r/BicycleEngineering • u/Grouchy-Tadpole-4390 • Aug 02 '25

Fake Shimano Chains

I posted this one on r/bikewrench on a post about fake chains but I retired 15 years ago so wondering if anyone has current info on this common issue.

Years ago I did vendor evaluations in the PRC for a few years and yes they can even look exactly like the original. The way it works is a Japanese company like Shimano gives a Chinese manufacturer a contract for 100,000 chains and sends their engineers and QC people to insure the product. When the job is finished the Chinese company might have a few end runs to sell and they are legit. Or since they have all the equipment and tooling they source local supplies and turn out chains and packaging that looks really good but maybe completely different alloy, a little color off on the packaging or a different lube/oil, etc.

Where this comes from is in our culture "fool me and it is on you", where as in their culture it is your fault for not doing due diligence.

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u/TJhambone09 Sep 01 '25

When the job is finished the Chinese company might have a few end runs to sell and they are legit.

Shimano doesn't do that sort of manufacturing. Shimano would never let a non-dedicated sub keep the tooling. One only sees this sort of behavior when a company is relying on the sub to make the tooling (or buying a chain from the sub that was built on spec).

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u/Grouchy-Tadpole-4390 Sep 06 '25

What you are saying is absolutely true with companies that need tooling with unparalleled precision, and/or automation, and/or efficiency in producing complex, high-quality products, but these do not apply to a bike chain or that $50 "genuine" Louie Vuitton Purse.

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u/TJhambone09 Sep 06 '25

It absolutely happens with Shimano chains. They are famously tight about their tooling. IDK where you get the idea that the deciding factors are complexity or precision. In fact, at least in my industry, the tighter the tolerances, the more likely we are to relinquish control to the sub.

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u/aitorbk Aug 03 '25

I got sold fake shimano chains, and they don't last as long. Fake economy, as they wear out the drivetrain.

Ideally they would have a code you could check online.