The rule is simple: the number of speeds on your cassette decides the chain, not the brand of your frame. A 12-speed cassette needs a 12-speed chain. Within the same number of speeds, Shimano, SRAM and KMC road chains are usually interchangeable; the exceptions are SRAM Eagle, SRAM AXS Flattop and Campagnolo, which each have their own profile.
Step 1: count your speeds and look up the brand and model
Count the sprockets on your rear cassette. Eleven sprockets means 11-speed, twelve means 12-speed. Then check your rear derailleur and your chainset (the chainring at the front) for the brand and model name. The model is almost always printed on them, for example RD-R7100 or FC-R7100 (Shimano 105 12-speed), RD-M8100 (Deore XT 12-speed) or GX Eagle (SRAM). Use that name to find your groupset in the table below.
Compatibility table
| Your groupset | Speeds | Matching chain | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano Tiagra 4700 (racefiets), GRX RX400 (gravel), Deore M4100 (MTB) 10-speed | 10 |
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| Shimano SLX, XT, XTR 10-speed (MTB) | 10 |
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| Shimano Tiagra R4000 11-speed (2026) | 11 |
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| Shimano 105 R7000, 105 5800 | 11 |
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| Shimano Ultegra R8000/R8050 Di2, Ultegra 6800 | 11 |
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| Shimano Dura-Ace R9100/R9150 Di2, Dura-Ace 9000 | 11 |
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| Shimano GRX RX600, RX810, RX815 Di2 11-speed (gravel) | 11 |
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| Shimano Deore M5100 11-speed (MTB) | 11 |
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| Shimano SLX M7000, XT M8000, XTR M9000 11-speed (MTB) | 11 |
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| Shimano 105 R7100, R7120, R7170 Di2 | 12 |
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| Shimano Ultegra R8100, R8170 Di2 | 12 |
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| Shimano Dura-Ace R9200, R9270 Di2 | 12 |
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| Shimano GRX RX610, RX820, RX825 Di2, RX827 Di2, RX717 Di2 (gravel) | 12 |
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| Shimano Deore M6100 / M6200 12-speed (MTB, e-bike) | 12 |
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| Shimano SLX M7100, XT M8100 / M8200, XTR M9100 / M9200, incl. Di2 (MTB, e-bike) | 12 |
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| Shimano CUES, ook met racestuur (gravel, racefiets), en LINKGLIDE XT M8130 / Deore M5130 (MTB, e-bike, trekking) | 9/10/11 |
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| SRAM Apex 1, Rival 1 / 22, Force 1 / 22, Red 22 en NX / GX 11-speed | 11 |
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| SRAM Apex XPLR 12-speed, mechanisch (gravel) | 12 |
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| SRAM Apex AXS, Apex XPLR AXS | 12 |
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| SRAM Rival AXS, Rival XPLR AXS 12-speed | 12 |
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| SRAM Force AXS, Force XPLR AXS 12-speed | 12 |
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| SRAM Red AXS (ook Red AXS E1) | 12 |
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| SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 13-speed | 13 |
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| SRAM Force XPLR AXS 13-speed | 13 |
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| SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13-speed | 13 |
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| SRAM Apex Eagle en mullet-gravel met Eagle-derailleur (geen T-Type) | 12 |
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| SRAM SX Eagle, NX Eagle | 12 |
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| SRAM GX Eagle (geen T-Type) | 12 |
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| SRAM X01 Eagle | 12 |
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| SRAM XX1 Eagle | 12 |
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| Campagnolo Centaur, Potenza 11-speed | 11 |
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| Campagnolo Chorus, Record, Super Record 11-speed | 11 |
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Rather not count? Enter your chainring, cassette and chainstay length and see straight away how many links your chain needs.
Calculate your chain lengthAll chains in this table are degreased, ultrasonically cleaned and treated with Silca Secret Chain Blend hot wax before they ship. They arrive vacuum-packed, ready to fit and with a quick link included.
Step 2: check whether you ride one of the exceptions
- SRAM Eagle (1x12, MTB and gravel) uses its own Eagle profile. Only an Eagle chain works properly. This chain doesn't fit Shimano 12-speed, and vice versa.
- SRAM AXS Flattop (Red, Force, Rival, 12/13-speed road and gravel) uses a different, narrower chain with a flat top. Flattop only.
- Campagnolo has its own pitch and its own joining method; always use a Campagnolo chain.
- Shimano LINKGLIDE / CUES (e-bike, trekking) uses its own, thicker LINKGLIDE chain (CN-LG500/LG700). A regular HyperGlide chain doesn't fit a LINKGLIDE cassette.
- Shimano 12-speed road (R7100/R8100/R9200) shares its chains with Shimano 12-speed MTB (M7100/M8100/M9100). They're interchangeable.
Step 3: the right quick link
You fit a waxed chain with a quick link, not with a pressed-in pin. Our waxed chains always come with a matching quick link. Having your own chain waxed with the Re-Wax service, or want a spare? Choose the link that matches your number of speeds:
- Shimano 11-speed: SM-CN900 (105 R7000, Ultegra R8000, Dura-Ace R9100)
- Shimano 12-speed: SM-CN910 (R7100, R8100, R9200, XT, XTR)
- SRAM Eagle 12-speed: Eagle PowerLock
- SRAM AXS Flattop: Flattop PowerLock — not interchangeable with a regular PowerLock
- Campagnolo: Campagnolo connecting pin or C-Link, depending on the groupset
You'll find individual links under Shimano Quick Links and universal Quick Links. Our waxed chains always come with a quick link included. The Re-Wax service doesn't include a quick link; you use your own link or order one separately.
Step 4: the right length
Chains are supplied at a standard length (usually 116 or 126 links) and need shortening. The safest method: lay the new chain next to the old one and make it exactly the same length, provided the old chain shifted well. No old chain? Use the big-big method: wrap the chain around the largest chainring at the front and the largest sprocket at the back, without running it through the derailleur, and add two links. For 1x drivetrains with a long cage, that's often four links.
Shorten it with a chain tool and close it with quick link pliers. Important with a waxed chain: shorten it without degreasing or wiping it, and touch the rollers as little as possible.
Still not sure?
Email your groupset or your rear derailleur model number to info@waxcycle.nl and we'll look it up for you. Already have the right chain and just want it treated? Have a look at chain waxing service. More questions about waxed chains are answered in the FAQ.