HALF LINK CHAINS

[dordymush]

i've just bought a mirraco that i want to run a 25 or maybe even a 22/9 gearing.
will i have to use a half link chain or will a standard one work.
could do with finding out before i buy one.

dave.

[Betty]

For 25/9 it'll be fine

22/9 you'll be spinning like mad going nowhere fast

Not as strong as a regular chain, brought about by small gearing and shorter chainstay lengths

Standard chain will probably be ok with 25/9 if the chainstay is 13.75" or longer... 

[dordymush]

coolio.
25/9 sounds the one then.
cheers mucka 

[kev-s]

std chain will be fine, ive run a kmc super light chain for the last 5 years on 25-9 gearing with no probs 

[Munnyella]

A std chain wraps around your old school 16t freewheel no probs, so it'll  love it around a 25t front, no probs.

Half links stretch more, weigh more and as said above, are weaker, but look nice (to some!)

[Jon The Bassist]

Hmm, I'm not convinced yet that half-link chains are weaker. I've badly stretched and broken a few normal chains in the year-and-a-bit I've been back riding BMX, and I'm now trying a half-link chain on my NS race cruiser. It weighs a ton but I've had very good results so far with it not stretching much. Maybe see how it's getting on at the end of the season for a proper judgment.

[Dark Diggler]

Halflink chains are only as good as the person that fitted them, to a degree, the same can be said of any chain but I would estimate that at least 50% of broken halflinks are fitted incorrectly in some way or other.
They dont stretch any more than a normal "like for like" chain.

[Munnyella]

The links are prone to `pulling out' (going flat) on half link chains, which you don't get on std chains, we tried them on our conveyors (industrial, but same principal), great for pitch increments, but didn't last as long and needed more tensioning in use.

Different kettle of fish on a bike, and depends on the quality of the chain too, but I reckon , for a bike, there is no benefit other than fashion, and I use one on my cruiser!!

[Jaymz]

I always presumed that half links were made to wrap closer and tighter to the small 9t cassette, until a few manufacturers started just putting normal chains on 25-9 set ups. Only recently i learnt this after id forked out for a half link for my lads micro drive conversion

[dordymush]

thats what i thought too so thought it best to asks the dudes that know 

[hunterdubber]

The only benefit from fitting a half link chain is the fine adjustment of length to your chain ,, as rear dropouts on some new bikes are that small the half links are some times needed to be the only way to keep the chain tight ,on some frames  where the total  length of travel adjustment is limited as small as 25mm 

Otherwise they're no lighter, just fashion .

Most rumours do say they don't hold up to the same wear and tear ,, but as Diggs says , that could be down to the rider/installer 

[TwoBobRob]

Not all conventional chains will sit comfortably round a 9t driver.  A little research is required.

Not all half link chains are of equal quality, just like every other product in the world.

I run a half link chain because I wanted to have as long a rear end as I could whilst running 25/9, I bought whichever one Stodgy told me to and it's stretched no more than any other good quality chain I've had in my life.  Just be sure to fit it the right way up, and the right way round