** Note for Full Race Optimisation Prep see separate ZFC Fully Optimised Race Chain product here ***
***Click Here for Important 12 Speed chain compatibility and information***
SRAM
Sram Eagle and AXS Eagle are an 11/128 standard chain, same as 10 & 11spd chains, they are just EXTERNALLY thinner.
Sram AXS Road or “Flat Top” chains are a completely different standard. They are internally and externally thinner vs 11/128 standard, and have oversize rollers. This chain is not compatible with eagle, or any other 12spd systems.
Sram Red E1 chains are a lighter weight Sram Red chain. Sram Red / Force are for Srams road and xplr groupsets only, not compatible with Eagle or T-type transmission.
If you run AXS road or flat top chain, all physical components that touch that chain must be Flat Top compatible. Ie – you cannot use an Eagle cassette, or mech.
A “Mullet” set up is one where Sram road / xplr drop bar shift levers are paired to sram Eagle mtb components. This is fine, however as they are eagle components – the chain needs to be eagle (11/128 standard), or other 11/128 standard chains such as YBN SLA 12spd.
Shimano 12spd chains are NOT compatible despite being 11/128 standard due to extended inner plate links as part of their hyperglide + shifting system.
IT IS possible – and has been field tested by many – to run a YBN SLA 12 or KMC 12 chain on sram axs Flat top systems – despite these chains being a completely different standard – however at this time ZFC advice would be to be EXTREMELY careful. As the chain ring and cassette is machined for a thinner chain with larger rollers, to run a normal 11/128 standard chain – the components would appear to the chain to be very worn components. New chains on worn components can jump under load. Chains jumping under load can jump off chain ring / snap etc – and if you are in a stand up sprint when this happens, you are likely to experience a significant emotional event + injury.
YBN / KMC do claim compatibility with ALL 12spd systems including sram flat top. Sram claim you MUST run flat top chain. If you buy, and try, and crash or suffer damage – send your lawsuit to the place that claimed it was compatible, not ZFC. ZFC strongly advises against.
*There is a huge wear rate longevity jump from GX eagle to XO1 and XX1 eagle, GX are not worth the money, get X01. Similar with Rival to Force & Red level. The higher levels have HARDCHROME which is extremely wear resistant, lower levels do not and wear MUCH faster.
Shimano
Over time and further field testing – overall it is recommended for shimano 12spd to stay with shimano.
Due to extended inner link plates as part of hyperglide + shifting, this chain may have these plates rub on other systems cogs / ring that is not profiled for these links in the larger cogs = higher chain line angles.
There is a significant wear durability increase for Ultegra / XT & Dura Ace / XTR 12spd over shimano’s 11spd chains, however the efficiency losses have also increased. DA 11spd is one of the fastest chains in the world, 12spd is notably slower. As such some choose to run either YBN or Campagnolo 12spd chains for lower losses, however you are giving up hyperglide + shifting and wear life durability vs shimano 12spd chains.
YBN
The YBN SLA is a great all round 12spd chain. It is a VASTLY faster chain for sram eagle systems (and very smooth) however at notably lower wear life – however still impressive if immersive waxing / top lubricant choice.
It is also a go fast upgrade for shimano 12spd systems again at cost of wear life vs Shimano, and also giving up hyperglide + shifting (it will still shift very well, just not hyperglide + which is the new benchmark yet again from shimano). It also enables you to get away from boring ol grey to have some colour in your life.
As per information in sram section – YBN claim compatibility with Sram Axs flat top system, however at this time ZFC recommends against as they are a completely different standard, and I would not like anyone to suffer a significant emotional event / injury as I believe there may be an increased risk of chain jumping under load due to being a completely different standard (it is wider internally, externally and with much smaller rollers vs Flat top system. Sram advises MUST RUN flat top chain if you are on flat top compatible components). If you do run and crash / damage – send your claims direct to YBN.
MK12 (road only)
The Ybn SLA MK12 is (as far as we know!) the first aftermarket chain designed specifically for Srams Flat Top drivetrains which includes;
AXS Rival / Force / Red
XPLR (E bike rated version – see below)
T-Type – GX / X0 / XX / XX-SL (E bike rated version – see below)
*Note we do not recommend these for non Flat top chain systems (such as shimano 12s, Sram AXS Eagle (non T-type), Campagnolo etc. For those systems refer to the normal (non flat top) YBN SLA 12spd or those systems OEM chains – we offer all options.
Why purchase YBN MK12 vs Srams Flat Top chains?
Typically for their speed if you are and avid racer, or colour to rock your ride. Srams Flat Top chains that have their HARDCHROME treatment are the longest wear life chains known on the market – however they are certainly not the fastest. The YBN SLA MK12 chains are around 40%+ lower efficiency loss (as per testing by Ceramic Speeds Denmark Research Lab).
Offsetting this however is that whilst the YBN SLA Mk12 will have good wear lifespan (especially if waxing or running a proven top lubricant), they will not match the wear life of the super hard wearing HARDCHROME chains by sram (Force and Red level in road / xplr or X0 level and up in Axs Eagle and T-Type. DO NOT buy GX or Rival level as they have comparatively very poor wear life, it absolutely worth the extra to get HARDCHROME if purchasing Sram chains).
As such the MK12 chain will be popular with racers of all levels as a race chain, or simply wants to rock the fastest chain for these systems all the time, or those what want a move from silver to show off the heart of their drivetrain that’s doing all the work. (Ie I have a Bastion with copper titanium lugs and the Rose gold = Copper YBN sla is mint – silver just doesn’t do the bike justice 😊).
MK12 Road vs MK12-E (ebike rated)
The MK12 is also a very light 12speed Flat top chain as is designated as “Road” use by YBN, however they have been extensively field tested on all non e-bike Flat Top systems (AXS road, XPLR and T-Type transmission on MTB and Gravel), and as all bicycle chains must meet ISO standard or 8000newtons (around 4000w+ conservatively) – in normal use it is not expected there will be any issues if used on XPLR or MTB application. However the E-Bike rated version has solid plates, solid pins, and like most E-Bike rated chains – strongest riveting. These give greater protection even in non E-Bike applications such as shifting under high pedalling load. Electronic shifting has seen the advent of shift behaviour that was not very feasible with mechanical systems, and so if you have a tendency to shift (Front or rear) – under high load – it is highly recommended to go the E-Bike rated Mk12 (MK12E).
*This is especially so for T-Type Transmission which has specifically marketed itself around high load shifting – bringing quite some more excitement to your shifting and your chains survival 😊
At the time of doing this product information I do not yet have weights for MK12 vs MK12E – but these will be updated soon here if that is important to you.
MK12 E (E-bike rated – ROAD / XPLR / T-Type)
The Ybn SLA MK12 is (as far as we know!) the first aftermarket chain designed specifically for Srams Flat Top drivetrains which includes;
AXS Rival / Force / Red
T-Type – GX / X0 / XX / XX-SL
*Note we do not recommend these for non Flat top chain systems (such as shimano 12s, Sram AXS Eagle (non T-type), Campagnolo etc. For those systems refer to the normal (non flat top) YBN SLA 12spd or those systems OEM chains – we offer all options.
Why purchase YBN MK12 vs Srams Flat Top chains?
Typically for their speed if you are and avid racer, or colour to rock your ride. Srams Flat Top chains that have their HARDCHROME treatment are the longest wear life chains known on the market – however they are certainly not the fastest. The YBN SLA MK12 chains are around 40%+ lower efficiency loss (as per testing by Ceramic Speeds Denmark Research Lab).
Offsetting this however is that whilst the YBN SLA Mk12 will have good wear lifespan (especially if waxing or running a proven top lubricant), they will not match the wear life of the super hard wearing HARDCHROME chains by sram (Force and Red level in road / xplr or X0 level and up in Axs Eagle and T-Type. DO NOT buy GX or Rival level as they have comparatively very poor wear life, it absolutely worth the extra to get HARDCHROME if purchasing Sram chains).
As such the MK12 chain will be popular with racers of all levels as a race chain, or simply wants to rock the fastest chain for these systems all the time, or those what want a move from silver to show off the heart of their drivetrain that’s doing all the work. (Ie I have a Bastion with copper titanium lugs and the Rose gold = Copper YBN sla is mint – silver just doesn’t do the bike justice 😊).
The MK12E is rated for ALL Flat top systems including T-Type, mid-Motor E-bike etc.
**MASTER LINKS**
All YBN chains come with a 5 times re useable master link. For waxers / those that look after their chains with proper maintenance – you may need to purchase replacement links. Please not that Srams FLAT TOP powerlock links (road or T-Type) are NOT compatible with YBN MK12 chain- srams Flat top chains are marginally thinner, and thus their flat top links are too narrow to fit on the MK12 chain. You will need to use either YBN MK12 links (we should have stock soon) or SRAM’s “EAGLE” mountain bike links (note – NOT T-Type EAGLE – but original Eagle – SRAM decided it was best to introduce as much confusion as possible by having two completely incompatible “Eagle” systems). In short if it says “Eagle” power lock – that’s the one that will perfectly fit YBN MK12 chains, if its says “FLAT TOP” powerlock or “T-Type” powerlock – it will not fit.
Conversely it will not be recommended to use the MK12 re-useable master links with Srams Flat top chains as they will be a laterally more loose fit than is normal for a master link connection with chain. It is potentially possible this may lever more force onto the locking channel on high chain line angles than is desirable.
Campagnolo C-LINK
The Super Record™ chain comes with two fastening options: the classic Campagnolo pin or the new C-Link™, for even simpler removal and cleaning.
The Campagnolo Super Record 12spd chain is blisteringly fast, but has about 50% lesser wear life vs Record 11spd chain. Being 11/128 standard chain it is compatible to run on Campy 12, as well as Shimano (giving up hyperglide + shifting) and SRAM Eagle (not axs road flat top / xplr flat top).
CHECK chain length! These chains are only 113 links long plus connector pin or new C-LINK and may not be long enough for many eagle systems, nor some road systems with oversize pulley wheels and large chain rings.
Chain Speed vs wear life DATA
To help guide your purchasing decisions – pls find the best data consolidation of chain wear life and chain speed in the world below.
(*yes Force is faster than Red, yes X01 is faster than XX1, yes that is unusual*)
https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/chaintesting/
Lastly click on the image below which outlines 12 Speed Master Link compatibility
