Do I need a long chain for a 59cm Clem L?

[Stephen Merelman]

This title says it all. It's a 2X9, the stock build from several years ago. Time to do a little preventative maintenance. 

Thanks in advance,

smm

[Joe Bernard]

That's a very long bike so yes. My 52cm also needs it, I buy two chains and piece them together. 

[Stephen Merelman]

Thank you. The order's in. Easier to make a long chain short than the other way around. 

smm

[Nick Payne]

On Monday, 4 May 2026 at 12:35:07 am UTC+10 Joe Bernard wrote:

That's a very long bike so yes. My 52cm also needs it, I buy two chains and piece them together.

Ebike chains are frequently longer than normal derailleur chains, and a single chain is long enough to cope with the Riv long chainstays. I use 136-link KMC ebike chains on my Appaloosa, which needs ~130 links in the chain.

Nick Payne

[Josh C]

Mine is the standard build, 59cm clem with the low/low double up front and 11-34 in the rear. I believe my chain is 130 links. I happened to just replace it, so it's fairly fresh in my mind. I usually buy 4-5 KMC chains at a time, from my LBS, and use one as a donor chain for the others. 

[Joe Bernard]

Good to know, I wasn't aware of long ebike chains. Are they typically 8-speed chains? 

[Michael Connors]

I know of a place that sells 136 L 9 speed KMC chains

https://www.rivbike.com/products/chains?variant=52782262648943

[Nick Payne]

On Monday, 4 May 2026 at 6:52:48 am UTC+10 Joe Bernard wrote:

Good to know, I wasn't aware of long ebike chains. Are they typically 8-speed chains?

The ones I have are 11-speed, but the 136 link KMC chains come in 9, 10, 11, and 12-speed versions. 

Nick