ConnexLink, 10-Speed (Steel)

After a couple months, link still looks and performs perfectly. No rubbing. Being able to remove the chain weekly (and by hand!) without replacing the quick link saves a bit of money and time. Will have to see how long it lasts!UPDATE: June, 2023Still amazed with this link. Replaced the original after a year and a half just to be safe (definitely could have continued on with it!). Compared to a new one, there is very slight wear where the two pins touch the link plates. I am keeping the "old" one in my saddle bag as a backup.Super quick removal/installation. I bought a couple extra a while back but haven't used all of them yet. Also due to new Connex chains coming with a quick link. Makes clean chaining and waxing a breeze!

I installed the 10s Connex link on my CN-6701 Shimano Ultegra 10-speed chain, and a 12-30 Ultegra cassette. Be sure to install the link properly, per the directions. It's super easy to install and remove (for chain waxing and cleaning). The link works great, and I don't have any issues with smoothness, shifting, noise, etc. I used a digital caliper, and the Connex link is about 0.15 mm wider than a typical Shimano link, but I think this is within spec.

If you have a 10-speed chain, and want to remove it for servicing, you NEED this part. They make one for 9-speeds too, so make sure you know which chain you have. Ten speed chains are 5.95mm wide, and this link is 6.1mm. You simply remove one outer link from your existing chain and replace it with this one. Beware, there is an orientation with this, meaning it has to go on a certain way. It is slightly curved, and the orientation is important otherwise the wrong side of the curve (the convex instead of concave side) will run over the chainrings and sprockets and make noise. It's all VERY well explained in the instructions and on YouTube, so it's really easy to install. Make sure it fully engages and you're set. Unlike older style master links, this one will NOT open until you want it to. And when you want to open it, it's not really easy, so you'll probably need a master link removal tool ([...]). I use it and it makes chain removal SO MUCH EASIER versus using your fingers, which can take quite some time to wiggle it free.Why do you need to remove your chain? Because to lube the jockey wheels, you need them free of the chain. Plus, if it's really dirty, the chain can be soaked in a mixture of 4 parts mineral spirits with 1 part electric motor oil (the type with NO additives), which I call my 'home brew'. This cleans it and puts lube back into the roller pins.While it says you should use a new link for every new chain, I don't agree. If I use my chain for 1000 miles, and you use yours for 3000 miles, why wouldn't I be able to put mine onto a new chain for mile 1001-2000, and again from 2001-3000? They don't wear out quickly. I imagine they have a lifespan of about 5000 miles, as I find it increasingly difficult to get it to lock securely by about the fifth chain. But for some people, they won't feel comfortable unless they change it every time, and if you've got the money, go for it.Wipperman makes the best master links in the world, better than KMC or the ones that come with SRAM chains, which are a joke they're so bad. They're about 5.96mm wide, which makes it nearly impossible to engage them, thus Wipperman is found on my SRAM PC1091 chain. Of course, Shimano says NOT to use Master Links at all, and gives you a special linking pin to join the chain (two come with every new chain). If you follow their instructions and do that, best of luck performing proper servicing on your bike, because you'll have to drive out pins each time and rejoin it with a new pin, which for technical reasons should not be removed. So, every time you break a Shimano chain, and you put in a new pin, pretty soon you'll have no place left to break the chain apart for servicing the drive train.I could go on and on, but this is not meant to be a bike repair book. Have faith that this is the master link you want, and be happy Wipperman came up with this awesome product. You won't be disappointed, and if you follow the instructions, it will NEVER come apart during a ride. Never.

So far as I have been able to determine, this is the only re-usable link that can be opened and closed without tools for 10-speed chains. And, it does that job well. Very thoughtful design, and excellent construction. Absolutely worth its weight in gold to have with you on any ride where you wouldn't want to walk home. Even if you don't carry a chain tool, many chain breaks can be solved with this extra link. Of course, carrying a "chain breaker" tool is best. Be sure to mount the link the correct way around. It has a curvature to it. If that curve is outward as the chain passes over the cogset (i.e., incorrectly installed) the chain may not pass smoothly over the smallest cog.

There are other removable chain links by other brands but Connex ones are the easiest to install and most durable ones based on my experience. When you’re ordering these make sure they are compatible with the chains that you plan to use them on. There are small variations in link thickness between Campagnolo and Shimano chains. These liks make chain removal, cleaning, replacement and installation a breeze. I recommend you change the link when you decide to replace the chain. They wear out just like chains so try not to reuse and old Connex link on a new chain.

I have tried both the KMC link and this Wipperman link on my Campagnolo 10-speed drive train and so far the Wipperman works much better. The KMC link would occasionally skip, but the Wipperman does not skip. I tried both links out on a new Veloce chain and Chorus 11-23 cassette. It's been great so far, I recommend Wipperman over KMC as far as link's go. The extra dollars are worth it. And it sure beats the insane Campy link that comes with the new Campy chains (what a pain to install)!

If you are familiar with master links, when you look at this it will say - I am of decent quality and will work. Not much to say about master links. They either look like overseas junk, or good US quality. These seem fine.

I bought several of these for multiple bikes. I haven't ridden the others yet, but on the one I have ridden (10-spd Gravel bike w/SRAM), my chain started skipping when in the cassette's smallest (12t) cog. After checking everything, it turned out to be caused by the link. Once I took it off & replaced it with a standard speed link, the skipping stopped.When I get a chance to try the others (11-spd Road and 10- & 11-spd Mountain w/Shimano) I hope it will be the only one affected.