SRAM 12/13spd chains are – SRAM AXS Force / Red and T-Type X0, XX, and XX-SL (Note: officially still just 12spd only are original SRAM eagle X01 and XX1).
NOTE: New MK13 chains are e-bike rated!!
- YBN Mk13 is 0.2mm thinner (same external width as srams 12/13spd chains) than the Mk12/12e/Mk212
- There is no change in chain, cog and chainring “Standard” with sram’s 12 & 13spd Flat top drivetrains.
- They are the exact same cogs and cog spacing, just for 13spd Sram added another cog on.
- This means for some drivetrains, one may be able to achieve a more “extreme” chain line angle with a 13spd cassette.
- It is a very, very small chance, but theoretically possible – of the slightly wider mk12 versions to rub on an adjacent cog in cases of EXTREME chain line angle – and so in general if running a 13spd cassette, choose the mk13 vs mk12.
- However, overall cross compatibility remains extremely high – ie one can run a mk13 on SRAM 12spd flat top drivetrain just as perfectly as the mk12, and outside of most extreme chain line angle set ups – a mk12 will run perfectly on a 13spd flat top drivetrain.
Note overall – when should you choose to run YBN Mk12 or Mk13 vs sram chain?
- YBN’s 12Spd + chains are EXTREMELY fast chains. SRAM’s chains are…… not as fast.
- However YBN’s 12spd + have very “normal” wear life – pretty much same as Dura Ace 11spd, whereas Srams HARDCHROME level chains (Force, Red, X0 and above) are the worlds longest lasting wear life chains ever tested to date.
- As such in general the YBN 12spd + chains have been a top choice as a dedicated “RACE CHAIN”, with Hardchrome level chains a great choice as training chain.
- But some also choose YBN for groovy colours to rock ones drivetrain – just ensure due to high cost of sram cassettes and chain rings – ensure you do what you should be doing all the time anyway – regularly check chain wear with an accurate chain wear checker, and ensure you replace chains erring on early to protect those very expensive cassettes and rings.
Campagnolo Ekar 117 Link Silver Chain
Gravel Specific Groupset With a wide range, close ratio and no compromise, Ekar is designed from the ground up to give you the very best performance, riding experience and reliability for gravel, all-road and endurance riding on the toughest terrain where you want to face and challenge yourself. There is a full range of gearing with smooth, small steps for cadence progression, and a choice of gear ranges to suit the different specialisms within the gravel discipline – each with a wide range, and each with elegantly spaced progressions for smooth changes and no nasty cadence jumps.
New Chain At just 4.9mm wide the C13 chain is 0.25mm narrower than the highly efficient Campagnolo 12-speed chain but delivers exactly the same high performance and durability that Campagnolo chains are renowned for. The C13 chain mates effectively with the wide-narrow teeth design of Ekar’s 1×13-speed chainrings and cassette sprockets for a positive, efficient, low-friction drive, and benefits from high security.
Chain Construction The C13 chain is very strong with C60 steel inner links have a Nickel-Teflon surface treatment to withstand the higher rate of wear they are subject to. They are pinned to the high tensile strength C67 NiCrMo2 steel outer links – a more resistant steel with a higher carbon content, coated with a Nickel surface treatment to withstand the greater mechanical stresses they face.
13 Speed From the outset our engineers and design team tested and pursued the route of a 1x system being the best for gravel, and engaged with the challenge of creating the best possible implementation – and the light, efficient, precise 13-speed Ekar is what delivers.
