Hope Slick Chainguide Shorty — ISCG05

Even the best drivetrain setups drop chains. A clutch derailleur and a narrow-wide chainring get you most of the way there — but on rough tracks, big hits, and the moments when the trail has other ideas, a chain guide is the insurance policy you’ll be glad you have. The Hope Slick Chainguide Shorty is that insurance policy, delivered with the CNC precision and colour choice that only Hope can offer.

Hope’s simple chain guide can be fitted without removing your cranks and does the job of keeping your chain on. Set up properly, it shouldn’t be possible for the chain to drop off the top of the chainring. In typical Hope style, the Slick Guide Short is CNC machined, beautifully finished, and engineered to perform with minimal fuss.

Key Features

Construction & Materials

• CNC machined backplate from 7000 series aluminum plate — 7000 series aluminium is used for its higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to standard 6061; the backplate is stiff enough to maintain precise guide position under the full impact forces of aggressive trail riding
• Cage made of industrial plastic for less noise in the drivetrain — the engineering plastic cage absorbs chain impact without transmitting noise through the frame
• Stainless steel / aluminium hardware throughout

Compatibility & Fit

• ISCG-05 compatible only — check your frame has ISCG05 tabs before ordering; not compatible with BB mount or ISCG03 frames
• Fits a wide spread of chainring sizes (28T–36T) — covers the full range of modern MTB single-ring setups
• The guide is adjusted to your chainring via an oblong hole adjustment with one-bolt system

Installation

• Install without removing the cranks — a significant practical advantage over guides that require crank removal; fitting the Slick Shorty is a straightforward trail-side or workshop job without specialist tools
• Single tool installation and adjustment — everything adjusted with one Allen key

Colourways

• Available in multiple Hope colourways — Black, Red, Blue, Orange, Purple, Green, Silver — match to your Hope brakes, pedals, or build theme

Shorty vs Standard Slick Guide — Which Should I Choose?

The Hope Slick Chainguide comes in two lengths — Shorty and Standard:

Choose the Shorty for trail and enduro riding where you’re already running a clutch derailleur and narrow-wide chainring — the Shorty adds the critical top retention without the extra weight of the full standard guide. Choose the Standard for downhill, bike park, or riding where maximum chain retention is the priority over weight.

Do I Need a Chain Guide if I Already Have a Narrow-Wide Chainring?

Even if you’re using a clutch mech and a narrow-wide chainring, riding rough tracks can make you drop your chain. A narrow-wide chainring and clutch derailleur significantly reduce dropped chains — but they don’t eliminate them entirely on the roughest terrain. The Slick Shorty adds the final layer of security at the top of the chainring that prevents the chain from bouncing off on the biggest hits, the roughest rock gardens, and the moments when the drivetrain takes a direct impact from trail debris.

For riders who regularly ride technical enduro terrain, drops, and rock gardens — the Slick Shorty is a lightweight, simple, and effective addition to any clutch + narrow-wide drivetrain setup.

About Hope Technology

Hope Technology has been manufacturing precision-engineered MTB components in Barnoldswick, Lancashire since 1989. Every Hope product is designed and manufactured in the UK — the Slick Chainguide Shorty is a direct expression of that philosophy: simple, precise, beautifully made, and available in enough colours to match any build.