Chain for Marin Bear Valley (1992 ish?)

[gomez77]

Hello,

My friend has a Marin Bear Valley that he has asked me to do a bit of a service on. The chain is the most obvious problem - very rusty and needs replaced. I think the bike is from the early 90s - around 1992. It has a Shimano Deore LX 400 chain drive.

Does anyone know what chain I should order as a replacement, or is there a database where I should look for this information?

Thanks

 

[novocaine]

it's a chain, take your pick.
I like SRAM chains with a powerlink, others will tell you Shimano, others will tell you something else.

it doesn't matter, but be warned, if it's really old you might find the spockets are heavily worn and a new chain won't fit without changing them too.

 

[Splatter Paint]

As long as it says designed for 7 / 8 speed and is a reputable brand and seller ( people fake chains now!) you have a lot of choice. Personally, I go for something with a quick link as I take my chains off to clean them.

If you opt for SRAM, don’t buy the base model SRAM one PC830, go for the better, higher spec models. The PC830 stretch really easily.

For Shimano, the HG40 should be compatible, but doesn’t have as durable a finish as the SRAM PC870.

 

[JCS]

I use KMC X8 on my early 90’s bikes. Top quality and they have a quick link, which is much better than the Shimano link. Means you can easily remove and refit them for cleaning.

 

[bikeworkshop]

As @Splatter Paint says :
Watch out for fakes.
Doesn't matter what brand it says it is,
Fake chains are cr4p.

Only buy from a recognised retailer.

We use sram 850s, come in a workshop box of 50,
but usually sell shimano hg40 boxed, because the sram retail packaging is a plastic monster, whereas shimano is cardboard.
The sram quick link is nicer than shimano, and a little more reusable, if you want to wash your chain.