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Sachs PC-51

Average Rating 3.89/5
# of Reviews 18
MSRP $ 14.99
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Description:Sachs PC-51





Submitted by Allen a Cross Country Rider from Conway, AR
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:butterfield - Devil's Den
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $12.00
Purchased At:nashbar.com
Strengths:quality
powerlink
strength
Weaknesses:none so far
Bike Setup:Schwinn Mesa GS, Lx, Xt, MARS
Bottom Line:this chain is great. The powerlink works good, and makes chain removal quick and painless.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Woodsman a Cross Country Rider from Springfield, OR
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2001
Favorite Trail:Fireroads are it for me
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Purchased At:Came on bike at LBS
Strengths:Very strong, shifts perfectly (on stock CODA crank and rings W/LX casette), never a tight link, very long wearing, has never broken.
Weaknesses:Not a one...
Similar Products Used:Old Regina on touring bike (very good, also).
Bike Setup:'98 C'dale F1000 hardtail.
Bottom Line:Lubed it the first season w/Tri-Flow and that worked well, but of course was filthy dirty (but long-lasting and kept the chain quiet). At the start of the second season I removed the casette and der. pullies and crank rings and degreased everything thoroughly, along w/the chain, of course. Rebuilt the rear LX hub while I was at it, but it didn't need it at all (you don't find that out until you have it apart, though, but I cleaned it anyway and lubed it w/Phil's green grease). The second season I used White Lightning (Gen. 4) and it's been OK, but have to lube more often; MUCH cleaner, however.

Chain now measures just a hair over twelve inches pin to pin (on centers) so, seems good, still. This one doesn't have the Power Link, but no biggie; w/the White Lit. I never clean it, anyway, just scrape between the small cogs on the casette w/a Popsicle stick after each long ride and it's good to go.

Awesome chain; will probably replace it at the end of this season with the PC-58 (same chain, but revised designation).
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Tom a Cross Country Rider from Waterloo, IA , United States
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:Anything dirt
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $20.00
Purchased At:Europa Cycle & Ski
Strengths:Love the Power link, makes it much easier to take off and maintain. Works very well my Shimano drivetrain.
Weaknesses:The only thing I've found to be a nuisance is the fact that I've lost the Power link about a half-dozen times, but that's MY problem.
Similar Products Used:Shimano HG, Shimano IG, Shimano el-cheapo
Bike Setup:Pro-Flex 856, Manitou FS, XT derailleurs, X-Ray shifters, Bontrager wheelset.
Bottom Line:I would and will, recommend buying this chain to anyone. If it's good enough for the LBS mechanics and myself, it's good enough for anyone.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Ryan Noks a Weekend Warrior from University Place, WA
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:Capital FOrest
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $8.00
Purchased At:Shop I worked at
Strengths:Very inexpensive, strong, smooth, worth every penny.
Weaknesses:I've found none
Similar Products Used:PC-61, Shimano stuff
Bike Setup:98 Stumpy set up for Trials
Bottom Line:THis is a very good economical chain. I've had Sachs chains on my bikes for the past 4 years and have never broken a chain. Never. I trust these things. 61's are nice too, never had a problem with either.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jeff a Racer from Lubbock, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000
Favorite Trail:GSL at Palo Duro Canyon
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $15.00
Purchased At:Paul's Parts
Strengths:trouble free
Weaknesses:none found
Similar Products Used:Shimano on 1st bike. Had chain suck problems. Could have been entry level Sugino crank.
Bike Setup:Gary Fisher x-caliber, LX crank and front der., LX casette, SRAM rear der. and shifters.
Bottom Line:This chain came on my bike. I raced 10 races as a beginner in 1999. Wanted to upgrade to XTR drivetrain, but original equipment was still working well. Finished 9 races in sport class before I started having chain slip. Over 2 years and approximately 3500 miles on the same chain and gears!! I weigh 150 and I clean and lube the chain religiously, but that has to be better than average for an off-road chain. Since I had no problem for over 2 years, I have to give it 5 chiles.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by SFA a Racer from NJ
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:bike show
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:Uh
Weaknesses:Weak
Similar Products Used:shimano stuff
Bike Setup:a bike
Bottom Line:It got stretched to $h1t, broke many times. Theres not much to a chain, either it sucks or it doesnt and it sucks.
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Robert a Cross Country Rider from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2000
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:It works most of the time and it's reported to be cheap
Weaknesses:It's weak
Bike Setup:99 GT XCR-3000, LX/XT, Manitou X-vert R
Bottom Line:This chain is too weak or just built poorly. Soon after I got it, it broke apart while riding up 5 stairs. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with the product while dragging my bike a mile back home to fix it.

Since then, however, it's been ok so I'll give it a 3 and as for the value rating, you get what you pay for.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Bad A** Single Speeder a Cross Country Rider from Roseville, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:Brown's Ravine
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:Holds up- doesn't break
Cheap- $14
Easy to take apart- PowerLink
Doesn't squeak- Put WhiteLightning on it after every ride
Weaknesses:None
Similar Products Used:PC-41 (probably was the recalled product- several links cracked after about 3 mos of use)
Bike Setup:Moab 1 w/XT drivetrain
Bianchi single speed w/Spot ring and Suntour/ACS Claws freewheels
Bottom Line:These chains are great! Although I sometimes miss a shift I'm not sure it is the chain's fault. Although they aren't as rugged/light as PC-61 or 91, you still need to replace all chains after a year, so why spend the extra money?

Tip: to remove the PowerLink, clean the gunk out of the elongated holes then squeeze the middle with very SLIGHT pressure as you press the two ends of the link together.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by some mechanic guy a Racer from Fairfax, VA.
Date Reviewed: December 28, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Wakefield
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Easy to install, don't need a stupid HG/IG pin every time...
Weaknesses:
none, really...
Similar Products Used:
PC-40, M-55, M-90
Bike Setup:
Spooky Darkside, Fisher stock trials, GT mod trials.
Bottom Line:Great chain if you install it right, keep it lubed, and don't force your shifts. Easy hamfist...don't get mad at me, I've had plenty of chains break, and it's usually because of a weak link caused from an old missed/ground shift from a while back. Dig the master link they throw in, put the chain on with a chain tool and keep the power link in your bag in case it does break on the trail. It will save you some time...
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by ryan a Weekend Warrior from oh
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
tough, lokks good, comes with a fancy link
Weaknesses:
it might not shift as good as shimano.
Similar Products Used:
shimano ig90 (that sucks).
Bike Setup:
xt & lx
Bottom Line:this is one strong chain, it broke my granny ring. Its also cheap at about $14. and last of all its easy to maintain.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alvin a Weekend Warrior from Concord, CA
Date Reviewed: September 25, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Briones Canyon, Martinez, CA
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Price
Weaknesses:
Unsure, Compatibility with Race Face rings or XTR cassette
Similar Products Used:
PC-61, HG
Bike Setup:
Dean Oscar Custom, XT/XTR mix, SDG Seat, Race Face cranks, Answer Hyperlite/Hyperends, Ame grips, Time ATAC Carbon pedals, Dean Stem/post, Mavic 217/GT CNC wheels, Bontrager Revolt SS tire pair, Sachs PC-51 chain
Bottom Line:Well, what can I say. I am having drivetrain probs right now, but I'm not sure if the chain is at fault. Seems strong to me, but will probably replace with XTR level chain for next season.
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by alex a Weekend Warrior from Wash DC
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1999
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
unknown
Weaknesses:
look down
Similar Products Used:
KMC Z-chain
Bike Setup:
pogo stick+
Bottom Line:guys there was recall on Sash chains:
SRAM has announced that certain Sachs PC-41, PC-51, PC-61, PC-80R, and PC-91 chains have been recalled due to a manufacturing defect. The affected chains have a date code F on the outer plates.
Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Jason a Weekend Warrior from Springfield
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
NONE
Weaknesses:
ITS weekness
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
trek 8900
Bottom Line:???? What's that sound, oh yes, it your chain breaking off for the third time this week. Oh wish i had a chain that stayed together, then maybe i could be biking right now instead of waiting for a new one to come in!!
Overall Rating:1

Submitted by chris a Weekend Warrior from hanover, ont
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1999
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Humm... its probably cheap...?
will introduce u to a new sport... pissed off chainless rolling!
Weaknesses:
Lots... weak, not too smooth shifting
Similar Products Used:
better non snapping chains
Bike Setup:
fsr comp... chain was oem
Bottom Line:This chain was manufactured poorly. From the day i got it, i never thought i would be noticing it, after all, its just a chain. Well, i was wrong. It was working good until just about 2 weeks ago. I have since then snapped it 7 times, all in different links, throwing the pin of into some singletrack that i might have had fun on if I HAD A CHAIN! The seventh time it broke, it actually broke a link into 2 peices on the one side. Tossing the link away, i remove the rest of it, and fix it with much dificulty since the other link was horribly mangled. When i had finally done my best to straiten it, i put it all back together and the chain was broken again in just about 40 seconds. My new chain, will hopefully be in my hands soon as it arrives with my new xtr sun wheelset, and it had better work better than this piece that i have now.
it doesnt deserve it... but here is one pepper since thats all u can give. I suppose it will be introducing u to that new sport... yeeesss...
Overall Rating:1

Submitted by DsC a Cross-Country Rider from NM
Date Reviewed: April 19, 1999
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Lasts a long time , EXTREMELY hard to break one.
Weaknesses:
NONE!
Similar Products Used:
shimano
Bottom Line:once you try a sachs chain you will never go back to shimano.
used to go through about 3 shimano chains a year they always broke , now i use sachs chains and change it once a year.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jeff a Cross-Country Rider from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: April 7, 1999
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Strengths:
Strength, Price, and no master link crap
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Why would you want to try anything else?
Bike Setup:
Litespeed OBED W/XTR drivetrain
Bottom Line:I have been using these's chains for the last eight years and I just had my first break a few days ago. That chain was two years old and had very little strech. By the way, I also weigh 220 lbs
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by cs a Cross-Country Rider from morgantown wv
Date Reviewed: March 30, 1999
Favorite Trail:
coopers rock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
durable, easy on/off
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
shimano
Bike Setup:
mongoose
Bottom Line:this is an excellent chain............ period!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alamo a Weekend Warrior from Alamo
Date Reviewed: March 29, 1999
Favorite Trail:
the Alamo
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
this is a relable no nonesense chain that is easy to install and take off. no hype. Chain lasts at least a season and is great for novice and advanced MTB
Weaknesses:
just you basic chain streach i guess
Similar Products Used:
Shimano (Crap!)
Bike Setup:
Cannon Valley QID
Bottom Line:The best chain! forget shimano and aim for the European brainchilds that have made a chain that, if maintained well, will last you a season (Less if your a pro of corse!) Chain streach is, of course, the inevatable but other wise the chain is VERY compatible with a mix and match drivetrain!
The only time I have had a chain break is when i hit it on the rail road ties as I went over (and once when not installed right!) them on a trail.
Overall Rating:5






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