What do you use on your chain! Is there a better alternative to oil! Or just keep using oil! TIA
bitsy_boffin,
Sep 8, 9:03am
This is a religious argument, lots of opinions, every one of them is "right".
Personally, I just use some good old chain lube in a spray can.
Others will swear by all sorts, from just wiping down with kerosene, to "cooking" the chain in a lube bath.
The main thing is, do *something* because at least you're getting down and checking the chain when you do it!
brokebloke1,
Sep 8, 9:06am
I use proper chain lube from supercheap, use it on all our dirt bikes and road bikes $ 20/ can lasts for ages
steve56467,
Sep 8, 9:10am
Ok thanks, have just used engine oil so far. Somethings better than nothing :)
turton,
Sep 8, 9:11am
i usually degrease my chain, then lubricated it with chain lube, every month or two. My chain has lasted me 30,000+ ks and still going strong. use proper chain lube instead of oil
mantagsi,
Sep 8, 10:17am
scottoilers (automatic chain lubricators) are pretty handy, thought about one of those!
kingfisher21,
Sep 8, 10:18am
Motul chain oil, best I've used, very tacky and doesn't fling off and make a mess at all.
matarautrader,
Sep 8, 10:57am
I use chainsaw lube. If it stays on a chain doing about 12000 rpm it must be good enough for a bike chain, And its cheap to.
skiff1,
Sep 8, 11:13am
It doesn't stay o the chain though, that's why you have to use nearly as much bar lube as fuel.
neo_psy,
Sep 8, 11:43am
Yep - these. Had a GSX1400 with 50K on it that had original chain and sprockets on it (with adjustment still remaining) that had a Scottoiler on from new.
akaniva,
Sep 8, 11:58am
I use chain lube from a spraycan, pretty sticky stuff and works fine. I used to use a home-made mixture of 90wt oil and a bit of Wynn's, that worked fine to the extent that the chain never needed adjusting (which means it wasn't wearing out). That was a ZZR1100 ridden hard. Chains are so good these days, with O-rings which keep the pins lubed, so it's just the rollers need manual oiling. The spray stuff doesn't get flung off like oil does, so your wheel stays cleaner and your brakes won't get contaminated.
purple666,
Sep 8, 1:03pm
"Cooking" now that is old school, been coons age since I have done that, messy job from memory, never liked o-ring chains as they rob horsepower on older bikes.
berg,
Sep 8, 7:35pm
I've tried all sorts from chain oil to chain gel. The two best I found were either a gel from DuPont which goes on thin but thickens to a non fling grease or what both bikes have now, Scott oilers. Scott oilers do tend to be a bit messy but I've found cleaning the bike with Swarfega wipes removes most of the fling off.
kazbanz,
Sep 8, 8:10pm
Steve there is NO one correct answer to that question because its too generic. Theres 4 different types of chain used on motorcycles and umpteen different uses the chain will be put to. I use a different method depending on what the bikes used for and what the chain is composed of.
ceebee2,
Sep 8, 9:42pm
+1, CRC "softseal" use to do it for me.Used to be able to buy one called "no throw chain oil" but it eludes me.
chris.f,
Sep 8, 9:53pm
There are heaps ofinferior chain bar lube product out there - my company sells it and we've gone through many suppliers to find one that lubricates, doesn't fling off and also doesn't burn (not really applicable on a bike). Try a virgin chain bar oil (not recyled) with at least a 5% tackifier.
akaniva,
Sep 8, 10:31pm
I was reading an article last night about a test on a chain dyno. It turned out that once the O-ring chain heated up there was no difference in power absorption than a normal non-O-ring chain.
howie69,
Sep 8, 10:47pm
This is good stuff, friend uses it on his chain
steve56467,
Sep 9, 12:48am
Thanks for the replies everyone, didm't expect this many posts. Had a few off road bikes in the past and I always used oil, now I have a road bike - first road bike I've had - and would like something that doesn't fling off and drip all over the garage. With farm/trail bikes im not bothered. I might try some of the spray on stuff cheers
ceebee2,
Sep 9, 4:24am
Assuming the chain is not the "O" ring type which should NOT be lubed.
akaniva,
Sep 9, 6:08am
Why not! The O-rings themselves need lubing and so do the rollers. Oil on the roller/sprocket interface also helps prolong chain life.
peril787b1,
Sep 9, 6:21am
Again I applaud you, your knowledge is spot on. Why else would oil manufacturers make an o-ring chain lube! On a side note, don't use engine oil on o-ring chains, it's not good for the life of the o-ring.
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