FIRST LOOK: CSIXX guide and chain ring

A few products from CSIXX in South Africa have just landed here to be tested out. While their range extends from parts for XC riders to those racing Enduro or chasing freeride lines, the first couple of products we are starting with a really versatile – a carbon chain guide and a replacement chain ring for Shimano 12-speed cranks. While the ring is marked as suitable for Shimano XTR M9100 – as SLX, Deore XT and XTR are all compatible. CSIXX also do oval rings, and direct mount rings for SRAM, Cannondale and Cinch in different offsets, plus of course 94BCD and 104BCD.

With pricing at around $100 for the ring on test here, plus shipping, it's a really competitive price as well. The 34t ring weighed 78g, about 5g lighter than XTR if you're curious. The rings are made from 7075 aluminium heat treated to T6, with hard anodising to make them even harder wearing.

I'm testing this ring with their  Super SIngle 9 Series chain guide at first – not because I don't trust the security of their narrow-wide profile! But it is a good fit on my bike, as a lightweight guide, weighing 46g with all required mountain hardware. 

It is a little more finnicky to fit, only because the top guide doesn't swing out of the way like a OneUp or Funn guide. But the mount is also stiffer – so it should do the job of keeping the chain on better as well. I did have a guide flex enough to let the chain out, then making it very hard to get it back on – that is sub-optimal. I don't expect this CSIXX model to do that given the stiffness of the carbon back plate.

I'll check back with a full review after a summer of riding on this setup. CSIXX claim they've already got 5000km out of one of the chain rings and it's still going. So let's see.

Check out their range of gear online.