The page compares the 11 and 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra, and 105 chains.
Key takeaways
- Shimano 12-speed road chains (Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105) are the same as 12-speed mountain bike chains (XTR/XT/SLX).
- Sil-Tec coating is applied to all 11 and 12-speed chains, except for the 12-speed Ultegra chains. The difference lies in the location of the coating for each chain.
- Only a 10g weight difference between Dura-Ace and Ultegra/105 chains.
- Dura-Ace chain pins have a hollow design to save weight.
Shimano 12-speed chains
The Shimano 12-speed chains for road and mountain bikes are the same, although they have different names. For example;
- Dura-Ace vs XTR
- Ultegra vs XT
- 105 vs SLX
The biggest difference between the 12-speed Dura-Ace, Ultegra, and 105 chains is the surface coating (aside from the price).
- Dura-Ace chains have Sil-Tec coating on the inner and outer plates and rollers. The pins are hollow and have a chrome coating.
- Ultegra chains aren’t treated with Sil-Tec.
- 105 chains have Sil-Tec coating on the inner plates.
The table below shows the differences between all three Shimano 12-speed chains.
| Comparison | Dura-Ace (12s) | Ultegra (12s) | 105 (12s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | CN-M9100 | CN-M8100 | CN-M7100 |
| Links | 116, 126 | 116, 126 | 116, 126 |
| Weight** | 249g | 254g | 254g |
| Material | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Outer plates coating | Sil-Tec | Gray | Gray |
| Inner plates coating | Sil-Tec | Chrome | Sil-Tec |
| Rollers coating | Sil-Tec | None | None |
| Pins coating | Chrome | Chrome | None |
| Pin design | Hollow | Solid | Solid |
| Price (USD)* | $69 | $46 | $33 |
| Price (EUR)* | €78 | €53 | €39 |
| Where to buy | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Notes :
- * Recommended retail pricing. The chains are usually available at lower prices, depending on the retailer. The price is for a chain with a chain connector.
- ** Weight is for a chain with 116 links, excluding the chain connector.
Shimano 11-speed chains
Compared to the 12-speed chains, the 11-speed chains have more Sil-Tec coating across the Dura-Ace, Ultegr, and 105 chains. The difference lies in the amount of coating for the chain’s parts.
- Dura-Ace chains have a complete Sil-Tec coating.
- Ultegra chains’ inner and outer plates are coated with Sil-Tec.
- 105 chains have Sil-Tec coating on the inner plates only.
The table below shows the differences between all three Shimano 11-speed chains.
| Comparison | Dura-Ace (11s) | Ultegra (11s) | 105 (11s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | CN-HG901-11 | CN-HG701-11 | CN-HG601-11 |
| Links | 116 | 116 | 116 |
| Weight | 247g | 257g | 257g |
| Material | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Outer plates coating | Sil-Tec | Sil-Tec | Gray |
| Inner plates coating | Sil-Tec | Sil-Tec | Sil-Tec |
| Rollers coating | Sil-Tec | None | None |
| Pins coating | Sil-Tec | Chrome | None |
| Pin design | Hollow | Solid | Solid |
| Price (USD)* | $53 | $42 | $33 |
| Price (EUR)* | €65 | €49 | €38 |
| Where to buy | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Notes :
- * Recommended retail pricing. The chains are usually available at lower prices, depending on the retailer. The price is for a chain with a chain connector.
What is Sil-Tec coating?
Sil-Tec is Shimano’s surface treatment technology, where fluorine particles are embedded onto the chain surface.
Sil-Tec is found on Shimano’s mid to top-of-the-line chains, the difference being the amount of Sil-Tec coating applied.
Benefits of Sil-Tec coating :
- Increased lifespan. The Sil-Tec coating makes the chain more resistant to abrasion and increases the lifespan of the chain, cassette, and chainrings.
- Reduced friction. The slippery surface allows the chain plates and rollers to glide efficiently over the cassette and chainring.
- Quieter drivetrain. Shimano claims the Sil-Tec reduces chain noise as high as -2.7 decibels.
Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.
He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.