Multiply the front gear number by the rear gear number
to get the number of speeds. For example, if you have two front gears and five back gears, you have a 10-speed bike.
How do I know what chain I have on my bike?
For measuring the length of bicycle chain size, you need to do the following:
Count the number of teeth on the biggest front sprocket and largest rear sprocket
. You can find the numbers printed on the sprockets too. Next, you need to measure the distance between the crank bolt’s rear axle and midpoint.
What does 11 speed chain mean?
How do I choose? Bike chain selection is firstly decided based upon the “speed” of the chain; this is because it determines the width of the chain. An 11 speed chain for example is
narrower than a 9 speed chain, as the sprockets on the 11 speed cassette have a narrower spacing between them
.
Are 6 7 8 speed chains the same?
Chains for 6-, 7-, or 8-speed cassettes are
generally universally compatible across brands and speeds
. That means if a chain says “8-speed Shimano” you can use it in your old 6-speed, too. All you have to do is line up the new chain with the old one and cut it to size.
Can I use a 8 speed chain on a 7 speed bike?
5, 6, 7 and 8 speed chains
7.1 mm wide 8 speed chain will fit all the other systems
(5, 6 and 7 speed ones).
Are bike chains universal?
All modern bicycle chains are made to the “one-half inch pitch” standard, meaning from rivet to rivet is nominally 0.5 inches. The sprocket teeth are cut for this same one-half inch standard to accept bicycle chains. However,
this does not mean all makes and models of chains are interchangeable
.
Can I use 10-speed chain on 11-speed cassette?
A 10-speed chain will be too wide for an 11-speed cassette
. It will cause rubbing, poor shifting, and premature wear of the drivetrain. To increase the drivetrain’s lifespan and ensure smooth shifting, it’s recommended to stay away from this combination.
Can I use a 8 speed chain on a 9 speed cassette?
9sp gears have less space between them, so
an 8sp chain would rub or jump, which is noisy and/or dangerous
. Conversely, a slightly thinner 9sp chain will fit on the wider spaced sprockets of an 8sp bike and not rub. It is only slightly thinner, so it won’t cause trouble.
How do you measure chain size?
- Pitch is measured by finding the distance from the center of one pin to the center of the next pin in line. …
- Determine your side plate height and thickness by measuring both inside and outside the roller chain to ensure that you’re seeing a good average size.
What is the difference between a 21 speed and 18 speed bicycle?
18-speed bikes and 21-speed bikes are two of the most popular gearing groupset among most cyclists. But what are the main differences between the two?
18-speed bikes are cheaper, suitable for shorter and rougher terrains. On the other hand, 21-speed bikes are faster and smoother but expensive
.
Are 8 and 9 speed chains the same?
7, 8, and 9 speed chains have the same inner width, but 9 speed chains have thinner outer plates for a thinner overall chain
. So while a 9 speed chain works fine on a 7 or 8 speed drivetrain, it will be a weaker chain that tends to “stretch” faster.
Can I use a 12 speed chain on a 11 speed cassette?
Condensed answer:
A 12-speed chain can work with an 11-speed cassette
. However, it’s recommended to avoid using a Shimano 12-speed chain because it doesn’t play well with 11-speed chainrings.
Are 9 and 10 speed chains compatible?
So, will a 10-speed chain work on a 9-speed cassette? The answer is yes. Since the chain’s inner width doesn’t differ from the nine-speed,
they are compatible
. In addition, the 10-speed chain has a thinner outer profile which makes it fit on the cogs without any rubbing or skipping.
Can I use a 9 speed chain on a 7 speed cassette?
Thus,
you can use a “9-speed” chain with a 7-speed or 8-speed system
, or a “10-speed” chain with a 9-speed system.
Are all 12 speed chains compatible?
A Shimano 12-speed chain can work with a 12-speed SRAM chainring if the quick-link is replaced with a SRAM or KMC one
. The downside of this approach is that the drivetrain will be louder and wear out faster as there’s extra contact between the teeth of the chainring and the inner plates of the chain.
How many links should a 9 speed chain have?
Generally 6-7-8 speed chains are the same and 9 speed are thinner, more than 9 speed is a bit specialized. The length isn’t as important because you will usually have to shorten the chain to fit your bike. The standard chain is 114 pins (
56 links
) but you almost never need to know this ( I had to look it up!).
What is the difference between 1 8 and 3/32 chain?
A 1/8′′ chain is the most common chain found on single speeds, and 3/32′′ chain is the most common chain found on derailleur equipped bikes.
A 1/8′′ chain will fit on parts that are either width. 3/32′′ chains will only fit on parts designed to work with 3/32′′ chains
.
Are all bike chain links the same size?
Chain inner width
Single speed chains have inner width of 1/8′′ (3.175 mm)
. Multi speed chains, from 5 to 8 have inner width of 3/32′′ (2.38 mm). Multi speed chains from 9 to 12 speeds have inner width of 11/128′′ (2.18 mm). “Exotic” standard for freight bicycles is 5/32′′ (4 mm).
How do I know what size bike chain to buy?
The method of chain sizing depends upon the range of gearing in the system. For bikes with rear sprockets 36 teeth and smaller, the common system is to
measure using the largest rear sprocket and largest front ring as a reference
. Two rivets are added to this (one-inch) for the place to cut the chain.
Can I use a 10 speed chain on a 8 speed cassette?
A 10 speed chain should work on an 8-speed drivetrain
. if you want 10 speeds, you will need a 10 speed-specific chain, cassette, derailleur and shifter (and a new cable while you’re at it).
What size chain is on a bicycle?
The chain in use on modern bicycles has a
1⁄2 inch (12.7 mm) pitch
, which is the distance from one pin center to another, ANSI standard #40, where the 4 in “#40” indicates the pitch of the chain in eighths of an inch; and ISO standard 606 (metric) #8, where the 8 indicates the pitch in sixteenths of an inch.
Is there a difference between 10 and 11-speed chain?
Chains for 11-speed systems are around 5.4mm wide on the outside, vs. around 5.9mm wide for 10-speed ones
, so that’s 0.25mm narrower from the center of the cog tooth to the end of the chain pin on each side. That’s not enough to likely even be noticeable in any difference in how it passes through the jockey wheel cage.
Is my bike 10 or 11 speed?
Multiply the front gear number by the rear gear number to get the number of speeds
. For example, if you have two front gears and five back gears, you have a 10-speed bike. If you have one front gear and three back gears, you have a 3-speed bike.
How do you size a 12 speed chain?
Will 8 speed crankset work with 9 speed chain?
Yes, there are no complications with running a 9 speed crankset on an 8 speed drivetrain
.
