Shaving 20 grams from a bicycle chain requires removing material from components that still need to handle pedaling loads without stretching or breaking. KMC's X10SL achieves this through hollow pins, slotted inner plates, and slotted outer plates that reduce mass while maintaining the structural integrity needed for reliable shifting and durability. The silver version wraps this lightweight construction in full nickel plating for corrosion resistance and a clean appearance that pairs well with silver-toned drivetrains.

The slotted plate design serves a secondary purpose beyond weight reduction. The cutouts create openings that allow mud, grit, and road debris to shed from the chain rather than packing into the link assemblies. For riders who encounter wet or dirty conditions, this self-cleaning characteristic helps maintain smoother operation between washes. The hollow pins use KMC's mushroom riveting process to secure the outer plates with what the company rates at 350 kilograms of pin power, so the weight savings don't come at the expense of the connection strength that prevents chain failure under load.

Shifting performance comes from Double X-Bridge plate geometry combined with chamfered inner and outer edges. The bridge shape creates a stiffer link assembly that responds quickly to derailleur movement, while the chamfers provide ramps that guide the chain onto cassette cogs and chainring teeth without hesitation. KMC puts their chains through a double heat treatment process that increases hardness and stretch resistance, which keeps the pitch consistent over thousands of miles and maintains the shifting accuracy you notice when the chain is new.... Read More