What the crud? What's all this?

[Tigadee]

FURTHER UPDATE

After a 8 km ride, there appears to be NO fresh crud. Hopefully it stays that way!

Was it just excessive chain lube applied before delivery of the bike? 'Cos I have not applied any since I got the bike a month ago...

[James Deuce]

You should be cleaning and lubing your chain on a regular basis. There's no such thing as an over-lubed chain, just an over-intensive cleaning job. A well cared for chain will last a long time. I've seen people look at me like I'm mad when I say I expect 35-40,000km out of a chain and sprocket set minimum. I know people who get 80,000km out of chain and sprockets.

[Tigadee]

OK, will do. When you say clean, do you mean completely degrease and then re-lube? Or just rub off old lube and then apply new?

[James Deuce]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSGEzbDxKY&feature=related

That will give you an idea of the process.

Good idea to remove the front sprocket cover from time to time and clean all the gunge out.

Don't use WD-40 or CRC 5.56 to clean your chain if you are using an O, X, or Z-ring chain. It won't lube the seals resulting in them failing sooner rather than later, and letting out the grease lubricating the rollers internally.

[FJRider]

Good idea to remove the front sprocket cover from time to time and clean all the gunge out.

And ... check oil levels a little more often ...

[Flip]

Don't use a degreaser on a chain, it fucks the oils ability to lubricate, lets water into the chain links and damages most O ring materials.

The ammount of gunk looks about right to me, its a good sign the bike has been looked after.

All commercially available automotive motor oils are mixable, you would not mix say old 30W40 with Mobil 1 and expect the mix to perform as well as Mobil 1. You would however do it in an emergency. Its a requirement of SAE that all off the shelf oils can be mixed together. Castrol R was an excption as it was caster oil ie vegetable based but it was a specialist racing oil and not off the shelf.

[Owl]

There's no such thing as an over-lubed chain

As long as the excess is removed! Mrs rode her Bonneville home after its first service, only to find oil dripping from the front sprocket cover and oil splattered all over the rear tyre.

I totally agree with chain life, as I've just replaced my OEM at 46,000km. Chain and sprockets were actually in good condition, however the joining link was flogged out (chain split during earlier service) and had damaged the adjoining links.