Lubrication: A motorcycle chain should be lubricated every 300-600 miles to ensure peak performance and a long life. On my dual sport bikes it's every ride, because I clean them with a high pressure washer. Every 500 miles I scrub it with a toothbrush, WD-40 and use some chain wax. I want the gunk off, without getting the stuff under the o-rings and washing out the grease. When a chain starts to wear out, the pitch will change and it will begin to wear down the sprocket teeth. How often should i lube my chain ask mo anything how to clean and lube a motorcycle chain revzilla how to clean and lube a motorcycle chain revzilla how often should a motorcycle chain be replaced pack up and ride. with the wheels moving DON'T GET YOUR FINGERS ANYWHERE NEAR THE CHAIN! Or is it just a containment device so you don't overspray? I use WD-40 as a cleaning agent and a standard chain wax for lubrication. If you get caught in a downpour, you can always buy a can somewhere, but I haven't needed to over the years. Whats people lookup in this blog: How Often To Lubricate A Motorcycle Chain; 3. Anyone know the word yet? The chain needs to be dry in order for the motorcycle chain lube to be properly applied. When it's raining non stop for days I don't bother because it's useless. Motorcycle Chain Lubing FAQs. It really depends on how often you ride and the weather in your area. The catch 22 with lubricating chains is that the very oil you use to protect the bike also helps dirt stick to it. With your motorcycle still mounted on its stand and the rear wheel elevated, apply lube to the lower chain while spinning the rear wheel forward, allowing the chain to climb on the sprocket. More Gear. I try to clean about every 500-700 miles if I can help it, though I've been known to go a whole season w/o even touching it. If I'm doing a 500-1,000 mile ride, especially in a single day, I'll generally thoroughly clean and lubricate the chain before setting off, and then repeat once the ride is over. Check your manual to see how often you should clean and lubricate the chain on your motorcycle. This sounds like a fantastic method that I'm going to steal as my own. I like to lube mine every other or every third tank of gas, or 500 miles approximately. Is your chain an embarrassing mess of road grime and dirt? Cycle Forums: Motorcycle and Sportbikes Forum. Seajay shows us what happens when you get your hand caught in a chain while cleaning... VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Not as much as I should seeing how I put 100+ miles a week on the bike. Latest. Kept saying I'd do it weekly. Part of what lube does is fill in the cracks and crevices where dirt and grime can collect. =). I tend to clean and lubricate my chain after every 500 or so miles. Lubricate the chain after riding, not before. Longer trips like yours get the same before and after treatment. Because of many elements, it is sometimes such a difficult task to recognize whether the chains need to be cleaned or how often to clean motorcycle chain. Step 5: Lubricate The Motorcycle Chain I use the red Scottoiler oil(higher viscosity, aka. How to lube your motorbike chain. You need to lube the motorbike chain after every 300 to 600 miles. You should clean and lube your motorcycle chain on a street bike every 500 miles, more if you ride in the rain. The question of how often should I degrease and lube my bike chain is a common question, especially when beginning. I'm a daily commuter, year round in Western-Europe (rain). I used to do the 500 mile thing until an old guy told me to try this method, and I found it vastly superior. Cut out a piece of cardboard to use as a shield so you don't have to move your bike as much to lube the chain. How often should I lubricate my motorcycle chain? It is usually easy for motorcyclists to get confused about how often they should apply lube to their bike, especially considering that theirs, not one standard time for doing it. If I end up on gravel roads that coat my bike in dust, I'll hit the next gas station to wipe it down and re-lube with a little 8oz can I pack along. So, How often should you lube your motorcycle chain? What's the word? Ride one time in wet weather for 20 minutes, and re-lube right away. There are many schools of thought about how to properly clean a chain - ask 10 bike mechanics and you’ll probably get 8 different opinions. Since we now know how often the chain needs to be lubricated, the question arises of the right care products. Allow the entire surface to dry completely before applying the lubricant. I don't have to worry about chain cleaning, re-spraying the chain after rideing in the rain or after washing the bike. The o-rings on the chain are designed to keep dirt, water (and chain lube) out of the real working joints of the links. Step 4: Air Dry The Motorcycle Chain. So, how often should you lube your bike chain? It doesn't properly treat the O-rings as does a lube designed for modern moto chains. More Gear. Buy yourself some good quality purpose made motorcycle chain oil (I have a few mates that swear by chain wax too), and just keep an eye on the chain. Finally, RK’s site says drive chains are a wear item: Sealed ones should be … But, some last as little as 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Of course, it's not a bad idea to do it more often if you're riding in wet or dirty conditions. Can you expand a bit on "when the rollers are shiny?" This difference is due to the type of chain, how and where you ride, and how well you maintain it. So, How often should you lube your motorcycle chain? How often should I lube the chain??? jon66: At the end of January I replaced my chain and put new sprockets on at the same time. Cum catapultae proscriptae erat, tum soli proscript catapultas habeunt. 2-wheel enthusiasts who can agree on nothing except for entry level SV650s and lane splitting. If it looks like the chain is dry (pay particular attention to the inside of the chain, where it contacts the sprockets), lube it. I seriously considered a Yamaha Vmax but man, those things are some very fast pigs. So, how often should a motorcycle chain be replaced? If it looks like the chain is dry (pay particular attention to the inside of the chain, where it contacts the sprockets), lube it. 2021 Suzuki DR … Please note that bicycle chain lube is not the same as motorcycle lube. We all know we should lube our motorcycle chain often, however, how clear are we on the reason why we need to? You should lube your motorcycle chain at least 400 miles ride or every week whichever comes first. I've got 26,000 miles on the current chain, and it still looks great. My chain life went up by around a third, too. That little trip will help get the chain warm. It doesn't properly treat the O-rings as does a lube designed for modern moto chains. The easiest way of telling whether your chain needs lube is to check it from behind. Gear oil. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the motorcycles community. When you lube the bike after the ride allows any solvent in the spray to evaporate before you ride again. Check out your bike’s manual for their guidance. I like to do mine every 400 to 500 miles. In the most cases it is often enough to relubricate! Check out your bike’s manual for their guidance. Using clean microfiber cloths, fully dry the chain once it meets your standard of cleanliness. If we are driving in mud or dirt, we must immediately have the chain … i'd rather take more time and not risk it personally. My current bike is a VStrom 650, with the scotty, adjustment of the chain tension is needed every 1500KM to 2000KM, but that generally also depends on a few other factors, so that's just a rough indication. WD40 is a water dispersant. Would you mind elaborating just a bit on how you actually spray your chain? Just a few drops of lube should be enough, unless you ride on very dirty roads. Learn how to lube your motorcycle chain and so much more. If the answer to the first question will require further reading, to the latter we can summarise a quick answer. I lubricate whenever the rollers are shiny. Photography by Todd Westover. its just messy and sucks cuz i don't have a bike stand!! If I ride and the weather permits it's good, I lube my chain once a week, do about 350km a week, when I wash my bike I clean my chain and lube not just the chain but all critical hinge points. I use WD40 to clean then apply Bel-Ray chain lube. Motorcycle Chain Lube 101. 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