Shimano

Dura-Ace CN-9000 11-Speed Chain

We've come to grips with being full-blown bike nerds, and let's face it, if you're looking at the new Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 11-Speed Chain instead of the new crankset, you are too. At least you have good reason to be interested.

The CN-9000 isn't just an 11-speed chain. Instead of simply making it thinner to accommodate a larger cassette, Shimano reinvented the wheel, or in this case, the chain. Deviating from the asymmetric design of 7900, the CN-9000 features a symmetrical construction that makes the chain omnidirectional, and accordingly, makes installation a snap. That's right, no more guessing the direction of the chain before installation. And while, yes, it is thinner, the 11 gram weight savings has more to do with its hollow pin design and PTFE plated construction.

Now we know that you've seen hollow pin Shimano chains for a while now, but the proprietary PTFE treatment is something that we've only recently started to see in Shimano cabling. Sharing a similar chemical makeup with the illustrious Teflon (Polyetrafluoroethylene), PTFE was developed by Shimano to act as both a lubricant and as a coat of armor against corrosion and stressed linkage. In fact, while decreasing the width and materials of the chain, the CN-9000 manages to be 20% more durable than 7900. The PTFE treatment has also reduced overall mechanical drag, decreased acoustical resonance, and most importantly, makes front and rear shifts as smooth as butter.

The Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 11-Speed Chain is available in one size and one color. The chain includes the Shimano breaking pins for installation, and is compatible with Shimano's new 6- to 11-speed chain tool, TL-CN28. Please visit the official Shimano website for installation instructions.