Favourite chain lube?

[Guest]

I was looking at my chain the other day and was dismayed to see it a bit rusty on the outer side plates. Its 2 years old but less than 5000km on it. I lube with Castrol chain lube about every 3 to 4 weeks but I guess I may not be doing it thoroughly. I thought I was.

I don't ride in the wet and I seldom hose down the bike as it doesn't get dirty so I'm wondering how it rusted so quickly. Anyway, it got me to wondering if there are better lubes.

I hear lots of folks rely on Chainwax but I've also heard it dries out quickly. Some folks profess to using WD40 but to my knowledge that is not a lube but a penetrant.

So the question is what do you use and what's your experience? Also, what's your technique for applying it and how often do you clean the chain?

Thanks for all input.

Ride safe,
Spyug

[TheCafeKid]

Rotella 15w40.... Its all you need... Chain wax and or lube on an Oring chain is unnecessary, and possibly can do more harm than good. Clean it every 500 or so miles with kerosene or WD40, and then lube it with a light coat of motor oil...

[bonanzadave]

PJ1. Not very often. I got a small can 5 years ago and its still 1/2 full. I dont put on too many miles.

[almarconi]

I use PJ1 blue label. I don't use o-ring chains on my bikes and the PJ1 seems to work fine.

[TheCafeKid]

I use PJ1 blue label. I don't use o-ring chains on my bikes and the PJ1 seems to work fine.

Not trying to start a stir, but Al, maybe try one sometime...they say you'll get up to 50% more life out of an oring chain vs roller, and 50% more life out of an Xring than an Oring... For a 530 conversion kit (sprockets, oring chain, and spacer) its actually CHEAPER than ONE 630 Oring chain... Its also less rotating mass for your bike to have to deal with, and they're just as strong as a 630. Sorry to interupt, just thought id toss that out there

[almarconi]

Not trying to start a stir, but Al, maybe try one sometime...they say you'll get up to 50% more life out of an oring chain vs roller, and 50% more life out of an Xring than an Oring... For a 530 conversion kit (sprockets, oring chain, and spacer) its actually CHEAPER than ONE 630 Oring chain... Its also less rotating mass for your bike to have to deal with, and they're just as strong as a 630. Sorry to interupt, just thought id toss that out there

I don't have a problem with using an o-ring chain, I'm just cheap. I think I paid about $30 for the tsubaki 630 chain thats on my GS. The o-ring equivalent probably costs at least $100 more than the non o-ring chain.

Without getting into a long drawn out debate about o-ring vs non o-ring, the important thing is to clean and lubricate your chain. You can get similar mileage out of a properly maintained non o-ring chain it just takes more work. I spread my biking miles over 2 bikes so it will take me a lot of years to wear out a chain anyway.

[Strick]

Bel-Ray Clean lube --> not messy & lubricates WELL!

[duheme]

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/amh.aspx

In my opinion the best, a little hard to find but it comes in a big can. I've used it to undercoat the inside of the tunnel on my snowmobile and all the steering linkages on it, coat the underside of my mower deck, lube cables with, lube door hinges, and do the chains on my bikes with chains, still have over 1/2 can left after two years

[Steve]

I lube the chains on all the GSs in my family with 10w-40.




Yep, the only chain on a shaft-drive bike is the cam chain.

.

[Killer2600]

I use chain wax, doesn't fling off like regular chain lube and stays on the chain better than motor oil.

[Billy Ricks]

This is the latest, greatest thing in chain lube.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

[SabreJim]

I like this stuff:

http://www.maximausa.com/products/chainlubes/chainwax.asp

its my understanding that your chain needs to be warm by riding for 5 minutes then apply and let if sit for 10-15 minutes (so it gets into the O-ring)

[Clone]

Maxima chain wax, I don't even remember when I bought the can, use it every week or two if I remember and at every oil change, the chain and sprockets look new.

[8trackmind]

Maxima chain wax here too.

[Don-lo]

Tri-flow. My original chain went 44,000 miles with it.