Shimano SM CN900 11 Speed Chain Quick Review

Don't forget to put some lube on the pins before you put them in - they don't snap easily and will after very stiff. It took me two days for them to loosen up enough to ride without the link pulling on the derailleur pulley. To be honest, the old way of inserting a new pin was easier to use than the so-called "quick" link. I ordered a Connex link so next time I'll have to take the chain off.

This Quick Link is chrome plated and the stamping is similar to the SHIMANO Quick Link but is illegible. Compare it with the genuine SHIMANO Quick chain, which is made of the same material as the genuine chain and is easy to read. Only one type of link is available on the SHIMANO website and that is not Chrome. I also found genuine half price links on a bike shop site. They seem functional, but I don't like being ripped off.

Unlike KMC links, these links cannot be activated manually. Shimano's instructions say to use a special tool to activate the linkage, but that didn't work for me. I put the bike on the machine with maximum resistance and after a few turns it locked into place. This is not good when a backup is needed on the road in an emergency. You could probably turn it on with your brakes, but I'd say they're only good for a shop install. I have no idea how to take that thing off when it was so hard to put…

I've been using Quick Links (as well as the pin method) for many years. Dozens of quick links have been installed over the years. There are no problems - they work fine. Both sets of sitelinks in this package must be out of specification. They would NOT go together. I gave up after 1.5 hours. Damn. I tried putting them together, not even on a chain - they didn't slip together. Pliers, vice, use of concrete floor. Not sure if they are out of spec, fake or something like that. Absolute rubbish…