chain oil

[P.A.T]

do we still need to oil the chain on bikes that is my v-strom 2017 model.
back in the 70s and 80s we had to keep them well oilled every time we went out
even for a short run.
looks like I have put this in the wrong place can someone move it.

[kwackboy]

Yes, everyday if you are riding in the rain and in the dry a few times a week but of course, this also depends what mileage you do..?

I'm sure others will have their own opinions and routines .

[Joe Rocket]

500 of your UK miles is the suggested interval, probably once a week if you're commuting as Kwackboy said.

On oiled chain will throw off rainwater up to a point so constant drenching will require more frequent attention.

I'm now painting fresh chainsaw oil on mine (I use my chainsaw often during the year so keep have a tub in the garage) and a Tutoro manually set chain lube for longer trips.

[P.A.T]

looks like I will have to get one of them manual chain oillers
cheers for that.

[Ianmc]

Halve a look on the “Loobman” website Cheap and cheerful manual oiler.

[bako]

Modern O and X ring chains have the liube sealed inside for the rollers. Oiling the outside is to prevent corrosion on the outside. So regular cleaning and a coat of old engine oil will suffice. Should be part of the weekly bike check along with tyre pressures, lights, brakes, leaks, etc

[STORMY]

I’m not 100% but seem to recall in the late 70’s early 80’s we had chains with O rings and sealed lubricant back then. No doubt the technology’s been refined blah blah, but after returning to bikes following a long absence this part of the bike hasn’t moved forward at all. Always remember reading a feature in Bike magazine in the mid 70’s about some bloke called Hopwood who had some radical ideas, which were designed to take on the Japanese and compete against them. He’d designed a final drive chain that ran in a sealed enclosure which contained oil. Anyway, his ideas were ignored and the rest is history but it does seem like a good idea.

[brettchallenger]

 "He’d designed a final drive chain that ran in a sealed enclosure"

My other bike is a Jawa 350.  This has an enclosed chain, runs in rubber gaitors.  They work really well.

Does anyone remember the the tins of chain grease which you put on the stove till the grease melted, then you put your chain into the tin?  Before the grease had time to solidify, the chain was removed and left hanging over the tin until the excess grease ran off, and you refitted the chain.

[SuzukiSte]

Yes I used the stuff it was called Link Life.

[hookie]

Yep. On the gas stove in my mum's kitchen. Stunk the house out and easily caught fire if left on too long on a high flame! I had a CB750 back then and had two chains (Reynolds of course!) and swapped them over every couple of weeks, spring link and all.

[Gassoon]

 

Yeah, I remember the pungency of that stink. And it's longevity. And the inevitable mess. And getting a right telling off from me mam     happy days

[paulja]

Yes, I remember the tin of heated grease, that was pre O-rings chains. And of course de-greasing the chain with Gunk... glad those days are far behind 

[Brockett]

Yes the Jawa fully enclosed chain something MZ did as well I believe. My Jawa chain was smothered in Graphite grease and never needed cleaning or adjusting after the first 500 miles. Over 50,000 miles 30,000 of which was hitched to Watsonian single seat sidecar. It is something I for one would like to see on modern bikes ( along with proper mudguards )

[Rusty Nuts]

Yamaha XV920 / TR1. Enclosed chain. Not just C90s and eastern European oddities.