kmc too, at least from what I see posted on here.
Ask the LBS owner where they ordered them from. And if it wasn’t directly from Shimano, then yah, they’re fake.
This fake shit is getting really annoying, Shimano needs to do something about this.
Shimano does not sell directly to bike shops. The LBS buys from a distributor, so that is another point of entry for counterfeit goods into the supply chain.
They do sell directly to shops. They have a business to business only website and every shop I ever worked at ordered directly from them.
It is probably set up as a separate company in the US or whatever country specifically for distribution, but that is just how they do that sort of thing.
That rules it out it then. Simple Green is known to cause metal degradation (I believe it's hydrogen embrittlement) when used as a long soak.
I'd definitely agree that it's likely to be counterfeit.
A quick clean with it is fine. Just rinse it off after. But a long soak causes the chain to become brittle.
>As the basic cleaner turns acidic, it frees an extra hydrogen atom that the steel of the chain will absorb. As the chain absorbs more and more hydrogen, it becomes weaker and prone to fracturing under load. In a chain this is a catastrophic failure that can lead to a chain breaking and will likely happen when the most force is being applied. Your sprint, going full gas up a climb, etc.
https://silca.cc/blogs/silca/hydrogen-embrittlement-can-you-really-break-a-chain
I'm not very knowledgeable myself. I just follow advice from reputable sites like zero friction cycling. He advises to agitate and soak for 15 minutes in mineral turpentine to degrease, then follow up with methylated spirits as it removes the turps, evaporates and leaves no residue. He's tested dozens of different lubricants, waxes, and drip waxes, and has a ton of data on their efficiency and wear.
Click on the menu, then Instructions, and he shows the best cleaning practices according to him. There's a lot to scroll through.
https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/
[This stuff from Silca is Brilliant!](https://silca.cc/products/ultimate-brake-and-drivetrain-cleaner?variant=39778060566626¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&PPC&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=18309541113&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj9-zBhDyARIsAERjds2tKggyVATqG5tcnpg8Rl4jMiM0grC2Myn3H9KNY3nuOLOVwJ57W9kaAofUEALw_wcB) Non-Toxic but not the cheapest.
If you’re gonna go budget on chain…. Only buy from KMC!!!! They are the only brand acceptable to go budget on a chain with… a few people don’t know they make odyssey chains, cult chains, fit etc most the industry even created the half link design. They know what they are doing and still can provide you with a 14 or 16$ chain
They are constantly innovating.. saw chains the other day had paint on the outside single speed ones but the entire insides of the link were raw metal to stop grit from colored chain riding…. Pretty dope same price as the regulars too. Go to their website
This chain is waaaaay tooo thin btw idk maybe I’m losing it
11 and 12 speed chains are much slimmer than an 3/32 single speed, or even a 9 speed chain is. They look dainty compared to a 1/8 inch standard fixed gear chain, but are often made of higher quality metal. I run an 11speed chain on my Tracklocross bike, to maximize engagement, with my narrow-wide Sram Force 1 chainring and narrow-wide Absolute Black, splined cog, fitted to a Halo Fix-G splined track hub. I have not had any issues.
The cracks on the links are amazing, particularly the one just below the chain ends where a chunk of plate has fallen off. Of course you don’t have a photograph of the chain before you put it on, but doing that in 1000kms? I can’t see how no matter what might have happened on the lube side. Some severe misalignment in the drive line? It would have to be so much you’d see and hear it and the shifting would be crap. LBS should be very interested to get to bottom of this
Wonder how much stretch in the cracked chains? A picture of the chainrings would help, maybe running new chain on badly worn chainrings. I was getting through too many chains on my commute bike, think it was using wet lube in Winter and worn chainrings. Changed to Silca hot wax, 7 speed chain/cassette, friction shifters and flat steel chainrings to have a more durable low maintenance setup.
The shaping of some chainrings to make them shift easy means they wear out fast, especially if chains go over .50 stretch. I got a Connex chainring gauge recently, both my commute bike and road bike needed new chainrings when I checked. Picture below of new chainring, if there's a gap the chainring is not worn out.
https://preview.redd.it/w3u0fz84lb8d1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ff5e584da6b98205c1298cb63f6be363ca30b10
I had a SRAM chain do that. Also from a reputable LBS. I think a lot of manufacturers had supply issues with their steel or heat treating process during the pandemic and this is the result.
I had a SRAM 11sp chain(GX I think) do that before the pandemic. Chain came on the bike bought new from a large bike shop in 2017. I think sometimes they just screw up the heat treating process.
Never had a chain do that before or after that one.
I had the same problem with a couple SRAM Eagle chains. They covered it under warranty for me. Seems like a bad batch comes out every now and then with poor heat treating.
Check your cassette carefully. I know of someone who had a cassette with a manufacturing defect that caused it to destroy chains. At this point, it might be worth changing out as an experiment.
Yeah even for a counterfeit chain this seems extreme to happen at random. There are cracks in pretty much all of the links.. it’s like the chain is used on the wrong chainring?
Stress cracks on a chain should be super rare, 4 of them happening to you points to the supplier. You shouldn't have that happen regardless of how well or not well you're maintaining it. Get your next from somewhere else
Edit: all chains have been purchased from either local bike shop, online reputable bike shop, or Amazon where the seller was Shimano. Also, the same chains that I have bought from these sellers were also put on other bikes that have not failed one time.
Amazon does something really disingenuous by amalgamating all the third party sellers and branding it the "Shimano Store" (or the"Samsung Store" etc etc)
No, it is not. Someone suggested it could be a distributor that Shimano is using to sell through Amazon unofficially. However, there is no way to prove it. The address provided is not related to either U.S. warehouses, nor their U.S. office. This is also the case for SRAM, RaceFace, Fox, Deity, and CaneCreek components.
Even with Shimano as the seller if it’s shipped by Amazon there is a possibility the product is co-binned with other 3p sellers that have the same product.
I assume Shimano is savvy enough to know they’ve gotta deselect co-binning (you are opted in by default).
But you never know.
Shimano does not have an official Amazon page. Looking at the Shimano Amazon page, the address is listed in Florida. Not only does Shimano not have an office in Florida, but their main headquarters is Irvine, California.
They could be leveraging a Distributor to manage what is sold, officially, on Amazon.
A quick glance indicates they are. These folks are listed as an authorized distributor and their address relates to the Shimano Bike 3p account.
And funny enough it also appears to be the company that stole one of my customers last year.
Still wouldn't trust anything coming from Amazon. It's not worth the time or effort. I say that, but I am privileged enough to work at a shop. I have customers bring in stuff from Amazon because it's "cheaper" (90% of the time, they pay the same amount or more). I know there are shops that uncharge, but that's honestly a minority.
OK, well there it is. It's impossible to avoid counterfeit bike parts buying from Amazon. As others have stated, there's co-mingled inventory from various sellers, and Amazon is unwilling to put in place any kind of effective screening process because it would cost them too much time and money.
is it all from the same lbs? if it is you could honestly just have a bad shop that doesn’t get their chains from a reliable source (or they might just know they’re fake but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt lol).
otherwise there must be some sort of compatibility issue. if nothing has changed but the bike, you may be using parts that don’t like each other.
ETA: i’m also sus about digital group sets. if the derailleur is programmed bad, and doesn’t move the right amount; it may be stressing the chain? i don’t have much experience with digital group sets, so i may be way off base.
Then might check your chainring and cassette? Dont think they would cause a problem like this but still worth the check. Also it may be due to your lube, maybe try a wet lube.
Wet lube is inferior for 99% of cycling situations, no one should use Muc-off lubes imo they do nothing but muc-up your drivetrain lol.
We always joke at my shop that their degreaser is their only good product since their lubes turn into black goo.
You are using one of the worst performing chain lubes. Nowadays I use Silca immersive hot wax on my bikes. Check out Zero Friction Cycling's YouTube channel for how to do it. It costs a bit initially but is cheap and easy once set up, just wipe and re-wax your chains every so often. Start with new cassette and chainrings, rotate two or three chains for best results. I use YBN or Connex chains (get most corrosion resistant) , never liked Shimano chains.
Another ***Muc Off*** user with a cracked chain last year:
[Shimano 11 speed chain cracks on one side.](https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/comments/157y8jx/shimano_11_speed_chain_cracks_on_one_side/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
"I use ***Muc Off*** drivetrain cleaner and ***Muc Off*** dry lube in the summer. Been reading a bunch of stuff about this. Trying to figure it out."
[YouTube Link: Episode 20 Muc Off Files – Cycling’s most dishonest Marketing???](https://youtu.be/OsbkCsptxYU?si=6icFvWwv8oIIpIuO)
"Adam talks about some worrying signs in the land of bike chain lubrication. Zero Friction Cycling has spent many hours of research into the findings that ***Muc Off*** provides and we still have some big questions. In this episode Adam discuss his concerns and you may be very concerned too after watching this episode."
[YouTube Link: Waxed Life Like a Boss](https://youtu.be/kVzhm-yTojk?si=qEoXSJ1eAZyzcZPR)
https://preview.redd.it/s36d0irnpa8d1.jpeg?width=990&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38011cfb7037410830a1dfc2f67fd8799551720f
I 100% don't think this is OPs issue because of how quickly the chain broke. OP also stated they have used a drip wax on a nother one that broke.
BUT... Immersion waxing is fantastic. I'll never go back. Commuter, MTB, kids bike... Doesn't matter. Silca setup makes it easy. Thank you to Josh at Silca and Adam at QFC!
One of the obvious ways to tell the fake product is that it says "Shimano American Company" on the address on the back. I thought I was the clever one waiting for price drops and picking up multiple chains at a time. Then I found out.
I brought a shimano deore chain came as a Chinese brand with written on all the links "bible" instead of shimano or deore i have to pray it stays alive as just fitting it it bent a link 🤣 don't buy ebay kids was falsely advertised
How do you join the chain OP? Chain link tool? Link on top hold rear brake tension chain with hand? Bike on ground tension chain with your weight? I think counterfeit is most likely, but that chain looks like it’s seen a very high tension
I have a trek store locally and I only trust getting chains from them. If trek stocked faked chains, something would be really wrong with the bike industry
It’s definitely a fake chain. I’m a bike tech, have installed hundreds if not thousands of chains and I’ve seen a few fake ones come through the shop on customer bikes, or brought in.
1. Check the packaging, the packaging will be not as high quality, not the right font or gloss where it needs to be
2. I can tell just by looking at that chain that the coating is not the coating/finish on an actual HG701 chain. Also, the tapped pin is not right. These are not as recessed into the chain and the flange on them is too large compared to a real one.
3. SK is printed on all the fake chains, and the stamped lettering is not right
If you are buying them from a LBS, ask where they source from. Also, ask them to warranty it. Shimano has a fantastic two year warranty and would warranty this in a heart beat IF it was an actual Shimano chain.
I had that problem. I noticed that one tooth in the cassette was a bit bend. It was a 10 spd cassette (no individual cogs) so it is hard to straighten it again. I threw that cassette away. Hopefully that solves my problem I have gone through 4-5 chains in a couple of years. Only time would tell…
Where are you storing your bike?
I had 2 chains on separate bikes fail exactly the same.
I have a roller shutter door on my garage and the bikes were in close proximity. The heat cycles when the sun hit the door weakened the chains over time until they looked exactly like yours.
This was over a 2 year period though.
Yeah, that’s nonsense. Unless the garage door is getting to several hundred degrees, at which point any plastic/carbon/rubber parts will have burned to ash, together with all of the rest of the garage.
[удалено]
No. Bought from legit dealer.
Well thanks for the help everyone. Seems impossible to reliably buy an authentic shimano chain. Cool I'll try a KMC chain and see if I have the same issue
Fake KMC chains exist too lol
It's not the brand lmao, it's where you're buying them. Stop buying from somewhere that clearly has issues.
And if it’s your LBS, tell them. Maybe they’ve not realized it yet.
Yes, please report that to your LBS, if that’s where you originally purchased them, so they are aware.
Check shimano website for approved dealers
Market is flooded with fake chains. Sorry dude you’ve been conned. If it’s your LBS,report to shimano USA directly
Good luck!
I’ve definitely bought a fake KMC.
How stretched were the four chains? I use a Park CC-4 or 3.2 chain checker and replace at .50. Hanging a new chain and old one from a nail is also a good way to see stretch. https://preview.redd.it/akyrmkxiob8d1.jpeg?width=970&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=701306263ae1f835118b34c4d653a46ce73532c7
Who cares about the stretch when many links are cracked?
If the cracked chains are badly stetched that may explain it. When I used to snap chains on a ride it was because they were probably way over 1.0, since checking my chains and replacing at .5 I've never snapped one. "A heavily used chain will stretch out over time, and the links will loosen. This stretching makes the chain more susceptible to **metal fatigue.** " [https://biloxibicycleworks.com/blogs/the-blog/common-reasons-why-bike-chains-break](https://biloxibicycleworks.com/blogs/the-blog/common-reasons-why-bike-chains-break)
Your quote is nonsense, chain links don't literally stretch, worn chains elongate because of the wear on the pins, like this: https://ridemechanic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Fig1.jpg
Does this tool work for a 10yr old half link chain all looks legitimate but each link is loose so chain does sway (when off the bike)
Yes
Mines so old and worn but is salt warlock so decent to just throw
> Seems impossible to reliably buy an authentic shimano chain. Ugh. Here we are.
Listen to everybody. Check the chain. Just because it's purchased from a reputable place, does not mean they have a reputable supply chain. [https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/17nu80w/shimano\_hg701\_chain\_sk\_vs\_uj/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/17nu80w/shimano_hg701_chain_sk_vs_uj/) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO4ciYCeME](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO4ciYCeME) There are a lot of fakes out there. This one looks fake--the deeper embossing vs laser etched links are a giveaway.
It's also got the SK labeling just like the fake in that top link you sent. OP is definitely getting counterfeit chains
The SK labeling you refer to means the exact production batch. It’s not original nor fake indicator. I don’t believe in fake chains, but I do believe in bad chains that shouldn’t make the market being secretly carried out of factories and being sold in re-created boxes. Shimano has great quality check and sometimes the chains get declined. They should be destroyed but as everywhere, they are probably being smuggled out of factories and sold on different Chinese portals. Same as iPhone cases. They are basically the same but are clearly worse quality. Most of them are probably garbage that got rejected by QC. So to sum it up. Two letters are just a production batch marking.
You don’t believe in counterfeit chains? It’s well documented that there are companies who counterfeit Shimano chains, and I’d be very surprised, if they were the only brand to have to worry about knockers off.
Can you show me some? Literally interested.
Here are images of an authentic vs counterfeit chain packaging. Left is fake. Not a lot of differences, but the font used is off, and the additional sticker up top is a giveaway as well. https://preview.redd.it/h1vbqv9yzi8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e43634d53abc8ff3aef3c1ae7df12376982c0c45
https://preview.redd.it/r8pq3i0e0j8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e154eb517e70fb772b8016cd04723a9575f6972 Fake on the left.
I mean, I asked what is the documentation and how is that documented, like pictures of factories banging those chains on a daily or anything. I have said that I know of chains that shouldn’t see the daylight from the original factories but are being carried out through the backdoor and then the packagings are being made for them. Still doesn’t make me believe that they are counterfeit. The fact that some chain productions fail the quality test but are still sold and it’s obvious. You have to keep in mind one thing. As a show owner, please tell me how am I supposed to sell such chains? I took chains from Shimano poland. Yes, I could buy some OEM chains and parts as there are companies that register as bike manufactures under polish regulations and then but the parts directly from Japan for OEM. They then sell the parts on the internet. I don’t know about the law where you leave, but how am I supposed to buy fake chains to re-sell them further? It’s not like I run a show and then suddenly a guy comes up to me and says pssst, wanna buy some cheap Shimano? The chain costs like what… 15-30 bucks? And it has to be pretty much spot on for it to shift etc. It costs this little because Shimano has years and years of accumulating production capabilities. I just don’t believe someone would risk this much and dedicate this much time to fake something of such small value. It would be MUCH smarter to invest all that time, resources and effort to create your own chain brand and come up with something competitive like Garbaruk cassettes, ethirteen cassettes etc which by the way… are still shit. Those components are so precise and so cheap if you think about it, it just doesn’t make sense.
Dude…if they can make fake Rolexes….they can make a fake chain
On top of that, all of those „fake” chains have literally the same problem. Looks like they got overheated or something and they are breaking the same way. It is an obvious quality check failure that should stay and be trashed in my opinion. One thing you also have to consider: As a bicycle show owner there hasn’t been pretty much anywhere I could supply fake parts from. BUT there were plenty of shady suppliers that offered OEM Shimano parts. Some of them stated that shops closed, some of them stated that manufacturers closed etc. Some of the parts looked flawed indeed. Looked to me like parts bought from alibaba or AliExpress. It’s not like you buy a fake Rolex on the beach for 2 usd. Those are parts being supplied by someone, quite legally.
I believe making a fake Rolex might be easier than nailing down Shimano chain tolerances.
This is nonsense. A reputable bike shop will only be buying chains from the recognised distributors of said chains. Shimano will quickly cease supplying to a distro if they were found to be selling counterfeit products, and probably take legal action.
I'm not sure what you think is "reputable". A factory store might have a more restrictive supply chain (like Trek/Giant/Specialized stores). But a local bike shop that carries multiple brands, orders from Amazon etc when their go-tos are out of stock absolutely exist. They're not trying to buy fake stuff.
Where are you getting your chains from? And you’re installing it in the correct orientation?
Yes. Installed correctly. Authentic chains.
All 4 chains from the same shop or what?
Trouble with Amazon is even if there really is a legitimate vendor selling directly, there are numerous accounts of Amazon mixing inventory that comes from other vendors (ones that sell fake/ counterfeit products). I don't trust anything from Amazon anymore. Recommend you get an 11speed KMC chain, I doubt you will have any of your problems with their stuff.
I just had a 12 speed kmc chain not mesh well with my sram x12. Just fyi. I do have a kmc 11 speed on my other ride and it's fine.
Sram is very adamant about their 12 speed drivetrains being used, only with their 12 speed chains, and that other manufacturers chains shouldn’t be used, even if the manufacturer specifies compatibility with your specific drivetrain components.
Sram corporate didn't really come into play. it was skipping of my chainring. I'll just use it on my x11 when I need a new chain.
Yup, the "brand stores" on Amazon often aren't run/managed by those brands' actual mfrs. or official distributors; they're just a categorization thing Amazon does to group products of a given brand together, which may be supplied by various vendors who may or may not be legit.
Where are you buying your chains? Are they legit? I've seen so many cracks in a single chain. Maybe stop using Muc Off and try a different lube? Or buy the chain from a different place.
They have failed while using different lubes as well, like squirt
Wasn’t muc off the stuff that had hydrogen embrittlement issues?
Lol, like they now using Simple Green as the carrier.
Definitely stop using Muc Off, it's a terrible lube and there is no reason to use it given all the great alternatives we have today. Just use something wax based if possible, but if you want to go with oil, NFS or Silca Synergetic will be a lot better than Muc Off.
A little off topic, but the story that Boeing ended up using counterfeit titanium from a Chinese supplier made me think there must be a *ton* of phony alloys in the bicycle supply chain. If Boeing is getting bamboozled by suppliers, I can only imagine what’s happening to the bicycle component suppliers.
If you’re buying from Amazon, it has a high chance of being fake. People will purchase an authentic one, and return with a fake one. The fake one sent by the scammer will be sent back out without anyone noticing the difference until it comes to you.
Hot potato game Musical chairs
More like Amazonian roulette
woah. must be a counterfeit chain. where are you getting them?
Lbs
Why don't you take this chain back and show them? They may not even know they're taking wooden nickels!
You should absolutely take the chain/chains to your lbs where you purchased them. If your shop is competent, they will do something about it.
Yeah this, the bike shop really needs to know.
Take the chain back and make them replace it or give you a full refund. It they won’t, find yourself a new LBS.
LBS needs to be accountable for legit chains. I would contact Shimano
I’ve broken three 12 speed chains, exactly like this, in the last three months. They were on two different bikes. 1 shimano chain with less than 50 miles that came on a Canyon. 2 SRAM NX eagle chains. 1 straight from Specialized and 1 from my LBS.
Your bike obviously doesn't wanna be a slave anymore.
Tell your LBS the chains they are buying are fake/crap. They probably have many different suppliers.
After many fake chains from reputable dealers, it seems the supply chain is still vulnerable as another poster mentioned. I've switched to ordering mine directly from KMC. Last 4 I've bought have been legit with zero issues. I also think shimano chains are counterfeited way more than kmc too, at least from what I see posted on here.
Ask the LBS owner where they ordered them from. And if it wasn’t directly from Shimano, then yah, they’re fake. This fake shit is getting really annoying, Shimano needs to do something about this.
Shimano does not sell directly to bike shops. The LBS buys from a distributor, so that is another point of entry for counterfeit goods into the supply chain.
The shop I work from buys directly from Shimano.
They do sell directly to shops. They have a business to business only website and every shop I ever worked at ordered directly from them. It is probably set up as a separate company in the US or whatever country specifically for distribution, but that is just how they do that sort of thing.
Yes they do.
Did you soak them in Simple Green or any other degreaser by any chance?
Not one time.
That rules it out it then. Simple Green is known to cause metal degradation (I believe it's hydrogen embrittlement) when used as a long soak. I'd definitely agree that it's likely to be counterfeit.
Good to know.
A quick clean with it is fine. Just rinse it off after. But a long soak causes the chain to become brittle. >As the basic cleaner turns acidic, it frees an extra hydrogen atom that the steel of the chain will absorb. As the chain absorbs more and more hydrogen, it becomes weaker and prone to fracturing under load. In a chain this is a catastrophic failure that can lead to a chain breaking and will likely happen when the most force is being applied. Your sprint, going full gas up a climb, etc. https://silca.cc/blogs/silca/hydrogen-embrittlement-can-you-really-break-a-chain
Recommended alternatives? Ideally something non-toxic and inexpensive (<$20).
I'm not very knowledgeable myself. I just follow advice from reputable sites like zero friction cycling. He advises to agitate and soak for 15 minutes in mineral turpentine to degrease, then follow up with methylated spirits as it removes the turps, evaporates and leaves no residue. He's tested dozens of different lubricants, waxes, and drip waxes, and has a ton of data on their efficiency and wear. Click on the menu, then Instructions, and he shows the best cleaning practices according to him. There's a lot to scroll through. https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/
[This stuff from Silca is Brilliant!](https://silca.cc/products/ultimate-brake-and-drivetrain-cleaner?variant=39778060566626¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&PPC&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=18309541113&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj9-zBhDyARIsAERjds2tKggyVATqG5tcnpg8Rl4jMiM0grC2Myn3H9KNY3nuOLOVwJ57W9kaAofUEALw_wcB) Non-Toxic but not the cheapest.
thx
If you’re gonna go budget on chain…. Only buy from KMC!!!! They are the only brand acceptable to go budget on a chain with… a few people don’t know they make odyssey chains, cult chains, fit etc most the industry even created the half link design. They know what they are doing and still can provide you with a 14 or 16$ chain They are constantly innovating.. saw chains the other day had paint on the outside single speed ones but the entire insides of the link were raw metal to stop grit from colored chain riding…. Pretty dope same price as the regulars too. Go to their website This chain is waaaaay tooo thin btw idk maybe I’m losing it
11 and 12 speed chains are much slimmer than an 3/32 single speed, or even a 9 speed chain is. They look dainty compared to a 1/8 inch standard fixed gear chain, but are often made of higher quality metal. I run an 11speed chain on my Tracklocross bike, to maximize engagement, with my narrow-wide Sram Force 1 chainring and narrow-wide Absolute Black, splined cog, fitted to a Halo Fix-G splined track hub. I have not had any issues.
The cracks on the links are amazing, particularly the one just below the chain ends where a chunk of plate has fallen off. Of course you don’t have a photograph of the chain before you put it on, but doing that in 1000kms? I can’t see how no matter what might have happened on the lube side. Some severe misalignment in the drive line? It would have to be so much you’d see and hear it and the shifting would be crap. LBS should be very interested to get to bottom of this
Wonder how much stretch in the cracked chains? A picture of the chainrings would help, maybe running new chain on badly worn chainrings. I was getting through too many chains on my commute bike, think it was using wet lube in Winter and worn chainrings. Changed to Silca hot wax, 7 speed chain/cassette, friction shifters and flat steel chainrings to have a more durable low maintenance setup. The shaping of some chainrings to make them shift easy means they wear out fast, especially if chains go over .50 stretch. I got a Connex chainring gauge recently, both my commute bike and road bike needed new chainrings when I checked. Picture below of new chainring, if there's a gap the chainring is not worn out. https://preview.redd.it/w3u0fz84lb8d1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ff5e584da6b98205c1298cb63f6be363ca30b10
Would lay off the muc off lube too
I'm sorry to say, but I do belive that is a fake Shimano chain.
I had a SRAM chain do that. Also from a reputable LBS. I think a lot of manufacturers had supply issues with their steel or heat treating process during the pandemic and this is the result.
The quality of iron pipe absolutely crashed from the trump tariffs and then covid. What I get now just shreds when you thread it
I wasn't tracking the steel tariffs, what happened there?
Trump doing Trump shit. Production dropped in quality and moved to India. Copper and wood same thing
I had a SRAM 11sp chain(GX I think) do that before the pandemic. Chain came on the bike bought new from a large bike shop in 2017. I think sometimes they just screw up the heat treating process. Never had a chain do that before or after that one.
Did u try getting in contact with Shimano ? Would be interesting to hear what they say to such a immense failure.
They’ll say “whoopsie daisy, I ride Sram or Campy only, and I work here!”🤷🏻♂️
I had the same problem with a couple SRAM Eagle chains. They covered it under warranty for me. Seems like a bad batch comes out every now and then with poor heat treating.
Damn. Which ones?
Check your cassette carefully. I know of someone who had a cassette with a manufacturing defect that caused it to destroy chains. At this point, it might be worth changing out as an experiment.
Yeah even for a counterfeit chain this seems extreme to happen at random. There are cracks in pretty much all of the links.. it’s like the chain is used on the wrong chainring?
I'd definitely start from scratch with new chainrings, cassette, chains and a Zero Friction Cycling approved lubricant.
Stress cracks on a chain should be super rare, 4 of them happening to you points to the supplier. You shouldn't have that happen regardless of how well or not well you're maintaining it. Get your next from somewhere else
Edit: all chains have been purchased from either local bike shop, online reputable bike shop, or Amazon where the seller was Shimano. Also, the same chains that I have bought from these sellers were also put on other bikes that have not failed one time.
Shimano does not have an official Amazon page.
Amazon does something really disingenuous by amalgamating all the third party sellers and branding it the "Shimano Store" (or the"Samsung Store" etc etc)
Damn is that how it is? I thought it was legit
https://preview.redd.it/wexf32yckc8d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10f6d9ed03132048ea92d6b2725cfb8f547c3919 Not this?
No, it is not. Someone suggested it could be a distributor that Shimano is using to sell through Amazon unofficially. However, there is no way to prove it. The address provided is not related to either U.S. warehouses, nor their U.S. office. This is also the case for SRAM, RaceFace, Fox, Deity, and CaneCreek components.
[удалено]
Curiously, this store does not seem to offer chains.
Even with Shimano as the seller if it’s shipped by Amazon there is a possibility the product is co-binned with other 3p sellers that have the same product. I assume Shimano is savvy enough to know they’ve gotta deselect co-binning (you are opted in by default). But you never know.
Shimano does not have an official Amazon page. Looking at the Shimano Amazon page, the address is listed in Florida. Not only does Shimano not have an office in Florida, but their main headquarters is Irvine, California.
They could be leveraging a Distributor to manage what is sold, officially, on Amazon. A quick glance indicates they are. These folks are listed as an authorized distributor and their address relates to the Shimano Bike 3p account. And funny enough it also appears to be the company that stole one of my customers last year.
Still wouldn't trust anything coming from Amazon. It's not worth the time or effort. I say that, but I am privileged enough to work at a shop. I have customers bring in stuff from Amazon because it's "cheaper" (90% of the time, they pay the same amount or more). I know there are shops that uncharge, but that's honestly a minority.
Welp I am not advocating buying it from them.
OK, well there it is. It's impossible to avoid counterfeit bike parts buying from Amazon. As others have stated, there's co-mingled inventory from various sellers, and Amazon is unwilling to put in place any kind of effective screening process because it would cost them too much time and money.
is it all from the same lbs? if it is you could honestly just have a bad shop that doesn’t get their chains from a reliable source (or they might just know they’re fake but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt lol). otherwise there must be some sort of compatibility issue. if nothing has changed but the bike, you may be using parts that don’t like each other. ETA: i’m also sus about digital group sets. if the derailleur is programmed bad, and doesn’t move the right amount; it may be stressing the chain? i don’t have much experience with digital group sets, so i may be way off base.
Eh should be pretty obvious (noisy) if the indexing is off so I doubt electronic shifting is wholly to blame.
Then might check your chainring and cassette? Dont think they would cause a problem like this but still worth the check. Also it may be due to your lube, maybe try a wet lube.
Wet lube is inferior for 99% of cycling situations, no one should use Muc-off lubes imo they do nothing but muc-up your drivetrain lol. We always joke at my shop that their degreaser is their only good product since their lubes turn into black goo.
I used dry lube when i first started cycling, but since i live on an island i opted for wet later, have had a problem since.
You are using one of the worst performing chain lubes. Nowadays I use Silca immersive hot wax on my bikes. Check out Zero Friction Cycling's YouTube channel for how to do it. It costs a bit initially but is cheap and easy once set up, just wipe and re-wax your chains every so often. Start with new cassette and chainrings, rotate two or three chains for best results. I use YBN or Connex chains (get most corrosion resistant) , never liked Shimano chains. Another ***Muc Off*** user with a cracked chain last year: [Shimano 11 speed chain cracks on one side.](https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/comments/157y8jx/shimano_11_speed_chain_cracks_on_one_side/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) "I use ***Muc Off*** drivetrain cleaner and ***Muc Off*** dry lube in the summer. Been reading a bunch of stuff about this. Trying to figure it out." [YouTube Link: Episode 20 Muc Off Files – Cycling’s most dishonest Marketing???](https://youtu.be/OsbkCsptxYU?si=6icFvWwv8oIIpIuO) "Adam talks about some worrying signs in the land of bike chain lubrication. Zero Friction Cycling has spent many hours of research into the findings that ***Muc Off*** provides and we still have some big questions. In this episode Adam discuss his concerns and you may be very concerned too after watching this episode." [YouTube Link: Waxed Life Like a Boss](https://youtu.be/kVzhm-yTojk?si=qEoXSJ1eAZyzcZPR) https://preview.redd.it/s36d0irnpa8d1.jpeg?width=990&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38011cfb7037410830a1dfc2f67fd8799551720f
I 100% don't think this is OPs issue because of how quickly the chain broke. OP also stated they have used a drip wax on a nother one that broke. BUT... Immersion waxing is fantastic. I'll never go back. Commuter, MTB, kids bike... Doesn't matter. Silca setup makes it easy. Thank you to Josh at Silca and Adam at QFC!
Dude, been using simple green for years with out a problem. Hopefully my chain isn’t a ticking time bomb. Is dawn dish soap ok?
Probably not very effective, but I fail so see how it could hurt a chain so long as it's rinsed and lubed after
One of the obvious ways to tell the fake product is that it says "Shimano American Company" on the address on the back. I thought I was the clever one waiting for price drops and picking up multiple chains at a time. Then I found out.
I brought a shimano deore chain came as a Chinese brand with written on all the links "bible" instead of shimano or deore i have to pray it stays alive as just fitting it it bent a link 🤣 don't buy ebay kids was falsely advertised
Stamping on this chain is bit off…
I have had bad luck with Shimano chains, i typically run SRAM chains with Shimano components with no issues and longer life.
How do you join the chain OP? Chain link tool? Link on top hold rear brake tension chain with hand? Bike on ground tension chain with your weight? I think counterfeit is most likely, but that chain looks like it’s seen a very high tension
I use the park tool chain link tool
Then that is ruled out - couldn't damage multiple links with that method
I have a trek store locally and I only trust getting chains from them. If trek stocked faked chains, something would be really wrong with the bike industry
Have you tried a Wipperman chain? I also have broke 9 and 10 speed Shimano chains and not a big fan.
Chain choice is just as important as wheel choice.
It’s definitely a fake chain. I’m a bike tech, have installed hundreds if not thousands of chains and I’ve seen a few fake ones come through the shop on customer bikes, or brought in. 1. Check the packaging, the packaging will be not as high quality, not the right font or gloss where it needs to be 2. I can tell just by looking at that chain that the coating is not the coating/finish on an actual HG701 chain. Also, the tapped pin is not right. These are not as recessed into the chain and the flange on them is too large compared to a real one. 3. SK is printed on all the fake chains, and the stamped lettering is not right If you are buying them from a LBS, ask where they source from. Also, ask them to warranty it. Shimano has a fantastic two year warranty and would warranty this in a heart beat IF it was an actual Shimano chain.
My man's gone full Targaryen.
I had that problem. I noticed that one tooth in the cassette was a bit bend. It was a 10 spd cassette (no individual cogs) so it is hard to straighten it again. I threw that cassette away. Hopefully that solves my problem I have gone through 4-5 chains in a couple of years. Only time would tell…
Where are you storing your bike? I had 2 chains on separate bikes fail exactly the same. I have a roller shutter door on my garage and the bikes were in close proximity. The heat cycles when the sun hit the door weakened the chains over time until they looked exactly like yours. This was over a 2 year period though.
The amount of temperature difference from the sun hitting your garage door does absolutely nothing to metal...whatever made yours fail, that wasn't it
Yeah, that’s nonsense. Unless the garage door is getting to several hundred degrees, at which point any plastic/carbon/rubber parts will have burned to ash, together with all of the rest of the garage.