Hi, I am in rented accomodation. Lost use of my friends garag end of last yr so bike has stayed parked out on the street. I set the trip metre and at every 500 miles I clean and lube my chain. I have an Oxford cover also but it doesn't quite cover the back tyre if I have the top box on. Despite this I get a lot of rust forming on the chain and need to wire brush this off. I have been riding all through the winter bar about 2 weeks when there was snow and ice. The rust is light and ususally the wire brush takes it off but it keeps forming if the bike stands a week or so ! I do ride regularly so the snowy period was what caused the most recent rust. If I google it, it says chain rust due to lack of maintenance or salt on the roads. This is definitely a winter thing. I think at 500 mile intervals I'm doing my chain maintenance okay !? Question is, aside from lubing the chain, what can I do to stop it rusting if I stand it for a week or more at any time !? Cover for the chain or grease it up but will that remove the lube !? Thanks... ALEX
500 miles can be too much of a maintenance interval if you use the bike in poor environmental conditions or nothing if on a clean long distance run... If you are having problems then I suggest more frequent servicing. Preparation is crucial. Get all the crud off. Make it sparkle and then re-apply the lubricants. Also check what type of chain you have. A cheap one will perhaps be more susceptible to corrosion and wear than a more premium model. Hope you get it fixed.
A Scottoiler may also help. Additionally, after each ride, a very quick chain clean using a cloth liberally impregnated with WD40, can extend full clean and lube intervals. As with everything, Husbandry.
i do mine whenever i refuel. if your chain is getting rusty just sitting then there isn't enough oil on it. what are you lubing it with? most spray stuff these days is super tack and after initial drips the rest will stay on the chain for quite some time
I’ve had 2 new bikes over the years and both chains rusted very fast. Like you say only surface rust buts looks rubbish so I’ve always changed them for better quality chains which seem much more resistant to rust. I haven’t ridden in the type of weather you do but it was still a pain and the bike has been garaged. Now I think about it I did the same with the rear sprocket to, I know it’s largely cosmetic but I like the way they look and in the long run easier to look after.
Also don’t use all the different waxes and such, gear oil is what you want. I’ve got some in a little jar with a small paint brush and takes about a minute to brush some on and rag off excess.
Clean the chain thoroughly with paraffin with a cloth or chain cleaning brush. I wouldn't use a wire brush. Apply gear oil with small brush or rag. Repeat every 300 miles.
80/90 GEAR OIL IS THE WAY TO GO !!!! As previously said, apply sparingly with a cut down 1" paint brush. You won't get any rust and your chain will run very quietly.
Wonder why more motorcycle manufacturers don’t use belt drive? Are they inferior to chains in any way? When I was younger I didn’t mine using valuable time adjusting chains, but now I’m old I just couldn’t be arsed (Or get down to) messing about with a chain every few days. Not something (I think) you should have to do in 2021. Cheers,Ken.
Back in the mid 1970's when I was running Yamaha rd250's and later rd400's, every couple of weeks I'd remove the chain, thoroughly clean it in a paraffin bath then cook it in a large tin of Link life, suspend it from the shed roof above the still liquid link life until set, then re-fit it and happily spend 30 minutes or so adjusting it to my complete satisfaction. Those chains gave very good service. Happy days! Not sure that I could raise the motivation now though.
I had one on the xdiavel and tbh, I was constantly worried about getting little stones in it and then having to replace it (and the pulleys). The actual cost is horrendous as the swingarm has to come out to change it as it's a continuous loop. Dealer job (unless you are REALLY kitted up in the cave). And, although belt is lots quieter and maintenance free, the chain isn't dead yet as we can do it ourselves. If there's a maintenance free chain on the horizon (bmw make one?) thats in general release, i'm getting one asap!
Yep indeed, thanks ;-) Sounds like good sense. I use WD40 as a chain cleaner, I've found it's as good as anything else. If I apply it after every ride, am I taking the lube off the chain though ? I was looking at a PDOiler cos of the wick that sits almost on the chain. I still have the issue when I leave the bike a few days after riding salty roads and it is damp and raining I get rust build up on the chain. It ain't easy in a flat to clean after every ride. I try to put the bike cover down and over the back wheel but I think there is condensation that builds up under it despite my best efforts. An oiler might make the rust less likely to start but would I still need some protection when "standing" the bike ?? If I grease the chain am I making a world of pain for myself when I next ride off n it gets slung over my back n around bike ;-D ?? Electricity n water / grease n brakes don't mix !! I also need a fokkin job pays me enough to buy a house instead of renting... all donations gratefully accepted ;-D
Yeah bang on. Carry small bottle in top box, (VERY securely wrapped) n a toothbrush so I can oild chain when at girlfirends house n away from my bits n pieces. Heard diesel also does a good job if u travelling, can scavange enough from pumps without paying for it if attendent hasn't rung police ;-D
I supose shaft drive was an attempt to answer all these issues, drive enclosed and protected from road muck ?? Not had one or ridden one, not sure how they perform and why like the rotary engine (I know roughly why that didn't make the big time but still an excellent idea) shaf drives never made the mainstream !?
Thank you for suggestion not sure if it was directly to me. Problem is geeting there n back. I'm motorcycle only. If I can bicycle then good ;-) Will have a look though
Isn't there also a phenomenon when you put a lot of power through a shaft drive, the rear of the bike wants to rise?
