Wide Variety of Chain Lubrication Products

 The selection is weird.

You have the Suzuki Performance Lubricant, which resembles black drool (very
watery).

You have the BelRay "Neat" stuff, which kind of "sets up" (my favorite).

Then there is "Chain Wax" (even waxier than the BelRay Neat stuff).

And some people use WD-40.

And the owner's manual calls for 90-weight gear oil.

My favorite is this product:

http://www.belray.com/consumer/product.fsp?pid 616

because it doesn't make a mess and because the white color makes it easy to
see what portions of the chain have been sprayed and which not.

But is there any difference in lubricating capability or how long the chain
will last?  The products seem so different.

Datesfat.

 Datesfat Chicks wrote:

It's not just difference in the lubricating capability; there
are also questions such as how easily the lube in question
will come off the chain (the Really Important Technical term
here being "flingage") and how sticky they are in terms of
keeping grit and grime on the chain (the #1 reason I'm not
found of the "chain wax" sorts of products).  Having what
amounts to abrasives collecting on my chain never struck me
as a good idea.

Re one specific option: WD-40 has its proponents, but its
use IS controversial; some claim that it will get into O-ring
or X-ring chains and dissolve the grease out.  I've never looked
much into that (although there's some good info here:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/ ),

...I've just always thought it was a bit thin for a chain lube.

Me, I like automatic transmission fluid, and if anything I'm
guilty of lubing over-frequently.  But my chain seems to stay
pretty clean, and my chains and sprockets last acceptably
long.

Bob M.

 
I agree. The last few chain driven bikes I owned had O or X ring (sealed)
chains.  The manufactureres (Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha) recommended simply
wiping (cleaning) the chain with a light lube to remove abrasives.  All
three wore the sprockets more than the chains.  Were I to buy another chain
drive street bike I would install an automatic drip oiler that used motor
oil like the ones that came on old chain driven Harleys.  Naturally YMMV.

 On Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:34:43 -0400, "Datesfat Chicks"


Your _favorite_? This is after a whopping 2 years of riding, where
you've put what, maybe 10,000 miles on a motorcycle?

--
Turby the Turbosurfer

 
Actually, about 20,000 miles on two motorcycles (owned the Katana briefly
and brought it back from Atlanta and Orlando).

I've used all of the products cited except WD-40.

I'm allowed to have a favorite!  (In my own mind, I'm allowed, anyway.)

: )

Datesfat.