Chain Lube

[Edz1]

Any brands to avoid over others? Are they all much of a muchness?

[CookMySock]

KY isn't very good. Glyde is better.

Steve

[p.dath]

Just whip down to your local bike shop. Tell them what kind of riding you do (road, track, off-road), and I'm sure they'll fix you up with something approrpriate.

[Edz1]

KY isn't very good. Glyde is better.

Steve

Does it stop your ass from chaffing? ;)

[klyong82]

Try Maxima....good stuff

[AllanB]

I use Silkolene Chain Gel - it's good stuff. Initially it's expensive for a can ($25 or so) but it last ages - I've run up around 20,00 kms over two bikes on a can and I'm pretty anal about chain maintenance.

One tip for applying any of the aerosol chain lubes is to take a bit of stiff card - say A4 in size and bend up a third or so 90 degrees - slip this under and behind the chain (hold it with your left hand) before spraying the oil on and this will catch any over-spray and keep it off your rear tyre, pipes etc.

[slofox]

Shit! That reminds me - time I was lubing the chain again...haven't done it for errmmmm...too long anyway!

[NZsarge]

Maxima or Spectro chain wax. Just be sure to warm up the chain with a shortish ride before applying.

[Oakie]

+1 on the Maxima wax.
+1 on the cardboard behind the chain too.

[Edz1]

Cheers for the input guys. Took a walk in the rain to my nearest bike dealer. Ended up with Maxima Chain Wax.


I use Silkolene Chain Gel - it's good stuff. Initially it's expensive for a can ($25 or so) but it last ages - I've run up around 20,00 kms over two bikes on a can and I'm pretty anal about chain maintenance.

One tip for applying any of the aerosol chain lubes is to take a bit of stiff card - say A4 in size and bend up a third or so 90 degrees - slip this under and behind the chain (hold it with your left hand) before spraying the oil on and this will catch any over-spray and keep it off your rear tyre, pipes etc.

Thanks for the tip- will give it a go!

[CookMySock]

Does it stop your ass from chaffing? ;)Yeah. Plaster heaps on the seat.

Any slippery shit on the chain works ok for road use. Try some cheapo chain bar oil from your local mower shop.

Steve

[NordieBoy]

Just whip down to your local bike shop. Tell them what kind of riding you do (road, track, off-road), and I'm sure they'll fix you up with something approrpriate.

And it'll probably be the same stuff no matter what you say to them :D

[YellowDog]

Inused to have an oil can by the garagebdoor that I would squirt everytime I rememeberd. Thatw as in the 1970s :)

The Synthetic wax stuff is really good.

Doesn't make a mess and lasts ages.

Make sure you clean your chain thoroughly every now and again.

[p.dath]

Inused to have an oil can by the garagebdoor that I would squirt everytime I rememeberd. Thatw as in the 1970s :)

The Synthetic wax stuff is really good.
...

I don't know much about it, but someone was telling me the wax was better when the chain was under harsher mechanical conditions (or was it that it could work on a hotter chain?), but had to be applied more frequently. Hence wax was good for track use.

They said lube didn't need to be applied as frequently, and was more suitable for road use.

[Insanity_rules]

KY isn't very good. Glyde is better.

Steve

Your a f'n worry! And they say honda riders are dodgy.

[NZsarge]

Cheers for the input guys. Took a walk in the rain to my nearest bike dealer. Ended up with Maxima Chain Wax.


Onya.
........

[trailblazer]

i dont have any experiance on what is better but i use spectro chain wax which seems to work alright.

[chef]

KY warming is the best man gotta love that stuff

[Jules13]

I don't know much about it, but someone was telling me the wax was better when the chain was under harsher mechanical conditions (or was it that it could work on a hotter chain?), but had to be applied more frequently. Hence wax was good for track use.

They said lube didn't need to be applied as frequently, and was more suitable for road use.
So what is not so frequently. I thought it was recommended to do it every time you go out. Not that I do it but I was sure I was told that.

[Bend-it]

no.... once a week's fine... depending on how much you ride...

Say everytime you top up your tank, oil the chain around then, that's plenty... It won't blow up if you miss an oiling or two... If it's raining alot, then oil abit sooner coz the rain washes it off...

Too much oil just drips everywhere, and worse yet, get flung onto your tyre when you ride...

[p.dath]

So what is not so frequently. I thought it was recommended to do it every time you go out. Not that I do it but I was sure I was told that.

I pretty much use the lube every time I fill up the tank (usually once a fortnight). Chain looks fine to my inexperienced eyes (if certainly feels like it has an oily film to the touch).

This is a while ago, but as I recall, I was told the wax could tolerate a hotter chain, but broken down faster as a result. This made wax better for track use. Don't know how often wax needs to be applied to a chain used for road use. Some reading on Google suggests it needs to be done more frequently, but I can't see any common consensus on it.
I've just read some articles on Google saying that wax doesn't provide any corrosion resistance like lube, and that the long term life of the chain can be reduced as a result.