Mountain bike chains can wear out more quickly than any other part of your bike. In many ways, they get the most use so it's important to choose from the best mountain bike chains out there if you want the best - and why wouldn't you?
9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed bike chains - which is compatible? What material will provide less friction and is right for your mountain bike?
These are all questions you should be asking yourself before you pick up your next bike chain!
Below we've picked out the best MTB chains and compiled a guide to help you choose the best chain for you!
When Should You Replace Your Mountain Bike Chain?
There's no hard and fast rule for when you should change an MTB bike chain.
However, chains should be replaced before they show signs of wear.
How Do You See the Wear on MTB Chains?
A good guide is to measure a chains stretch.
Different factors will end up impacting the stretch on chains:
- Where you ride (road, trails, etc)
- Your riding style
- The weather (if it rains a lot your need to replace a chain could be greater)
- How often you apply lubrication
What is Chain Stretch?
This term is misleading as bike chains don't really stretch.
Riding bikes causes the chains to wear at the rivets and rollers. These rollers wear down and the bike chain starts to move around further down the road as this gets worse, the mountain bike chain can become loose.
It's at this point you should consider it best to replace your bike chain. Leaving it later than this can result in the worn parts grinding at the drivetrain too - which can be expensive to replace!
What are the Signs of Needing a New Chain?
There are a few telltale signs that your current chain is running in less than ideal condition and it shouldn't be too long before you change it for a new one!
- The speed at which shifting is happening is increasing
- Specific gears can't always be found
- Noisier than usual
- Pedaling can be rougher
Is There a Difference Between Road and Mountain Bike Chains?
Due to the nature of a mountain bike and what it is made for, the chains of mountain bikes tend to be tougher than what is found on road bikes.
The conditions of mountain biking can be much tougher, half the time could be spent on muddy trails, without any tarmac in sight!
How To Choose The Right MTB Chains - Buyers' Guide
Whatever speed your bike is, it's good to have a guide as to what is best to look for.
All the information below applies to all chains, from 7-speed compatible to 11-speed (Even 12-speed!).
Different Speeds
When you buy a chain, you need to ensure that it is suitable for your rear cassette and that it matches up with the number of cogs.
Why?
Having more cogs means your chain will be narrower so it can fit into the gaps.
You might, understandably, think that a chain that is wider will last longer as it has a greater contact area...this isn't the case!
It has now been shown that a narrower chain does last long and can be more durable.
So what this means is that even though a 10-speed chain provides a big jump in performance from a 7-speed chain, an 11-speed chain will last better and a 10.
It comes down to the fact that the links on a chain are less likely to rub on the cogs when you move up a gear.
The best thing to do before picking up a new chain is to ensure you match it up with the correct speed.
11-speed cassette with the 11-speed chain, 10-speed with 10-speed, and so on.
Brands & Compatibility
As you'd expect, every brand prefers it if you use their own chains to match the cassettes, etc, and honestly, it's a good idea!
There's nothing like "having the right tools for the job".
What we've found is that SRAM gear tends to be harder than Shimano. That doesn't make Shimano bad by the way!
It just means that when you use a Shimano chain with an SRAM rear cassette, the Shimano chain may need replacing more quickly than it would if you use Shimano with Shimano or SRAM with SRAM.
Make sense?
Good...now to throw in other brands such a KMC, YBN, and others. They work well with both Shimano and SRAM so aren't a bad purchase at all!
Go for what works best for you and your bike!
Shifting
Shifting is important. You need your gears to change as quickly as possible when you ask them to.
A lot of technology goes into chains to ensure they can do this as quickly and smoothly as possible.
For example, SRAM's XX1 Eagle goes through 38 specific manufacturing steps to ensure it's the best quality.
Again, matching brands is a good (if not the best) move, though others will work well. However, KMC has a tendency to be a bit more sluggish.
Durability
Let's start off with a fun fact...a 116-link chain produces over 40,000 surface-against-surface movements per minute when you're pedaling at an average cadence.
Pretty amazing, right?
So taking that into account, it's a lot of friction and that usually generates a lot of dirt, no matter how clean the area is where you're cycling.
This can impact how long a chain will last, though manufacturers are doing their bit to increase the life of a chain...you will need to do some maintenance if you are to get the most out of it.
Watts
Watts are a big talking point amongst many cyclists. How you achieve the most watts and chains can play a factor.
The thing is, the difference between a top-of-the-range chain and a decent value one is around 5 watts, so it's not huge.
If you want to get the most watts out of your chain, you are far better at ensuring it's as clean as it can be, this is where the most watts are to be had.
So unless you are really looking for marginal gains, it's recommended to focus on getting a chain that will last you longer than one that will get you more power because they both work in tandem to a large extent.
Length
Ultimately the length of the chain depends on the number of speeds your bike has.
Single-speed bikes will have shorter chains as they haven't got to allow for different gears.
When you start adding gears, your chain needs to be longer in length as it does more moving.
The wheel sizes also need to be taken into consideration as you will need more links.
A good policy is to make sure you can shorten your chain if need be. Having a few extra links to length your chain isn't a bad practice either.
Material
A lot of chains are constructed from alloy steel.
Steel means that they're strong and can handle being on the trails. They also aren't expensive but provide good performance.
As for top-selling chains, steel still steal the show for material, being the most common on all types of bikes.
You can also get nickel-plated bike chains, these are more durable than steel due to them being wear and rust-resistant.
One thing that appeals to many riders is the fact that you can get nickel-plated chains in lots of colors so it's a good way to jazz up your bike without a huge cost or the need for lots of tools!
Our Top 5 MTB Chains
1. KMC X9.93 9-Speed
With this KMC chain, you get 116 steel links.
Compatibility-wise, it will fit most 9 speed rear cassette on a mountain bike.
One of the real benefits of this chain is that it weighs less than 300 grams, meaning that you won't feel the extra weight that some chains provide, yet somehow it's very sturdy, despite its lightweight!
The shape of this bike chain is a double X bridge shape. This is good news as it means that shifting is smooth and quick - exactly what we all like!
The mushroom rivets give it extra strength so you can be confident that this chain will last you through many an adventure. These rivets also allow the chain to be able to stretch into place and this is another design feature that shows KMC has considered durability at every point.
As for the material, it's nickel-coated and this gives it great ability to resist corrosion and rust.
On top of all of this, you get a mast link that you snap into place - no tools needed!
Pros
Cons
Shimano, well known and well respected. This 9-speed bike chain has 116 links - it's strong and won't wear out quickly.
The CN-HG539 is designed to work with Shimano Deore and Tiagra groupsets and when paired with these the true performance of this chain can be realized.
As far as bike chains go, it's quite narrow but it's certainly durable and won't break under standard pressure. This is thanks to the ever-popular steel construction.
You get a lot of flexibility to get the perfect fit as it comes with pins so you are able to connect the ends together and should you need to shorten it, this can be done too.
It's a chain that will serve a lot of riders well, it's smooth and well constructed and shifting is quick...quiet too!
Pros
Cons
This affordable mountain bike chain is a real gem.
It's actually considered to be the strongest MTB chain currently made - pretty impressive, right?
SRAM has focused its design on making this a strong and durable chain...they've nailed it!
The pins are chrome hardened so they can take the trails with ease. It genuinely feels like whatever bike you are riding and wherever, this chain will improve its performance.
To make this chain more durable the outer plates bulge. It provides a good degree of protection - exactly what you want from a mountain bike chain!
Installation is simple, you could even do it on a trail! SRAM supply a quick-connect power link so you won't need your friendly Local Bike Shop to assist you.
What's more, this bike chain will serve you very well on any bike you use every day and it won't need replacing for a long time thanks to the high-performance build quality!
Pros
Cons
Moving onto a single-speed chain. Now the requirements for a single-speed chain are slightly different.
One thing you should be thinking about with this type of chain is making sure it is built to last. This KMC one certainly fits that bill! It's not expensive and it sure is built to be used.
As it's a single-speed it comes with 112 links so a great length.
You actually get an anti-drop design, which we really like.
The bike chain is nickel plated so you can be sure it's going to be fine in all weathers (though a clean every now and then won't hurt!).
This bike chain would be well suited to either a single-speed or a BMX and would be ideal for everyday use and it's designed to take wear and tear.
Something we haven't seen on other chains as of yet is the option the change up the color, with this one you can! So you're bound to find something you like, contrast, or complement your mountain bike!
The master link allows you to make adjustments when you need to, although you shouldn't experience much stretch from this chain - it's really well built.
A slight drawback, and we are being picky here, is that the bike chain arrives assembled so you will need to have the tools to remove extra links.
Of course, this is only a minor issue because once you have this new chain installed, it's fabulous! Smooth-shifting and solid performance!
Pros
Cons
10-speed chains are popular amongst mountain bikers. They offer a good balance between durability and weight.
With this SRAM chain, friction is minimal and gear changes can be made with ease.
This chain hits all the notes in terms of being compatible too as it will work well with most drivetrain systems. Performance-wise, it's quiet and shouldn't suffer from any tooth interference.
Emergencies happen, helpfully this chain comes with a power link. Many bikes have a power link but this one is actually just as strong as the other links on the chain so you can carry on with your ride! Just make sure you pack a few tools (which you probably should anyway!) and you'll be just fine.
Pros
Cons
MTB Chain Installation Tips
- Ensure the chain is compatible with the number of sprockets on your bike.
- It's best to ensure the cassette is cleaned once you've taken off the old chain
- If your chain gets jammed, don't forget you have a quick release!
- For a Shimano chain, you will need to find the pin that connects it before taking off the old one
MTB Chain Maintenance Tips
The best way to get the most out of your chain is to keep it clean and lube it often.
Get yourself some chain cleaner and lube every roller separately. Ideally, you should keep the lube away from the outside of the chain.
This job shouldn't be hurried. At the end of the day, the last thing you want to do is to overload the chain with lubrication.
Any excess can be wiped off with a cloth.
When it comes to cleaning the chain, you don't want to get any cleaning products into the bottom bracket or anywhere that might end up stripping the grease from them...in the long run, this can cause you a lot of problems!
If you ride in wet conditions, don't forget to clean down your bike and re-lube the chain. This will help to keep parts from corrosion.
Final Verdict
After looking at a number of different mountain bike chains, we feel that the best MTB chain is the Shimano CN-HG539.
Why?
As far as getting a new one goes, you want a bike chain to be for your bike. Knowing it is compatible with certain bikes, makes it appealing. You know you are buying the best of the best when it comes to getting a new chain this specific.
Friction is minimal making it a quiet chain and the pins slot into place securely. Shifting is good and you can go through a number of gears quite quickly without much difficulty.
It's not an expensive bike chain, in fact, it offers good value.
As we know, bike chains are more complex than they first appear and a lot comes down to the brand, different drivetrain, the material, and a host of things.
However, we have hopefully narrowed down your search with our choice of best mountain bike chains!