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chain lube

12K views 66 replies 44 participants last post by  rodhotter 
#1 ·
can anyone recommend a chain lube that doesn't cover my tyre with lube:laugh2:
 
#4 ·
I've tried several.. and none seem to live up to their claims of no fling.. I actually need to find out what they use in my dealership as that is the only one that seems to stay on the chain and not migrate onto the tire and swinging arm etc

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#5 ·
The most important is to ride the bike to warm up the chain before applying, and then letting it sit for 1h for solvents to evaporate. You can also wipe off the excess. Recently I tried using gearbox oil as recommended by chain manufacturers, and you just apply it with a brush, wipe off the excess, and considering its so cheap, it does a pretty good job. Some will prefer waxes that tend to fling less, but again, warm the chain, apply and wait.
 
#6 ·
Well in a perfect world your right but who has time to fiddle around.
My experience I’ve the last 50 years has been far less involving.
Just apply the chain lube and ride. Find that cleaning chain frequently and keeping lubed to point the rollers aren’t shiny or bare is adequate.
I rarely need to lube more than once every 300 to 400 miles and chains last 30,000 miles or so.
 
#7 · (Edited)
The Dupont product with Teflon has been great for me. I used to get it at Lowes but they have discontinued it. I did find it through Amazon and it is packaged differently but seems to be the same product. Regardless, it uses alcohol as the carrier and uses a wax type lube and Teflon. I get very little to almost no fling. It does not collect dirt either. It should be noted that I live in a very hot environment and have to ride in temps around 110 in the summer (I just don't ride when it's above 110 which is most of the summer). Even in these temps the lube stays where it should be.
 
#8 ·
I think it's more about application, than product. Don't use too much and wipe down the excess. Also worth noting that it's important to spray on chain lube from the inside of the chain, so that centrifugal force pushes the lube outwards and coats the chain. If i had a dollar for every time i seen someone do it from the outside and it makes spray off worse.
 
#10 ·
I think it's more about application, than product.
I agree, but lord there is some crappy product out there. I was out on the road this summer and ran out of lube, and I needed it. Chain was clunking so I just stopped into an Autozone and got what they had, some liquid wrench branded product. Went on thin, made a mess, and hours later the chain is clunking again. Now, if I was in my garage the mess part wouldn't have been as bad since I could have wiped down the chain easily, as it was I was doing the push-and-spray-repeat method. But the crap did not work. Run into a few brands like that and have given away and thrown away near full cans.

Any of the stuff recommended around here will be fine. I happen to use Maxima Chain Wax. Once I got a can of that at a a Honda dealership on my trip I was good-to-go. Left the liquid wrench stuff in their trash.
 
#14 ·
First, forget all the above advice! Really, just forget it. Chain-lube products are a waste of money.
Second, watch the Youtube from "forty-nine" on chain lube (link below).
Let it sink in...you know, kinda like chain-lube is supposed to, but can't, because your O-ring or X-ring chain won't let it into the part that needs the lube.
Then just clean the chain with WD-40 and lube it with Gear-Oil.
 
#16 ·
First, forget all the above advice! Really, just forget it. Chain-lube products are a waste of money.
Gear oil is a good chain lube as well, I may start using that when I run out of chain wax actually. Cheaper but more of a pain to apply. But chain wax and the Dupont stuff work too.

Your gear oil doesn't get by your o-rings either you know, they all work the same way.
 
#22 ·
If you are looking for something that won’t fling, I don’t think you can beat DuPont Chain Saver with Teflon. It resist picking up road trash linke some of the other lubes. I’ve always used Maxim Chain Wax but it tends to build up and need more chain cleaning. I apply the DuPont more often but it doesn’t appear to build up or need chain cleaning. Worth the trade off to me. All work well if you apply them often but I’m sticking with DuPont. Priced right too!
 
#27 ·
I have enough trouble trying to get rid of man boobs...
I have used them all and found "Chain Wax" if I have time to let it sit and set in cuts down on the fling.
My next test is the Dupont teflon spray from Wal-mart.
 
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#28 ·
Before O-ring chains, I was a fan of Duckhams chain lube. Chains always had a breakable link, so the process was to use an old chain to thread the chain off the sprockets, wash the chain in petrol and air dry, then annoy the missus by melting a big tin of chain lube over a stove hot plate with the chain coiled inside. Hang the chain up to drain, and refit. Amazing , looking back!

Now I just use Belray chain cleaner and chain lubricant on a hot chain (on the bike!) and have absolutely zero fling off.
 
#31 ·
I just clean my chains with WD40 every 300 miles or so. Chains last 30,000 miles with this treatment, look great, very little mess on your wheels.

I’m not looking for more than 30K out of a chain and sprocket set. They are wear items. What I can’t stand is rust on the chain or dirty wheels.

There should be a thread: “Cleaning your motorcycle; chore or pleasure?” :smile2:
 
#33 ·
And your swing arm, mudguard, chainguard, number plate and every where else but the chain. Oh, l forgot...and the wheel it self.

Short answer is nope. Tried then all, even the So called lubes. Luckily, l enjoy cleaning my bike. And l live in the wonderful world of Aus, where there is no snow (not in WA anyway) so no salt and infrequent rain. A lot a lot of sun. So just a bit of dust really. Blessed.

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#34 ·
Oh, forgot to mention and the exhaust.

But in all seriousness, dust is more an issue as it gunks the chain. Think it does more damage than not lubing the chain.

Twice a year l wash the chain in WD40. Take the bike for a ride to heat the chain.
Then you a good chain lube. Let it settle over night. Good to go. There is some fling, but it is minimal and easily wiped off with a bit of WD40 on a rag. Works for me.

Yes. People might think it's time consuming that way. But it's better than spending half a day bike cleaning. And as we all know the chain lube always gravitates to places you can't get to.





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#35 ·
I will say that I tried Yamalube once, and that was complete crap. Might as well have just applied that old 3 in 1 oil I used on my bicycle chain when I was a kid.

I now use Motul, but it does attract grit after a while and tends to be a bit messy. I have just resolved to clean the affected areas with kerosene when I clean the chain and sprockets, which is about once per month. Don't forget to take the front sprocket cover off and clean in there if you have a T120, otherwise goo will come oozing out of the bottom. Then you've got a big clean up to do.

Most of our chains are sealed, so really we are just cleaning and lubing them to keep surface rust away. I can definitely notice the drag when I have been naughty and not kept up with it, though.
 
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