Triumphrat

blue-thrux · 09-28-2006

how much grease will get everywhere if i take it off??? i see some folks rocking no guard.

JG · 09-28-2006

If you just use regular oil on the chain, it will make a mess. I now use Bel Ray Super Clean lube (thanks to Rodburner for recommending it to me a while back!) with no chain guard and hardly any sprocket cover. I wipe the excess of the side of the chain before it dries for a nicer look. No mess...

[ This message was edited by: JG on 2006-09-28 21:15 ]

blue-thrux · 09-28-2006

do i need take chain off to de grease then add the super lube?

Thrux-ton-up · 09-29-2006

JG - I really like that sprocket cover you have. JCW

sweatmachine · 09-29-2006

duuude, nice supertrap too.

I rode with a guy on a W650 with supertraps, sounded really cool.

Mecchanica · 09-29-2006

The lube that counts is already sealed in the chain. The sprays are mostly to lube the contact between roller and tooth (not the major wear point of a chain/sprocket combo) and to keep the oxide monster at bay. So, a non-fling lube lightly applied is just fine.

CYNCRZR · 09-29-2006

Have ya ever seen what happens to a chain gaurd when a chain breaks ?

Would you want that to be your foot/ankle ?

rabbid · 09-29-2006

JG what suspension do you have in the rear? and did you do the exhaust yourself?

Mecchanica · 09-29-2006

With the relatively low power output of these engines, the liklihood of breaking a modern chain is nil. And without a chainguard, the chain either lays out dead straight on the ground, or piles up in the speocket cover and blows it to hell. And maybe the case, if you're moving fast enough. I think your foot would be ok.

JG · 09-29-2006

Blue-Thrux, I cleaned all the old oil off the chain with gasoline and a rag before putting the new stuff on it, so that the Super Clean would be sticking right to the chain and not to a layer of grease, and it would also look cleaner. I would have taken it off the bike to do it if it had a master link, but since it does not, I just rolled the bike around to get at different areas on the chain (didn't bother with a lift). The Super Clean leaves a white-ish film on the chain, which you can wipe off the side plates right after applying, before it gets really sticky, if you want.

I agree with Mechannica - in theory, there is no sliding contact between the rollers and the sprocket (but there is a little, in reality), so you don't need a ton of lube on it. It just collects sand and dirt if you have too much. I like a fine film on the chain to prevent rust and keep the outsides of the x-rings moist. Say a chain costs a hundred bucks and by slightly under-lubing it, the chain only lasts 80% as long as it normally would. Well, the extra 25% I have to spend on chains is worth it to me to avoid all the time/aggravation of cleaning grease off the bike.

JCW - I hope to make some more of those sprocket covers and have them for sale. I posted more pictures a few weeks ago in Club Cafe (search my post history in Profile to find it).

Rabbid - The rear shocks are Wilbers 632TS. The mufflers are Supertrapps stuck on the ends of the headers. I still need to find a way to bend the headers in a little bit before I have them black coated. The mufflers stick out a little too far. They sound great (not very loud, really - those tiny cans do a great job of quieting the exhaust down) and only weigh around 4 pounds each, so I don't even need a hanger bracket for them.