Chain Cleaning Options

[scubajosh77]

So I'm pretty religious about my motorcycle maintenance and I mentioned off hand to a fellow rider the other day my technique for cleaning and lubing my chain every 500 miles. I make sure the bike is hot, IE 30-40 minutes of riding. I then soak a rag in gasoline and with the bike on the center stand in first let it run and use the rag to clean off the gunk. I then dry the chain with a clean rag and apply the requisite amount of chain lube. My friend thought I was nuts using gasoline to clean the chain. Something about O-rings, yadda, yadda, yadda. So my question is: What do you guys use to clean your chains?

[DaveM]

Kerosine,
been doing it for more than 30 years.

DaveM

[adg44]

I use motul chain cleaner on a rag, and then spray with Chain Wax. Works perfectly.

[johnny]

Ive been using (i think its called...) S-100 degreaser. Found at most bike shops by me (P.A.) Spray it on real well, let it dry after rinsing, then re-lube.

[NotSoFast]

I warm up the chain and then clean it with Motorex aerosol chain cleaner and a Grunge brush. The Grunge brush is great because it has stiff bristles and it cleans 3 sides at once. The Motorex is "O" ring safe. Wipe off the excess, then lube. Let the lube set up and wipe off the excess and you are ready to go.

[PhxMan]

I have been using diesel fuel ( it is Cheap $4.00 per Gallon ) for years, it is basically just kerosene, that and a grunge brush. I make sure the chain is nice and warm, Clean it, Wipe it down, and then re-lube and let sit for the night normally, wipe chain down again and good to go. Jeff

[Garyhjd]

Kerosene and a grunge brush, works great and real cheap. Have a bottle of Motul cleaner as well that I have used in the past. Clean and then lube.

gary

[Tri-oomph!]

Diesel fuel. Kerosene is obscenely expensive in these parts.

[Thruxton-Texas]

I use WD-40 and an old toothbrush if it's really dirty, wipe clean with a rag and apply Maxima chain wax. IMHO, gasoline seems kinda risky.:----James.

[MuzTheInfidel]

Originally Posted by Tri-oomph!

Diesel fuel. Kerosene is obscenely expensive in these parts.

+1 ... I do it before I lube the chain each time. If you do it regularly enough you can get away with a rag and not even need to scrub with a brush. Works as well as the zillion dollar specialist chain cleaners.

Just beware the finger mauling rear sprocket and never run the bike in 1st gear on the centre stand to speed up the process... OUCH!!

The lube that you use will make a big difference as to how filthy the whole thing gets. I switched from the supposedly clean Chain Wax(es) to the Bel-Ray lube and things are cleaner than they've ever been.
OT, but I think I read (maybe even on this forum) about some racer types using Diesel as the lube... Anyone know anything about that?

Muz