YBN Soulchain SL101-Ti Chain

YBN’s imaginatively named Soulchain SL (Super Light) 10-1 Ti 10 speed chain will suit those with a lust for bling and for saving every last gram from their road/audax bike. If that’s the yardstick by which you judge components, it won’t disappoint but while very competent, £49.99 is a fair bit to shell out on a chain and such astonishing beauty quickly becomes irrelevant under winter slime and grime.

Bling aside, the SL is compatible with both Campagnolo and Shimano (I’ve a hunch it’d be just fine with Sachs too) and there’s a wealth of technology employed in these 128 links. The gold treatment is in fact a very durable titanium nitride similar to those used on the most expensive sprockets and YBN make a seemingly identical model under licence for several other brands. The engineering rationale’ behind the plating is reduced friction and longevity, enabling the use of otherwise featherweight materials. The joining pin is treated with a hard- wearing layer of chromium carbide and I can well believe it’s one of the strongest around- more than up to the rough and tumble of competitive road racing.

The titanium nitride plating is either gorgeous or gaudy depending on your tastes but coupled with the X bridge outer plate certainly enhances shifting-especially under load and despite intentionally sloppy shifting, the full force of my 70 kilos dancing on the pedals, it couldn’t be cajoled into misbehaving. Uncharacteristically neglected with only the faintest hint of factory lube defending it from wet, salt strewn December roads; it remained silent, skipping tirelessly up and down the cassette. That said I would stop short of fitting it to my cross bike as to my mind, eight speeds is optimum so as to avoid clogging hassles.

Verdict

Good looking, smooth shifting nitride-coated chain for lightweight thoroughbreds