Better road cycling chain (Shimano CN HG73 vs. CN 6600)? How noticeable is the effect?

Question

Hello,

I have right now a shimano CN HG73 chain on my road bike. I'm thinking of replacing with a higher end one (i.e. ultegra level chain - CN6600). Is there really any performance gain from replacing the stock chain on a road bike with a higher end or aftermarket one?

Thanks!

Anthony

Answer 1

When it comes to replacing a component like the chain you probably will not notice much of a difference in the form of a gain in your riding performance.  Higher quality chains are usually lighter, possibly more durable, and "quieter".

You might chalk up an increase in performance due to having a fractionally lighter bike.  This is the never ending battle of reducing the overall weight of your bike without reducing performance.  I'm of the opinion that shedding a few ounces of fat is a much more effective and economical way of doing this.

Durability is a big concern if you don't want to think about replacing the chain every season.  You can do a lot to help this along by properly maintaining the chain.  You should be religious about cleaning and lubricating the chain.  This will help the overall performance and durability by keeping dirt and out and things running smoothly.

Keeping it clean will also help reduce noise.  This is a concern for racers.  If you intend on passing someone in a race, you don't want them to hear you down shifting and the increase in frequency of a squeak in your chain.  It's also pretty annoying to hear those noises from your bike.  Some chains (such as the CN-6600) are designed for quieter running.  However, read these reviews:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/drivet...

Keep in mind that a lot of times people write reviews about something like a chain only when something goes wrong.

From what I can tell, the chain you have is pretty decent.  Consider replacing the chain if you've been riding on it for a while and haven't been taking good care of it.  If you are going to upgrade to an Ultegra chain, you want to buy the CN-HG93, not the CN6600.  The CN-HG93 is for a 9 speed, which is what you have if you are running a CN HG73.  The CN6600 is for a 10 speed.  

Here's a place to pick one up:

http://bikesmart.com/index.cfm?menu=brow...

Right now it's actually cheaper than the one you have:

http://bikesmart.com/index.cfm?menu=brow...