KMC Waxed Series 11/12 Speed Semi-Hollow Chain

The reviewer installs a new waxed KMC chain, which comes with 128 links in new condition. He calculates that he needs 112 links for his derailleur, so he removes 16 links. He uses the Wheeltop method of wrapping the chain around the largest cassette cog and the front chainring, pulling it taut, and removing the overlapping section, which came to eight links top and bottom (16 total). He notes he has never shortened a chain himself before and previously always held the old chain against the new one. He uses a chain tool, noting the one in his Lidl tool set did not work and he used another one. He makes sure to break the chain at an outer pin so a quick link can be reinserted. After fitting the chain with a quick link, he discovers he cut the chain too short, as he could not shift onto the largest cog (smallest gear). To lengthen it, he inserts a piece of the cut-off chain at the quick link location and adds a second quick link, which he says works without problems, and the chain is now the correct length. He then proceeds to fine-tune the shifting via the app.

The reviewer used a KMC 12-speed pre-waxed chain on his AliExpress gravel bike build. He purchased it from Amazon rather than AliExpress, noting that prices between the two platforms are sometimes similar and that Amazon was occasionally slightly cheaper. He paid €31.43 for it with no discount applied, making that the final price. No further performance or installation feedback specific to the chain is given in the transcript.