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Shimano Quick Links now available to buy

The Quick link SM-CN900 for Shimano 11 speed chains is available now

After years of resistance, Japanese component behemoth Shimano have finally started shipping out their own dedicated quick links for 11 speed chains, snappily named the Quick link SM-CN900.

The quick links will be sold with chains as standard as well as separate, and are compatible with all 11 speed road, MTB and STEPS E-Bike drive trains.  

Shimano previously always sold their 11 speed chains with a pin instead of a link, and this will come as welcome news for those who might need to make a quick repair on a long jaunt. Officially, Shimano are saying the SM-CN900 isn't reuseable. 

Shimano's quick-links are available to buy now and are sold in packs of two, priced at £11.99; and while it may be long overdue and potentially exciting news, you can actually pick up six pairs of KMC links on Amazon at £8.99 a pop and they do exactly the same job - maybe Shimano will review pricing to be more competitive in the future...  

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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8 comments

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kev-s | 6 years ago
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Finally Shimano catch up!!!

 

Been using kmc single use 11 speed missing links for years

 

Ive always re used them & never had any probs, my current one is on its 3rd chain

 

Trick to removing them easily is to drop the chain off the chainring, hold the chain so just the kmc link is horizontal and the rest of the chain is vertical then get a set of pliars and grip each end of the kmc link at an angle so the left side of the pliars is just touching the inner link and the right side of the pliars is just touching the outer side of the link, squeeze the pliars together and the link disengages itself 

 

To reconnect just fit the link together, spin the crank so the link is at the top of the chainstay, lock the front brake on and push down on the pedal and you will feel the link lock in place

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nowasps | 6 years ago
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Connex do a re-usable 11 spd link. Easy to take apart with your fingers, as well.

Dear, though.

 

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DaveE128 | 6 years ago
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Now, what about 8s, 9s and 10s?

And if the prices are really like that, I'll just keep using SRAM links.

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StraelGuy | 6 years ago
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I agree that the 11 speed are impossible to remove without the special pliers but I've reused them loads of times with no issues. Good tip on the 10 speed ones though, bound to be way cheaper.

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tailwind10 | 6 years ago
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KMC re-usable 10spd links work just fine with 11spd KMC chains. I first used one  through necessity but have used this comination ever since without a single problem. 11spd are non-reusable, more expensive and make removal more difficult.

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hawkinspeter replied to tailwind10 | 6 years ago
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tailwind10 wrote:

KMC re-usable 10spd links work just fine with 11spd KMC chains. I first used one  through necessity but have used this comination ever since without a single problem. 11spd are non-reusable, more expensive and make removal more difficult.

I've re-used the 11sp links without any problems (so far).

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StraelGuy | 6 years ago
5 likes

Been using them for years and many thousands of miles and never had a single issue with them. At that price I own't be using the Shimano ones though !

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turboprannet | 6 years ago
2 likes

but I thought your chain would explode if you put a quick link on it?!

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