Wipperman Connex 9X1 9sp

Price Paid:  $49.00

Favorite Ride:
Berici Hills (VI) Italy

Bike Setup:
steel frame (Columbus Aluthron), campy veloce gruppo.

Summary:
Replaced my campy 9sp chain with the Wipperman. Easy assembly, smoother shifting than what I was using.

Strengths:
performance

Weaknesses:
a bit pricey. but got it on sale.

Similar Products Used:
SRAM, Shimano, Campagnolo

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Numerous, always with climbing

Bike Setup:
Mostly classic lugged steel bikes, one titanium, one carbon........., all Campy, with very solid, stable, reliable wheels. No silly poseur lightweight breakdown nonsense on any rig I'd ever ride.

Summary:


Over the years, a number of chains have come with some gone or morphed. While I have never experienced any chain that was not at least adequately good - PROVIDED THAT IT IS OF PROPER LENGTH, WAS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED..., DUH (not all of you have figured out that rocket science) - I have to say that all Wipperman chains that I have ridden/used have always proven exceptional. These ARE well designed, well made - finished and very smooth, solid chains. If only from the standpoint of smoothness, these chains are winners. And due to routine maintenance of lubrication and cleaning which any chain deserves but hardly ever gets, durability is also outstanding.

High marks all around!!!

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Regina, Sedis, Sachs, Rohloff and Campagnolo

Price Paid:  $70.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Rt-424/Rt50 park & Ride

Bike Setup:
IF Crown Jewel w/9sp D/A

Summary:
I bought 2 of these chains at the same time intending on installing them on 2 different bikes. I only installed it on one bike, my best bike, the IF. The chaing worked great at the begining of its life but it developed a kink and i installed the other chain. It lasted less then 1000 mile and it developed multiple kinks during a particularly grueling day of riding on Skyline Drive. The chain left me stranded at one of the gas stations. I had to buy a bottle of lamp oil from the gift shop to try and clean and repair the chain. It was no use. Fortunately a nice couple on vacation drove me and my bike back to my truck.
I bought a SRAM PC-971 chain the next day. I should have bought the SRAM to begin with.

Bottom Line - Unless your a protour rider with a personal mechanic overseeing your every bicycle need, buy something else.

Strengths:
High profit margin for the LBS that sold it to me. Not really their fault, I asked them to special order the chains for me. Still better than a Dura Ace chain.

Weaknesses:
Too high maintenace. Not durable enough for anyone who doesnt have a Pro-Tour wrench looking after the bike after every ride. The chains require a level of dedidcation to keeping clean that most of us do not possess.

Similar Products Used:
SRAM, Regina, Sach-Sedis, Shimano

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200, xxx carbon stuff, Dura-ace, spinergy wheels, zero gravity brakes, and a KMC gold Chain.

Summary:
I used this piece of crap chain for just under one month, the links started locking up, and would skip on the cassette, no deraillier adjustment would help.

Strengths:
none

Weaknesses:
Junk chain, should of never bought it.

Similar Products Used:
shimano

Price Paid:  $50.00 at performance

Favorite Ride:
Boston Montreal Boston

Bike Setup:
3High end pieces of crap! Dura Ace shifters, Dura Ace Front XTR Rear Derailleur, FSA Carbon Cranks, Don't get me started on the over Priced Ksyrium SL TRASH!

Summary:
I've had several of these chains.. Not because they are good, but because the Shimano was so totally horrendous!

Reality is that this chain sucks too.. don't try to ride in the 11 tooth cog, even if you grind down the lock ring, it will STILL skip off... Oh, and it still rusts!

Strengths:
better than shimano, connector is nice, but SRAM has one too..

Weaknesses:
Ummmmmmmmmmmm YES Oh and you can buy 2 other high end chains for the price of this crappy chain!

Similar Products Used:
All sorts of other crap.. The only chain I still like is the GO with sram PC-90.. The second best behind their hollow pin technology.. (what crap THAT is!)