Morning all, After well over ten years of shaft drives I’m going back to chain on my new Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Collecting it 1st March. My question is what are we all using regarding chain lube these days? There will be many recommendations as people have different views but I will get some ideas at least. Thanks in advance Glenn.
I use a spray lube applied with a three-sided brush now, but old school machine oil and a paint brush work great. Every few months, or when you get buildup of grime, wd40 on a rag to clean the chain and start again. 35,000km and original chain and cogs are still in great nick.
I don't apply it with a brush (maybe I should) but I use this stuff. I do use the brush and chain cleaner from Wurth before applying the lube.
Just buy some 80/90 gear oil and apply with a paint brush (cut the handle off). Clean with WD40 and a tooth brush then wipe the detritus off with kitchen roll. You'll end up with a beautiful looking quiet chain that's going to last a long time.
Wot he said. Plus, if you go on a long tour take a small bottle with you and dribble a bit on the chain with the bike on its main stand. Made for purpose chain lubes are ok, I’ve used a few different makes in the past, but they don’t half make a right bloody mess and the crud is hard to get off.
Fit a scottoiler and forget all about it. Also I heard somewhere that you should not use wd40 to clean a chain as it damages the O rings.
Nothing fancy, I use cheap transmission oil (75W90), applied with a brush, and now distributed by a Nemo style manual oiler. That oil is thick and stick very well.
As Octoberon, I use the Wurth Dry Chain Lube. I just spray it at the edge of the side plates, i.e. at the o-rings, for one rotation of the chain; doing it for both sides of the chain. I do it after every 200 miles or so, but less often on tour as it's a faff without a centre stand. I clean the chain about every 1000 miles using a toothbrush and paraffin (which is cheap and does the job). Current chain has done 16,000 miles and I've needed to adjust it 3 times. Edit: I was telling a lie, chain has 'only' done 16,000 miles, not 20,000.
+1 for the Wurth Dry Lube, been using it for years, zero fling and seems to look after the chain, 15k miles and still good. Being dry also means less road crud sticks to the chain. I do clean off and reapply every so often.
I used to use all the fancy stuff. As other people have said gear oil and a paintbrush. It really is all you need. For the price of a scotoiler you could buy a vat of oil. It isn’t messy and the chain and sprockets will last ages.
Just converted to gear oil and so far so good. I have always used paraffin for cleaning chain and fling, but finding rag after applying oil is keeping it clean anyway.
Just converted to gear oil and so far so good. I have always used paraffin for cleaning chain and fling, but finding wiping the chain after applying oil is keeping it clean anyway.
Fit a chain oiler, use gear oil and you can (almost) forget chain maintenance, just an occasional wipe clean with paraffin rag or WD40 is all that's required. I've had a one on all my bikes, excluding dirt bikes, for 30+ years and wouldn't be without one. Some are ridiculously overpriced IMO. I made one for the Street Scrambler for about £15.
Thanks all for your replies. Looks like there’s three popular options, Wurth dry lube, gear oil or Scott oiler type thing. I am quite looking forward to doing chain maintenance again. It was quite therapeutic cleaning and lubing the chain on my old Blackbird.
I've tried a few solutions over the years. I liked the scottoiler, with it's own oil until it all went wrong one day and dumped the whole lot out in one go onto the chain, wheel and tyre. It was a particularly spirited ride and I vowed never to use anything like that again that could dump me on my backside at it's own whim.. I've tried the gear oil way as well. It didn't seem to last very long, had a bit more fling than the other lubes and needed reapplying more often than I expected. But when just applied, the chain ran nice, smooth and quiet and the gear change seemed good. These days like others here I use the wurth dry lube, seems good for now. I watched a bennetts review on them and made the choice then. See here and the write up here https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesoci...ance-and-servicing/best-motorcycle-chain-lube, lots of details and choices.
A major factor in your choice of lube will be when you ride, if you ride in all weathers or you're just a fine weather jockey. For penetration (Ooooh Matron!) and lube properties, gear oil is one of, if not THE best chain lubes IMO but the supply must be constant, which means an oiling device. It won't stay put like the sticky stuff in cans so just brushing it on periodically with a brush means it won't last. In the wet, just turn up the flow and the chain always has the lube it needs for wear prevention and anti corrosion.
I've never had a problem with gear oil not staying put. Best time to apply it is at the end of a ride when the chain is warm and don't put too much on. Next time you ride it'll be spot on.
How much would be left after 20 miles, though? I guess with regular application it does seem to work for people.
