There is plenty of truth to the old saying that a clean bike is a happy one. If you always carry a pillion, pop them on the bike too, as thier weight also contributes. By continuing to use this website you accept this and acknowledge that the actions you take when you are riding your motorcycle are your own. RoadBikeReview: How do you know when your chain needs lube? Then switch position so that you can spray the inner part of the chain. Of all the parts that make up a bicycle, the drive chain is among those that receive the most wear. Visible rust? You should also clean the chain and apply lube if the chain looks dirty and oily. And it’s arguably more healthy for your rings. The advantage of a liquid formula is that you will get plenty of coverage and should be able to use the lube on every type of chain. Lube is a more versatile product. A lube that dries quickly is best if you ride frequently. This chain lube has received a lot of good reviews. Chain wax and chain lube have their pros and cons. Checkout our privacy policy for details on how we protect and manage your submitted data. If you’re looking for a chain lube suitable for racing or care about your bike’s performance, this chain lube is an ideal option for you. There are no issues with flinging, and the product doesn’t attract dirt. Suppose you’ve noticed that you need to tighten the chain’s slack a little more frequently than you used to. It’s easy to lubricate and clean your motorcycle chain. The main downside is that it’s best to use this lube on O-ring chains. Hoping to cut to the chase? And you want a clear, round ‘U’ rather than an oval shape where the chain sits into the socket. Let’s take a closer look at these two popular products. Some products create a white coat that can be very noticeable, but it’s not the case with this chain lube. If the chain is not lubricated it will wear prematurely.The chain does not stretch but grows in length as the pins and barrels wear.This has the effect of changing the distance between the rollers.As the chain grows it will no longer match the pitch of the drive sprockets, the sprockets will wear out prematurely.If you then change the chain it will be worn by the old sprockets. If you don’t have a centre stand – common with sports bikes, for example – then look at investing in another method for raising the rear wheel so that by turning the wheel you can easily rotate the chain. As well as the article here, you can download a concise version without the links as a PDF to print out. – Inexpensive oil, WD40 or a solvent-based degreaser Extreme cold and heat will have severe effects on lube which is why it is also paramount that you pick lube that suits the weather. Dry lube or wax-based lube is easy to apply and not messy. Bikes have different ways of adjusting the rear wheel, but they all share a common sequence: Loosen, adjust both sides, check the tight spot is now a maximum 3.5cm, tighten. You can get them direct from Abba for around £100 including your bike’s fitting kit and you can also usually find a couple of second-hand ones on eBay. – Old toothbrush or other small nylon brush (not too stiff) At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Motorcycle Chain Lubes. It can prevent power loss in an environment where speed matters. Clean and lube also. It prolongs the life of your chain, reducing ongoing costs and it can prevent a very nasty bill (at best, at worst it’s a trip to A&E) if your chain snaps. Yes, certainly, ... lubing up your bike is easy and a great way to get to know your bike … Hints: Wipe your chain off before you add more lube. Yep, it's the dreaded 'Agree to your cookies' text. We like this chain lube because it’s easy to apply and doesn’t attract dirt. Can you really get extra horsepower from a bottle? Whatever lube you use, you need to get the old stuff off as it will have collected road dirt to form the dreaded paste. A wax goes on in liquid form but will quickly solidify. This chain lube uses solid additives to form a durable protective layer on your chain. Because chain wax has a thicker consistency, it’s easier to apply without making a mess. And it can also reduce excessive wear on your sprockets. Rotate the rear wheel (move the bike forward) so you can check another section and keep repeating until you reach the tightest spot of the chain. Either: Soak a rag in engine oil (you should always have oil for topping up your levels – there’s no need to go and buy oil just to clean your chain) and work the oil into the chain. You are looking for around 3.5cm (11/2”) of movement. Here is what you need to know about these two products. Take your time to fully dry the chain and remove all of the chain cleaner prior to lubricating. – Spanners and allen/hex keys – Tape measure Posted 6 years ago It also helps make the product more durable. It’s a long-lasting product, and it does a great job of repelling dirt and reducing friction. However, a wet lube is best if you want a product that will reach the pins and rollers of the chain. Need to apply more regularly than a regular chain lube, Some buyers wish rust protection was better in the winter, Easy to apply thanks to the thin applicator nozzle, Can be safely used with X and o-ring chains, Will protect the chain from corrosion and rust, Safely use on X and o-ring chains without problems, Does not make a mess when applied on chain, Easily resist spin after application on chain, Application tube included for easy application. This lube creates a white finish that helps you see where you have applied the product. You can use WD-40 to remove oily residues or old lube on your chain. It’s also best to apply chain wax on a clean chain. It’s also best to use this product on X and O-ring chains. They say it’s a great option if you want a waterproof lube, and the product forms a white protecting coating that reduces wear-and-tear. Get your bike into position. A majority of buyers are happy with this chain wax. Checking and adjusting chain tension is a fundamental bit of maintenance, right up there with checking your oil and tire pressures. Use chain lube that matches your conditions, wipe off excess after application, and allow at least a few hours for the lube to set up. You can apply this product on O, X, and Z-ring chains. And keeping a chain clean and properly lubricated helps increase its service life." This will give it time to dry in. A poorly maintained chain could be toast after just 5,000 miles and at a £100+ a pop, that’s an expense you can do without. You should apply lube if the chain looks dry or if you can see rust forming. You can do it every 600 miles if you ride on clean roads with minimal exposure to dust or humidity. It’s a great way of reducing wear-and-tear on your chain, and there is very minimal flinging when you apply the product. My Bandit’s a 2006 model with nearly 60,000 miles on it now. Reviewers recommend using a small quantity of the product and letting it dry thoroughly to prevent flinging. – Rags Visual Inspect the Condition of the Chain and Sprockets. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations when choosing a chain lube. WD40 is good if you want to clean chain lube and dirt off you chain. The Rollastand sits under the rear tyre and is in effect rollers that stay in place so that you can spin the wheel. All you need now is a simple step-by-step guide. If the signs are the chain is too slack, you’ll need to move the rear wheel back to reduce the amount of slack. If you ride more than that in a day, then every day is fine, you don’t have to stop in the middle of a long ride to clean your chain. Riding with a wet chain will result in a lot of flinging. Chain lubricant can be messy to apply and attract gunk. Wipe off any excess. It also delivers a better value compared to dry lube and can last longer. You want to maximize the use and the life of your lube since it al… Or, if you are just happy to spray away, place a piece of cardboard between the chain and the rear wheel to stop getting spray all over your tyre and rim and use a toothbrush to work the dirt out. Image: Use a tape measure to check the play in your chain. I havent used chain lube since the day oring chains came out and have NEVER had an oring pop out or spend hours to clean my chain and the bike only to … Below are the three best motorcycle chain lube: We recommend the following products because of their value, quality, and performance. This is a great time to inspect the condition … It's terrible if you want to lube … It typically forms a thick protective layer on the surface of your chain. Then take a soft nylon brush like an old tooth brush, and work into the gaps between the outer plate and the inner part of the chain. Speedy Moto is reader-supported. Can I use WD40 on my motorcycle chain? There’s little point in cleaning a chain that you subsequently discover has become dangerous, so do your chain condition check first (although you will have been doing your TMC regularly, won’t you, so you’ll be familiar with its condition…). The manufacturer recommends using this chain lube for road and street. The manufacturer recommends using this lube for racing because it protects your chain in situations with high speeds and a lot of friction. You can use it on any kind of chain, and it’s suitable for street, off-road, and racing. Rotate the rear wheel at an even speed until the whole chain has been coated. It's so thin that it will fling straight off. The texture of the product will protect these types of chains, but it’s not ideal for Z-ring chains. Lube is mainly affected by weather patterns. The key really here is to apply to a hot chain so the lubricant is drawn into the chain where it needs to be. Sound is the best way to determine when lube should be reapplied. Once the tool shows the chain is worn it's time for a new one. It’s a product that can reduce friction, prevent wear-and-tear when riding at high speeds, and mitigate power loss. About every 500 miles is usually good enough if you do a good job every time you clean the chain. Chain lube can have different degrees of viscosity. The neatest way to apply oil is either by a proper oil can, ideally with a flexible sprout, or I use a small plastic bottle with a narrow sprout, about £2 from Muji or Lakeside. I've gotten about 25K miles out of chains on average by doing this. A liquid formula might be easy to apply but can also get messy if you use too much. Here are some additional considerations about chain lube and motorcycle maintenance. It is … Click here if you want to view our Cookie Policy information. A little bit of play is OK, but if you can get a screwdriver in between the chain and sprocket, it’s time for a new chain. People like the affordable price point, and the applicator wand that makes it easy to apply the lube without making a mess. The chain is almost always in motion and under constant tension, bearing against other parts in the drive train. That’s especially true of chain lubes that effectively glue the oil to the chain to reduce fling (the oil that is thrown off the chain by the momentum of the bike, often onto your rear wheel). We like this product because it’s versatile, and it does an excellent job of protecting your motorcycle chain from dirt and corrosion without attracting gunk. If the chain passes that test move on to the tension. Filtering on your motorbike: What’s the law? This lube will also do an excellent job of protecting your bike chain from wear-and-tear. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Step 1. I think most people add chain lube too often. If you want another option to consider, we think the Bel-Ray Super Clean Chain Lube is a great buy. Just like the jockey wheels and the rear sprockets the chainrings will hold dirt and … If the chain feels caked in mud, you know a cleaning session is due. ⠀ Motorcycle Chain Maintenance: ... lube your chain. You can also use this as an opportunity to clean up your workstation, as by this point things are probably a bit gross. 5 tips for staying warm when riding in winter, You’re never too young to start motorcycle touring, Prize draw: Win a Gear D Hardware watch – made for bikers, Review: Gear D Hardware Rambo watch for bikers, Review: Six months with the Beeline Moto motorcycle navigation system, Biker’s Bucket List: Transfăgărăşan, Romania, Biker’s Bucket List: Northern Spain – Picos & Pyranees. The short answer is NO. Midway between the rear wheel sprocket and the front (gearbox) sprocket, move the chain up and down. With any bike you want to ideally apply chain lube and don't ride the bike for 30 minutes or more. It delivers excellent adhesion, but it’s best for dry environments. When adjusting you’ll find markers along both sides of the swing arm. It’s an ideal product for protecting your chain from corrosion, and it’s easy to apply. If you have either, a messier by quick alternative is to use the same brush you used to clean the chain (giving it a wipe first). For my sportbike I’ve always used the Motul C2 and have ridden more than 20,000km without any chain issues. Do this for every section of the chain. The information and opinions provided by this website are intended for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal or financial advice. Most modern motorcycle chains are sealed with O-rings (or X-rings / some other fancy rubbery ring) to keep grease inside the pins; it stands to reason that non-sealed chains (found on small-capacity bikes) need lubricating, but is motorcycle chain lube necessary on bigger bikes, or is it just a scam to make us spend £15 on a can of grease? Take your time to do your work – just to see what their boredom threshold is. I lube it every 500 miles, but I normally don't ride in the rain. https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk › check-lubricate-motorcycle-chain It will halve the time it takes to maintain your chain regularly. Has grease or crud built up on your bike’s chain? The wear-resistant property is where this product truly shines. If you add lube on top of a dirty chain or old lube, you can run the risk of buildup, which will eventually eat away at your chain links. Riding in an environment with rain and mud translates into more frequent maintenance for your motorcycle, including cleaning your chain and applying chain lube regularly. There are two main types of chain lube; a lube and a wax. “Chains are the most abused item on a motorcycle, yet the most overlooked maintenance-wise. Motorcycle Chain Lube vs Wax. Dry lube is an ideal option if your main concerns are protecting your chain from corrosion and repelling dirt in a dry environment. A little goes a long way, and it’s a durable product that you won’t have to re-apply often. Both need to start with a degreased chain so yes, I strip and wax brand new chains. Chain waxes are usually white in colour, whereas a lube is usually clear. We like the clear finish of this lube. You will make your life much easier if you raise the rear wheel. The catch 22 with lubricating chains is that the very oil you use to protect the bike also helps dirt stick to it. Motorcycling is dangerous. Dry lube. Lubricate Your Chain. Copyright Biker & Bike Ltd 2016-2019, All Rights Reserved. It’s suitable for street and dirt bikes, and the liquid formula can penetrate deeply into the chain to protect pins and rollers that would otherwise be difficult to reach. You can clean your chain with a toothbrush, a degreaser and some clean water, however, I like using an actual chain cleaning kit. You will need to apply lube more regularly if you ride off-road or in wet conditions. 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