Experiment 2: 4x chain rotation longevity

[Arminius]

IMHO surface treatment should have less impact on longevity than the steel grade the links are made from.

These guys tested various chains:

Chain Testing - Zero Friction Cycling

zerofrictioncycling.com.au

 

[E-MAD MALC]

IMHO surface treatment should have less impact on longevity than the steel grade the links are made from.

These guys tested various chains:

Chain Testing - Zero Friction Cycling

zerofrictioncycling.com.au

Must admit I was drawn into his YT channel a couple of years ago
All sounded very interesting, but got a bit boring with the lenght of his vids.
It another business to sell products for chain maintenance and he is know doubt racking in off it

 

[Arminius]

Must admit I was drawn into his YT channel a couple of years ago
All sounded very interesting, but got a bit boring with the lenght of his vids.
It another business to sell products for chain maintenance and he is know doubt racking in off it

On their website this table and text was interesting to me. Perhaps I am to old but I prefer written instructions over vids as quicker and easier to review for me.

 

[E-MAD MALC]

On their website this table and text was interesting to me. Perhaps I am to old but I prefer written instructions over vids as quicker and easier to review for me.

View attachment 152891

I understand
But It's worth taking a look at some of his videos.
But he does have a tendency to drag on
I wax and rotate my 0X1 chains with my Sram XX Eagle Chainring T-Type
Works OK for me

 

[Emteebee]

UPDATE at 1700 km total / +3 months.

Status of kms vs chain wear per chain:

• XT: 400km = 0.10% wear
• XX1: 600km = 0.00% wear
• Deore: 100km = 0.07% wear
• XX1: 600km = 0.00% wear

I have run the Deore chain for 2 rides and does even worse than the XT. Note both Shimano's in the graph show immediate wear from start. Both the XX1 chains remain at 0 wear, not measurable; my KMC chain checker hardly fits at any location across the chain. Compared to where I could already measure wear on both Shimano's after a single ride.

Obviously the XX1 hard-come coating is no match for the others, maybe next experiment I'll add an XTR chain. Got already 2 other XX1 chains in stock for next round. This would be more fair of a comparison. But for me this isn't for a fair comparison (see the Zerofrictioncycling data for this).
I'm actually more curious on what chain has given me lowest cost/km when wear mark is reached. Will include the wax costs in the final outcome when this experiment is finished. (More kms of chain, needs more wax in the end so..)

 

[Emteebee]

UPDATE at +2900 km total.

Status of kms vs chain wear per chain:

• XT: 400km = 0.10% wear
• XX1: 900km = 0.10% wear
• Deore: 100km = 0.07% wear
• XX1: 1500km = 0.00% wear

One of the XX1's started showing first signs of wear at 900km. The other XX1 is still at 0.00% for 1500kms now.
I gave that one a hot water reset today to be able to take some absolutely clean measurements.
Below the wear% graphs and used driving modes.

 

[Emteebee]

UPDATE: still lasting for +3900 km total.

Status of kms vs chain wear per chain:

• XT: 400km = 0.10% wear
• XX1: 900km = 0.10% wear
• Deore: 100km = 0.07% wear
• XX1: 2500km = 0.00% wear

XX1 still 0.00% wear after 2500 kms. My bike shop says 2500 kms is usually the milestone where driveline has worn to the bone, if not earlier. I'm positively surprised how things are lasting.

Wear graphs:

Drive mode usage, turbo increasing:

 

[Emteebee]

Just a sidestep; some data I'm collecting from my commute bike with a Bosch Performance Line CX, 10-speed.
I ride this bike daily 40kms, wax every 160-200kms, using turbo mode only.
Checking before each wax with KMC digital chain checker.
Rotating 3 chains:

• 1x Shimano CN-LG500 (standard ebike chain)
• 1x Shimano CN-HG95 (XT)
• 1x KMC E10 EPT

Total of 3200 kms now.
Interesting fact is again, just like on my e-mtb 12-sp, the Shimano XT is performing poorly.
It shows immediate wear after 180km already. CN-LG500 and E10 EPT are still on zero wear.
XT has 0,11mm wear. That is 0,14%. Based on a wear limit of 0.5%, and assume this as 100% lifetime, it has worn for 28% within 180km. For me, no more XT chains, it is clear these are under-designed, at least in respect to its price.