New chain - lubed well?

[bonne]

Hi - My chain on my new bike looks so great. I know that when I lube it, it will start to attract grime and look ugly. Is the lube from factory better or worse lubed than if you lube yourself with for instance Motul?

As I only lube the O-ring, I prefer a lube in a can or similar. Not a spray, as this will mess up everything. Is it possible to get such lube? So that I can just turn the rear wheel and pour lube on the sides of the chain?

[Fat Rat]

You could wax it, that is usually how they come from dealers.

[sillyboy]

chain saw chain oil and a paintbrush.

[Sea-Strom]

Wax is fine but you may find it difficult to see when it needs redoing as it will never look wet. I use Silkolene spray, spin the wheel to put on both sides then run a rag along between your hand taking off the excess but leaving the rings lubricated. Needs often in winter (300 miles?) but you can keep it pretty clean by this method and still lubricated. I suspect others will give you their preferred method. Whatever works, looks best for you is what matters most.

[Joe Rocket]

I have to endorse Sea-Strom's words at the end there. What ever you feel is the right maintenance for your chain and pass a rag over the link plates to show the chain off.

Personally I can't be done with buying expensive sprays anymore. Convenient, yes; wasteful yes. I've settled for chain-saw oil applied with a 'dedicated' brush. Any excess can be wiped off what ever you use.

bonne, when your chain gets dirty so will the sprocket, spacer, adjuster etc. It's a constant worry if you want to keep it looking new. I like to take the rear wheel off the bike a couple of times a year and get to all those things. It gives some time to clean the brake and ABS side too. 

[Sea-Strom]

Hmmm chainsaw oil - might try that. Might be able to do it a bit at a time rather than fuss with the paddock stand or maybe a centre stand would be the way to go?

[Joe Rocket]

I use chain saw oil because I have a chain saw which I use every year so I have a container full! It's sticky and considering it puts up with cutting through wood (although supplied in a more copious dose) it must be a contender on value for money. I wouldn't buy 5 litres just for the bike chain but it fits the bill (£££'s too, actually €€€'s). Trees love it!

My Strom gets more use so more mucky. The GPX has a nice gold link chain and I do like to show that off!

[bonne]

Silikon of coase would be great for rubber - and therefor keeping the o-rings in shape. But will it keep the metal on the chain from rusting?

And you can get it liquid to be applied with a brush... not bad actually. Do you have any long term usage knowledge on this?

[rus998]

Scottoiler using chainsaw oil works for me on the X ring chain on my V-Strom and also the O-ring chain on my Vincent. The Vincent is now on 15,000 miles on the chain & sprockets

[bonne]

But I can imagine chainsaw oil to mess up even more than regular lube?

[Brockett]

I use EP 90 which I apply with a brush. Oh! yes and I don't take my bike out after October 31st or before March 20th.
When I had a PD oiler fitted I used chainsaw oil because it was cheaper than bike specific oil and it is made to stick on the chain, which it did quite well. Whatever I use it only gets messy when I apply too much.

[Barbel Mick]

Same as Brocket, I have a PD oiler on mine and for a couple of years used their own oil but the rear of the number plate and the rear wheel rim would get covered with it, when I changed to chainsaw oil I got very little 'throw' with it.
I have a gold chain fitted and it gets cleaned when I clean the 'bike, quite regularly  . If I'm not going to use it for a few days (like this time of the year) I put some chainsaw oil onto a clean rag and wipe that on the outside of the chain. 

[pieman53]

Like the idea of chainsaw oil but which brand ? or all they all the same ?

[Ianmc]

Go to Screwfix, their chainsaw oil is dirt cheap.about £4 per litre plus Toolstation do one at about the same price.Whatever you do, do not go to a garden centre, their prices are just plain daft.Plus a litre will last you forever, well nearly.

[Sea-Strom]

Bought a litre of chainsaw oil from Wickes today. THis dip in the pot with a brush idea is appealing to me mainly because I have not much level space to get the paddock stand on. I can brush a bit each time I stop if needed, covering the whole chain as the position moves on next time and wipe with a rag. I will flip the chain guard on one screw to raise it and expose a good length. Will report back. 

[Rusty Nuts]

Good luck with the chain guard screws.
( And don't be stopping outside the girls school to expose a good length.)

[kwackboy]

Over two metres ...! 

[Sea-Strom]

 

and no problem, my screws are already loose 

[sillyboy]

I stick mine up on the centre stand engage 1st gear and apply the oil with a brush, carefully.