No matter what type of bike product your buying, from the simple accessories through to the full setup of your custom built road bike, there are lots of important considerations that you should take into account, especially when you’re shopping online and unable to test the product first. This is especially true when you’re buying products like Chains. Enhanced Durability: With unique SP (stretch-proof) treatment, the durability has been effectively enhanced by reducing the attrition between inner plates and pin. As a result, chain life has been significantly prolonged. DLC stands for 'Diamond Like Coating' which is a hard coating KMC applies to the chain to reduce abrasion and wear. The X11SL has other high-end chain features too: the inner and outer link plates are all hollow, as are the pins, meaning that it's light for a chain at 240g for 116 links. Find your nearest dealer here Buy this online here KMC have also pioneered a number of patented special coatings to increase the surface hardness and friction coefficient of their chains, resulting in smoother shifting and stronger durability. In the case of this X10SL Ti-Nitride chain, there’s a fair bit else going on too, so I’ll do my best to break it down for you;

I’m not going to lie. Testing a mountain bike chain is a relatively uneventful process. I peeled off the Deore XT chain I had originally fitted to my test bike, and replaced it with the shiny gold KMC chain. I’ve been riding the chain for 6 months, which has involved periods of time where I haven’t touched it at all (no cleaning, no lubricating, no nothing), and periods of time where I’ve experimented with dry lubes, wet lubes, wax lubes and degreasers. The granting of a best price is not combinable with other promotions (e.g. "free articles) from Bike-Discount. Before using the X10-EL I thought the slotted inner and outer plates would accumulate more road grit and gunk but that has not been the case. The Non-Directional design makes it independent of direction which allows maximum compatibility on MTB or Race bikes. With its unique stretch-proof treatment, the durability has been enhanced massively by reducing the attrition between the inner plates and pin. As a result, chain life has been significantly prolonged. The upper bridge forms a slant vault parallel to the tip of the tooth movement. This vault shape makes the tooth and chain engage much more precisely. But while a chain is a both a fundamental component for the modern mountain bike and an engineering marvel in its own right, most riders wouldn’t give it too much thought as to what type of chain they’ve got hanging off their crankset. There are a lot of different brands out there producing different versions of what appears on the outside to be the same thing. So what exactly should you look for when treating your steed to some new links?

KMC X9 9 Speed Chain

If anything, the X10SL has reminded me just how impressive a modern bicycle chain can be. While it offers up great performance and durability, it certainly doesn’t ask for much in return. So you can spend less time cursing at your chain, and more time concentrating on the ride. Price Matches may only be honored on identical items. The product must be the same make and model (i.e., the same size, color, year, etc.). With a slim and lightweight design, this chain is compatible with all 10-speed derailleurs, offers a quiet ride and is one of the most durable on the market. As well as KMC team champion riders, it is important that the same chain quality is offered for all kind of riders. Well compared to sexy carbon handlebars and loud buzzing rear hubs, the bicycle chain is a rather an unglamorous component, and I don’t think it gets enough praise for the important jobs it undertakes. In most cases, you probably only pay attention to your chain when something has gone wrong, leaving you to curse your stupid chain that has ruined a ride and destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of rear wheel. Bad chain. Bad.

That’s why you can see it was easy for us to give KMC X10SL 10 Speed Super Light Chain such a high overall score of 9.3 / 10. It seems to have the perfect combination of features, quality and price making it a great all-rounder. If you find an item at a lower price with another commercial internet retailer, you will receive it from us at the same price, provided the conditions listed in the link are met. The X stands for the ‘Double X Bridge Shaping’, which uses grooves on the external plates to assist guiding the chain as it passes up and down the cassette. The gold finish of the (blingin’) x10sl is not only good looking but also has a titanium nitride coating, which is claimed to improve the wear. In use, the best thing about any chain is that you don’t notice it, and that’s exactly what I found with the KMC. It’s as crisp shifting and smooth running as the Campag C10 it replaced, and after a couple of months’ use it hasn’t stretched or stiffened and still looks relatively good – not as pristine as it was as new, but that’s to be expected. The world’s lightest 10-speed chain now offers you more advantages than ever: besides the great shifting performance, it is a super light weight and smooth running chain. KMC now guarantees your satisfaction on the chain’s life, which is much longer, compared to other major brands. This stunning model is suitable for both road and MTB use.Although the X10SL Ti-Nitride might cost more than a comparable chain from SRAM or Shimano, it does offer benefits in durability and shifting. The gold coating doesn’t just look good, it also reduces the amount of dirt build up on the chains surface, making for less maintenance overall.