KMC X11SL DLC Chain

Let's be honest, you'll only be eyeing up the X11SL DLC chain if you have a posh bike and you want a flash colour-coordinated chain to finish it off. And if that's what you want, and you're okay with the salty £90 price tag (around £60 online), then the good news is that this is also a really good chain.

DLC stands for 'Diamond Like Coating' which is a hard coating KMC applies to the chain to reduce abrasion and wear. The X11SL has other high-end chain features too: the inner and outer link plates are all hollow, as are the pins, meaning that it's light for a chain at 240g for 116 links.

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The chain's available with inner plates in a range of colours: black, blue, red, green, celeste, orange, pink and yellow. That means you can match it to your nice posh race bike and it'll look the business. It's simple to fit too, as it includes a KMC Missing Link 11-speed connector.

Once it's on, shifting performance is good and the chain runs nice and quietly with positive and reliable shifts between sprockets and chainrings. If you want to keep the coloured links looking good it's best to use a wax lube that doesn't pick up too much dirt. You won't need a wet lube, though, because you'll be leaving that bike in the garage if it's raining, right?

Is it better than a SRAM Red or Shimano Dura-Ace chain, both of which weigh about the same and can be had for less than £30? Well, not really. It is a lot prettier, though, assuming you keep it clean. That's the real reason to buy one over a pro-level chain from a major groupset manufacturer for less than half the price. It's your money, and your bike will look the business.

Verdict

Great looking high-spec colour-coordinated chain. Your best bike will thank you, your wallet not so much