Road Bike Action 实车测试(2011.09): KMC X10SL Chain
发布日期 : 2011-08-03

(Road Bike Action杂志2011年9月出刊之报导原文和翻译)

As important as every part of your bike is in maximizing the performance you get out of it, the chain has to be among the most critical components on the bike. After all, no chain, no acceleration! The world’s largest bicycle chain manufacturer, KMC, is pushing chain technology to the next level in developing links that are quieter and pins that are stronger, all while losing a few grams along the way.

就像您重视提升自行车每个零组件性能，链条是自行车零件之中最重要的部分；毕竟，没有链条，车子无法前进！世界最大的自行车链条制造商KMC，致力于更上层楼的链条制造技术，让链条运转更安静、小轴嵌合力更强，并减轻骑乘时的重量。

The Tech

The chain gang at KMC set out to develop the lightest 10speed chain on the market with their X10SL model. In order to save weight, the outer and inner plates have cutouts, which KMC says also allow any dirt and buildup to get out of the confines of the link, allowing for smoother performance.

Lightweight hollow pins that connect the side plates are riveted using KMC’s “Lat Step” process, giving the X10SL 350 kilograms of pin power, which KMC claims is the strongest chain connection on the market.

The chain’s ultra-narrow 5.9mm width and chamfered inner surface of the outer plates are both designed to create smooth shifting performance with minimal chain noise.

The X10SL is compatible with every 10speed drivetrain out there, including SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo. KMC also makes a nine-speed and 11-speed version.

技术

KMC决心在市场上开发最轻的10速链条－X10SL(10速顶级轻量化链条)。为了减轻重量，外片和内片有镂空设计，使泥土和脏污远离链条环节处的边缘处，让链条能有更好的运转效能。镂空的内外片上另有倒角设计，加上极窄的链片间距(5.9mm)让变速更顺畅同时减轻链条噪音。

同样减重的中空轴与链片间的铆合使用了KMC “Lat Step” 技术，赋予X10SL 350公斤的高嵌合力，是KMC自豪的最强链条嵌合技术。

X10SL适用于10速传动系统，包括SRAM，Shimano，和Campagnolo。KMC同时也生产9速和11速链条。

The Setup

We used the X10SL chain with a SRAM drivetrain and two different cassettes:a SRAM Red and a Shimono Ultegra. In order to shorten the chain to the proper length, a chain tool is needed, and once shortend, the tools can put away since the chain comes with a Missinglink can be installation. The Missinglink can be installed or removed, tool-free, for easy chain cleaning or replacement. Unlike Shimono’s asymmetric chain design, the X10SL does not have a specific direction when being installed.

装配

我们使用X10SL与SRAM传动系统和二组不同后飞轮SRAM RED和Shimono Ultegra。为了截短链条成为适当的长度，链条工具是需要的，截短之后将工具放置一旁，接着用链条与Missinglink便可以安装完成。

Missinglink可以在无工具的操作下安装或是拆除，方便链条的清洁或更换。有别于Shimono的不对称链条设计，X10SL在安装上并没有一定的方向性。

The Ride

The X10SL subtly purred across the teeth of the Ultegra cassette, quieter than SRAM’s PC-1090.Where it really shined was when matched with a SRAM Red cassette. The Red cassettes are notoriously loud, and while the X10SL didn’t completely dampen it, the reverberated noise was dramatically reduced.

Shifting quality on both cassettes was superb.

Slamming through the gears, cross gearing and shifting under load-the three shifting no-nos couldn’t get it to chain suck or worse, break.

We kept it lubed and kept riding it, which we’re still doing –only now on one of the test rider’s personal bikes.

After approximately 1000 miles, the X10SL hasn’t stretched or shown any wear other than not having quite the same silvery shine as when it was new.

骑乘

X10SL配上Ultegra后飞轮所发出巧妙的咯咯声远比SRAM的PC-1090链条还来的小声；而配上SRAM Red时，表现更加出色。X 10SL让总是很响亮的SRAM Red瞬间安静许多。

在变速测试上，X10SL配合这两种后飞轮的表现则属一流；在激烈的变速过程中没有出现卡链或是断炼的情况，我们持续的润滑链条并且安装在测试者的个人用车上进行实际骑乘测试。

骑乘约1000英里后，X10SL仍然没有明显的磨损或是拉长，亮银的外层依然闪亮如新。

BOTTOM LINE

Compared to the competition,the X10SL’s price is cheaper than both the 254-gram SRAM PC-1091R and Campagnolo Ultra Narrow and a few dollars more than the277-gram Shimano CN-7901,with a weight that comes in below the others. Shaving a few grams from the chain doesn’t make sense if the result is compromised durability or performance, yet the X10SL suffer from neither. It quieted the drivetrain and shifted as well as any other chain we’ve used.

结果

比起其他厂家，X10SL的价格比254公克的SRAM PC-1091R，Campagnolo Ultra Narrow以及277公克的Shimano CN-7901 还来的经济许多(北美地区)。

X10SL证明了减轻链条重量并不会使耐久性或是表现减弱，轻量化的链条可以使传动更安静，并且让变速更平顺。