I have a theory concerning shimano chains and chainsuck. On all the bikes I have ridden, or owned, that have a had a shimano chain, they have all suffered from chainsuck. If anyone else has noticed this, let me know. Meanwhile, I have been running a sachs/sram chain for the last year and a half, and have not had a problem at all. DOWN WITH SHIMANO!! Also, could anyone recommend a company that makes 9-speed cassettes other than shimano??
thanks.

Maybe you're right, maybe not. yeah, I have had more chain snappage from Shimano (like last week) but partly put this down to the new nine speed being narrower and so has more load on it. Having wrked as a bike mechanic i reckon Shimishano chains DO shift better than anything else even if they are a bitch to fit - any road bike with a straight through 8speed ultegrta block will prove that to you.
Strange though that some bike shops tell you that Shimano are best and others say Sachs - most of the guys in my shop say that Sachs is the way to go but I reckon shimano if you want quality shifting.

As for cassettes, what's wrong with Shimano - they are light, durable, don;t fall apart and work. Try Sunrace cassettes if you want real **** or a nice Sachs screw-on block, MMMmmm,...NOT!

In response to Andy. I generally only use Shimano chains on new bikes then switch to Sachs. Shimano just don't last as long as Sachs and are too fiddly to fix on the trail. The 9 speed one that came with the last bike sucked (literally) and skipped in the mud. The Sachs PC59 that replaced it has been working great.

As to Sachs screw on blocks. IMHO the Aris blocks work better and IME last twice as long as Shimano. They don't shift as well because they don't have take up ramps and the teeth are longer but this also means they engage better and skip less in mud. As standard, one of the spacers is incorrectly machined and causes poor shifting in the middle of the block. Get Chris Bell at Highpath Engineering to machine off .2mm off the incorrectly sized spacer and they work great. Chris supplies them already machined for about 2 quid more than stock.

I work in a bike shop on a saturday and the only chains we seem to sell are Sachs ones, mostly with the power links.
BUT....
We mostly sell shimano cassetes, and have had no complaints about chainsuck
Try a shimano block and Sedis chain, that's what I use and I have no probs

I stopped using shimano chains 8 years ago when I was a bike mechanic. One guy had his shimano chain replaced 7 times after snapping, before the shop agreed to replace it with a Sedis (now Sachs). In 11 years I have used 3 non-sachs chains and broken all 3, and probably 25 sachs chains, and broken 2 (which both repaired and carried on). I still get chainsuck though!!. The top quality sachs chains are excellent, also I'm going to try Rohloff chains from Germany - my mate got 7 years out of one on his racing bike (about 7000miles)!!.

Sachs 8 speed PC91 chain at £14.99 is great.I run two chains, always have one clean and the whole drivetrain lasts much longer.The Power link is great and you dont have to carry special Shimano joining pins.Chain Reaction do 3 for £40.Top chain

Although after nearly two and a half years, I'm sure everyone involved in the original discussion has figured out that Sram chains are better.

agreed Shimano chains are shite,but everything else is fine.There seems to be a trend at the moment to "rubbish" them at the moment but God knows what we would be riding with if they were not there,all of the higher end kit works very very well and the cheaper stuff is amazing for the price.A big-up for Rohloffs from me too I wouln't use anything else now.

Rohloff chains are good. Can get them imported from Germany from www.hibike.de. The cost is about £20 in sterling including delivery from Germany.

I know!

SRAM PC-48 is a great chain for riders still running 8 speed (i.e. dirt jumpers, bsx and DH)