Skip to content

A published link count and weight, which most chains omit

SHIMANO HG 40 chain, 116 links, 7/8-speed

Shimano's workhorse chain for 7 and 8-speed drivetrains, supplied at 116 links and around 300 g (10.6 oz), compatible with single, double and triple chainrings.

Shimano HG 40 bicycle chain in its box

SHIMANO HG 40 chain, 116 links, 7/8-speed

Shimano's workhorse chain for 7 and 8-speed drivetrains, supplied at 116 links and around 300 g (10.6 oz), compatible with single, double and triple chainrings.

Speed compatibility
Rear 6/7/8-speed, front 1/2/3-speed
Link count
116
Weight
approx. 300 g (10.6 oz)
Amazon reference
B0017XXGCI (identical on 6 markets)
EAN
4032191635750
  • Published link count and weight, which almost no chain listing gives
  • Explicit front compatibility as well as rear — single, double and triple
  • One hundred and sixteen links may need shortening substantially on a small frame

Best for: Replacing a chain on a Shimano 7 or 8-speed drivetrain with the part it was designed around.

≈ $75
Check price on Amazon

Specifications

Speed compatibility
Rear 6/7/8-speed, front 1/2/3-speed
Link count
116
Weight
approx. 300 g (10.6 oz)
Amazon reference
B0017XXGCI (identical on 6 markets)
EAN
4032191635750

The HG 40 is Shimano’s long-running chain for 7 and 8-speed drivetrains, and it is specified more fully than most.

What the manufacturer publishes

A chain length of 116 links. A weight of approximately 300 grams. Rear compatibility with Shimano 6, 7 and 8-speed. Front compatibility with 1, 2 and 3-speed.

Why the published figures matter

Two numbers appear here that almost no chain listing gives. Link count tells you whether the chain is long enough before you order — relevant on a long-chainstay touring bike or a bike with a very large rear sprocket. Weight tells you what kind of chain it is: 300 g (10.6 oz) is a durable 8-speed chain, where an 11-speed racing chain is closer to 240 g (8.5 oz).

Front compatibility

Worth noting because it is rarely stated. A chain has to clear the front derailleur cage and shift between chainrings, and a triple puts different demands on it than a single. Shimano covering 1, 2 and 3 explicitly removes a question.

Joining it

No quick link is included with this reference. Shimano publishes a joining method for its own chains, and it should be followed rather than substituted — several manufacturers state a pressed joint is not permitted on their chains.

The questions riders ask

Will 116 links be enough?

For almost any 7 or 8-speed bike, yes — chains ship long and are shortened during fitting. A very long-chainstay touring bike with a large sprocket is the case to check against the derailleur maker's length method.

Does it fit a triple chainring?

Shimano states front compatibility with 1, 2 and 3-speed setups, which covers single, double and triple chainrings.

More bike chains

  • SRAM PC-830 bicycle chain with its PowerLink connector

    SRAM 6/7/8-speed, 1/2" × 3/32", 114 links

    SRAM’s 6, 7 and 8-speed chain: 114 links, a published 7.1 mm (0.28 in) width, and a PowerLink quick link in the box.

    Speed
    6, 7 and 8-speed
    Size
    1/2" × 3/32"
    Width
    7.1 mm (0.28 in) — published
    Links
    114
    Quick link
    SRAM PowerLink, included
    Compatibility
    Shimano and Campagnolo at 6–8 speeds
    Use
    City, MTB, race, trekking, hybrid
    Weight
    310 g (10.9 oz) per SRAM; 349 g (12.3 oz) on the relevé
    Reference
    46.2758.114.005
    Plating
    Not published
    Amazon reference
    B00H2B6BGC
    EAN
    0802774851655
    • The only derailleur chain in this group, and the only one to publish a width in millimeters
    • A PowerLink quick link in the box, which is what gets a drivetrain cleaned
    • Publishes two different weights, 310 g (10.9 oz) and 349 g (12.3 oz), without saying which is the chain

    Best for: A 6, 7 or 8-speed city, trekking or mountain bike, cleaned regularly

    Check price on Amazon
  • ZONKIE single-speed bicycle chain with its reusable quick link

    ZONKIE Single speed, 1/2" × 1/8", 116 links

    A 116-link single-speed chain at 340 g (12 oz) with a reusable quick link, so it fits and comes off for cleaning without a chain tool.

    Speed
    Single speed
    Size
    1/2" × 1/8"
    Links
    116 — the longest in this group
    Weight
    340 g (12 oz) — published
    Joining
    Reusable quick link included
    Weight per link
    2.9 g (0.1 oz), against 4.1 g (0.1 oz) on the KMC K1
    Finish
    Polished, internally oiled — no plating named
    Pin length
    Not published
    Tensile strength
    Not published
    Amazon reference
    B078HRX7QS
    EAN
    0799355629195
    • A reusable quick link, so the chain comes off for degreasing and goes back on
    • 116 links, the most length to work with in this group
    • No plating or coating named, on a chain sold as corrosion resistant

    Best for: A single-speed or hub-geared town bike whose chain you intend to clean

    Check price on Amazon
  • HuGuWdy brown-plated single-speed bicycle chain

    HuGuWdy Single speed, 1/2" × 1/8", 114 links

    A brown-plated single-speed 1/2" × 1/8" chain at 114 links for single-speed road, MTB, BMX, folding and small-wheel bikes.

    Speed
    Single speed
    Size
    1/2" × 1/8"
    Links
    114, stated to be shortened to fit
    Plating
    Brown, entire chain
    Price
    $7.99 — the cheapest of the American chains here
    Plate shape
    "Double X-bridge"
    Joining
    Not stated — no quick link mentioned
    Weight
    Not published
    Tensile strength
    Not published
    Amazon reference
    B0DD6WJ1HX
    EAN
    0722549986873
    • The cheapest chain on this page, at $7.99
    • The only listing here that says the chain is shipped long and shortened
    • Claims smoother gear shifting on a chain with no gears to shift

    Best for: The cheapest honest replacement on a single-speed or folding bike

    Check price on Amazon

Elsewhere in the spares drawer

  • SKS Anywhere Topcage bottle cage with its mounting straps

    SKS GERMANY ANYWHERE TOPCAGE with straps

    A cage that mounts with straps on tubes up to 80 mm (3.15 in) as well as on standard bosses — the answer for a frame with no bottle mounts.

    Mounting
    Straps for tubes up to 80 mm (3.15 in), or standard bosses
    Material
    Plastic
    Included
    Straps supplied
    Manufacture
    Germany
    Amazon reference
    B0144NTZOU (identical on 6 markets)
    EAN
    0783778961833
    • Mounts on frames with no bottle bosses at all, which nothing else here does
    • Straps covering tube diameters up to 80 mm (3.15 in), so a fork leg or a seatpost works
    • The most expensive cage here

    Best for: A frame with no bottle bosses, or adding a second bottle somewhere a frame has no mounts.

    ≈ $25
    Check price on Amazon
  • ThinkTop full carbon fiber bicycle bottle cages, pair

    ThinkTop 3K T800 carbon cages, pair, ~25 g (0.9 oz) each

    A pair of 3K T800 carbon fiber bottle cages at about 25 grams each, for bottles 71 to 75 millimeters in diameter.

    Material
    3K T800 carbon fiber
    Weight
    About 25 g (0.9 oz) a cage; 68 g (2.4 oz) the pair shipped
    Contents
    2 cages, black stainless screws
    Cage diameter
    7.2 cm (2.8 in)
    Bottle diameter
    71 to 75 mm (2.80 to 2.95 in) — a 4 mm (0.16 in) window
    Reinforcement
    Three extra layers of cloth at the arms and base
    Price per cage
    $13.99 — the most expensive here
    Access
    Top entry
    Bolt spacing
    Not published
    Torque figure
    Not published
    Insulated bottles
    Not claimed
    Amazon reference
    B07D6NCQCP
    EAN
    0611029696190
    • About 25 g (0.9 oz) a cage — half a machined alloy cage
    • Its maker states which part used to break, and what was added to fix it
    • A 4 mm (0.16 in) bottle window, the tightest on this page

    Best for: A weight-conscious road bike with a bottle whose diameter has been measured

    Check price on Amazon
  • Alphatrail Gorilla Bikes organic disc brake pads in their packaging

    Alphatrail Organic pads for Shimano and Tektro

    Organic pads for the Shimano B01S family and Tektro brakes, with a low-noise compound and a manufacturer-stated life of around 3,500 km per set.

    Compound
    Organic, low-noise
    Compatibility
    Shimano B01S/B03S/B05S, BR-MT200/400/410/500, M315, M355, Tektro
    Stated life
    approx. 3,500 km per set
    Quantity
    1 pair
    Amazon reference
    B01MY56CNU (identical on 5 markets)
    EAN
    4260518670355
    • A published kilometer figure per set — the only pad here that offers one
    • An explicit compatibility list naming many Shimano caliper codes and Tektro
    • One pair, so front and rear means two orders

    Best for: Replacing pads on a Shimano or Tektro system where squeal has been the complaint.

    Search Amazon for this model

All bike chains

Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.