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Hands On: cSixX XC Chainguide

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Ok, so the SR Suntour Durolux wasn’t the last piece of our Project Zee, I had forgotten about the chain. We needed a frame to hang all the parts on, and after a lot of miles on our ’11 Trek Remedy 9.9, it seemed like a great candidate for a slightly bigger fork, and a build that was more geared towards going down than up. The only issue – in 2011, the carbon Remedies lacked ISCG tabs. Fortunatly, Trek fixed the issue the very next year by adding the tabs while also tweaking the head angle to effectively match this build’s once the 160mm fork is added.

So, we were left hoping to build up a frame that lacks ISCG tabs with a group that doesn’t have a front derailleur. While the Shadow Plus Zee rear derailleur should keep the bottom of the chain in place, something was needed up top – which is where the cSixX steps in. David Meredith, the founder and proprietor of One Ghost Industries has been the sole US distributor for cSixX’s carbon chain guides which hail from South Africa. Earlier this year, in addition to their line of super light FR/DH full chain guides, they had just introduced the new cSixX XC, a super light, carbon, single ring XC guide which looked to be exactly what we needed. After a quick chat with David, he graciously agreed to provide one for the review and it was here two days later. Awesome.

How does the cSixX stack up against the other guides out there? More after the break.

Even with a name like the XC guide, it’s really meant for any type of riding along the lines of XC, AM, or Enduro. The XC guide will fit a 32-42t chainring, and is offered in 5 colors in both a traditional round seat tube clamp model, and also a High Direct mount standard which is what we needed for the Remedy. Inside the packaging you will find the beautiful carbon guide along with all needed hardware and six different shims in total in order to properly space out the cage so it is perfectly centered over the chain ring. The small tab on the bottom of the shims inserts into the metal backing plate that holds everything together and ensures proper alignment. They also have a tab on the backside to keep the shim from spinning against the carbon.

The stock bolt that came with the guide wasn’t long enough for the Remedy, but neither was the stock bolt on an XT front derailleur. It was an easy fix – just use the bolt we had been using for the derailleur, but it would be nice to use the lighter aluminum bolt that it came with.

Even with all the hardware and a 3mm mounting shim, the whole guide is still shy of 50g. It’s easily one of the lightest, if not the lightest single ring guide out there. While the XC guide will set you back $99.99, it certainly checks all the boxes – it’s light, good looking, well built, and time will tell but it seems plenty strong. Now for the big question, will a Shadow Plus rear derailleur and XC type guide be enough for really aggressive riding? We’ll get back to you on that one.

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Quickie
Quickie
11 years ago

I assume that the “research and development” costs that go into designing a product with no moving parts is what puts the cost of this above a barrel of oil?

Wake me when the Chinese market one for 1/4th the price. Blood carbon ftw.

ds
ds
11 years ago

One of the nicest looking premium chainguide I’ve seen. On their site other bash-guards are even more impressive ! But with newest Sram XX1 these kind of products have no future meaning.

@Quickie
Honestly $99 is not expensive considering expensive composite manufacturing, plastic molding and machining for fastener. Alternative in plastics ain’t so cheaper (eg. E thirteen), and generally very ugly and not up to the task for racing.

And there is carbon and carbon, just as Chinese and Chinese. Just look at Chinese bike lights, after three months : out of order.

Quickie
Quickie
11 years ago

I concede.
The clamp mount version that fits my frame is $130, and it’s currently not within my budget for a chain guide. If you have the means this looks like a nice piece of equipment, but a haters gotta hate.

G..
G..
11 years ago

Nice, not mind blowing but nice fer sure.

I though fail to see why everything in the bike world should be ‘cheap’ or ‘affordable’ by everyone. I will be the first to say that I don’t have even half the cash to by some of the stuff I see around but I don’t expect that everything should be affordable. I don’t see car or motorcycle enthusiasts complain that they can’t afford the exotic but it seems in the bike world, everything should be attainable by everyone…?

And made in China? Pah, you can keep it thanks. Seen enough of the ‘inexpensive’ pretty carbon rubbish from China to know that it is just that, pretty looking rubbish.

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

Looking at name I thought it was Race Face product, to go with my SixC bar.

I would keep my Paul keeper. Better made.

pete
pete
11 years ago

how does it stack up against the mrp 1.x and e.thirteen xc?

erick
erick
11 years ago

want to try this.. after my xx1pivot mach 5.7 carbon has twice chain drop.. first muddy flat slow condition.. fd/chainguide will help shed the mud.. second at macadam.. same thing happened on my friend xx1 sc trc.. twice.. same problem

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