Road Bike Action 實車測試(2011.09): KMC X10SL Chain
發布日期 : 2011-08-03

(Road Bike Action雜誌2011年9月出刊之報導原文和翻譯)

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.

就像您重視提升自行車每個零組件性能，鏈條是自行車零件之中最重要的部分；畢竟，沒有鏈條，車子無法前進！世界最大的自行車鏈條製造商KMC，致力於更上層樓的鏈條製造技術，讓鏈條運轉更安靜、小軸嵌合力更強，並減輕騎乘時的重量。

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.

技術

KMC決心在市場上開發最輕的10速鏈條－X10SL(10速頂級輕量化鏈條)。為了減輕重量，外片和內片有鏤空設計，使泥土和髒汙遠離鏈條環節處的邊緣處，讓鏈條能有更好的運轉效能。鏤空的內外片上另有倒角設計，加上極窄的鏈片間距(5.9mm)讓變速更順暢同時減輕鏈條噪音。

同樣減重的中空軸與鏈片間的鉚合使用了KMC “Lat Step” 技術，賦予X10SL 350公斤的高嵌合力，是KMC自豪的最強鏈條嵌合技術。

X10SL適用於10速傳動系統，包括SRAM，Shimano，和Campagnolo。KMC同時也生產9速和11速鏈條。

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.

裝配

我們使用X10SL與SRAM傳動系統和二組不同後飛輪SRAM RED和Shimono Ultegra。為了截短鏈條成為適當的長度，鏈條工具是需要的，截短之後將工具放置一旁，接著用鏈條與Missinglink便可以安裝完成。

Missinglink可以在無工具的操作下安裝或是拆除，方便鏈條的清潔或更換。有別於Shimono的不對稱鏈條設計，X10SL在安裝上並沒有一定的方向性。

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.

騎乘

X10SL配上Ultegra後飛輪所發出巧妙的咯咯聲遠比SRAM的PC-1090鏈條還來的小聲；而配上SRAM Red時，表現更加出色。X 10SL讓總是很響亮的SRAM Red瞬間安靜許多。

在變速測試上，X10SL配合這兩種後飛輪的表現則屬一流；在激烈的變速過程中沒有出現卡鏈或是斷鍊的情況，我們持續的潤滑鏈條並且安裝在測試者的個人用車上進行實際騎乘測試。

騎乘約1000英里後，X10SL仍然沒有明顯的磨損或是拉長，亮銀的外層依然閃亮如新。

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.

結果

比起其他廠家，X10SL的價格比254公克的SRAM PC-1091R，Campagnolo Ultra Narrow以及277公克的Shimano CN-7901 還來的經濟許多(北美地區)。

X10SL證明了減輕鏈條重量並不會使耐久性或是表現減弱，輕量化的鏈條可以使傳動更安靜，並且讓變速更平順。