Chain/Cassette Options 1996 GF HooKooEKoo

[AndyGF]

Bike is Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo 1996
Which I have not ridden a great deal and 90% on roads.
This link shows the bike (not mine!)
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1996-gary-fisher-hoo-koo-e-koo.56143/
The chain is marked CN-IG31 and after using Muc-Off Dry lubrication (from Aldi)it is very stiff.
It is very difficult to clean off this product. Muc-Off did send me a some free cleaner.
So thought I would replace the original Shimaon IG31 chain, which has 7.1mm pins, rather than clean the chain.
IG51 chains are only on Ebay of unknown provenance.
Saw this link, which made me think it would be better to fit a currently manufactured chain
https://bikingultimate.com/fake-vs-original-how-to-spot-fake-shimano-chain/
HG chains are not compatible with the cassette as I understand it.
The only 7.1mm pin chain I can find is the SRAM PC850.
The alternative is to fit a new cassette and chain.
Not sure if I do this if I should choose KMC.
Any advice welcome.
Sorry for such a long post!

 

[CassidyAce]

Just get the SRAM chain; it should be fine. If there are problems, it will be due to wear on the cassette, in which case, get a new SRAM cassette as well. 7 and 8 speed cassettes are pretty cheap and a new SRAM cassette will probably shift as well if not better than an ancient Shimano cassette, anyway.

 

[legrandefromage]

Thats a lot of over thinking going on there!

HG chains are compatible!

You dont mention if yours is 7 or 8 speed but any good non fake KMC, YBN, SRAM brand chain will fit as long as its marked for use with 7,8 or 9spd

Cassettes, again, Sunrace, BBB, SRAM and Shimano do perfectly reasonable Shimano compatible 7 and 8spd bits

 

[legrandefromage]

Reasonable cassettes https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174896278070?hash=item28b8a16a36:g:9wsAAOSwsiRhG-fb https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384227141861?hash=item5975b8e8e5:g:pVsAAOSwjaJgyw6S

and chain https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224607827486?epid=10047527052&hash=item344bab761e:g:8mUAAOSwmOBhMKgO

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174551304672?hash=item28a41189e0:g:tJIAAOSwepNhZoz8
9spd chains shift really nicely with 7 and 9spd cassettes

 

[AndyGF]

Many thanks for all the comments.
The cassette of the Bike is 7 speed, which I should have stated.
Will buy the SRAM PC850, it seems a reasonable price. If anyone has had problems with this please comment.
I found this ling which goes into some depth on the technicalities, it may be of interest.
https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/20835/kmc-z8s-ig-or-hg-compatibilityI appreciate the "real world" experience given by everyone on this thread and realize there are a number of options that would work equally well.
Thanks to everyone