The Ultegra 6800 Chain was tuned precisely for its new 11-speed drivetrain. The chain deviates from the asymmetric design of 6700, as it now incorporates a symmetrical construction that makes the chain omnidirectional, and accordingly, makes installation a snap. That's right, no more guessing the direction of the chain before installation. And while, yes, it is thinner (0.26mm thinner) than CN-6700, the 14g weight savings has more to do with its overall design and PTFE plated construction. The proprietary PTFE treatment is something that we've only recently started to see in Shimano cabling and on its Dura-Ace 9000 chain. Sharing a similar chemical makeup with the illustrious Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethylene), the PTFE coating was developed by Shimano to act as both a lubricant and as a coat of armor against corrosion and stressed linkage. In fact, while decreasing the width and materials of the chain, the CN-6800 manages to be 20% more durable than 6700. The PTFE treatment also reduces overall mechanical drag, decreased acoustical resonance, and most importantly, makes front and rear shifts extremely smooth. The Shimano Ultegra CN-6800 11-Speed Chain is available in one size and one color. The chain includes the Shimano breaking pins for installation, and is compatible with Shimano's new 6- to 11-speed chain tool, TL-CN28. Please visit the official Shimano website for installation instructions.
