Since the KMC X12 Titanium Nitride coating creates a tough protective barrier, it is a lot less susceptible to corrosion during storage. The Ti-N coating is more for the bling than functional. Since it appear that they coat the rollers as well, this is why they can wax rather than oil the chain.
I have KMC X12s on 5 of my rides. I have been pleased with them, From my perspective, chains are a consumable wear item. I replace the chain every year on 3 of the bikes I ride the most, and perhaps every 2 years on the other 2 bikes. I do have a chain checker, and I find I replace before they indicate they should be replaced. I believe that this helps reduce the wear on the cassette and front chain ring/s.
One other reason some riders swap and run 2 different chains per bike is that this helps with more even wear of the cassette cogs and front ring. (I am too lazy to keep track of this.) Perhaps if I am able to purchase a lot of chains at a really good price, I could purchase 2x more chains and start the chain swap practice. At $44 retail, and $71.5 retail for the silver chain and Ti Gold, I would have to spend $440 to & $710 every other year.
I last paid about $25 each for the regular KMC X12 chains. Very soon, I am going to swap in a couple of "ZTTO 12s rainbow SLR chains" I purchased for $16 each after coins and coupons back in February. (Don't have a clue how these will work.)
