[mrsand]

I am still breaking in the motor on the bike..got about 300 miles..I'll probably drop the oil and filter at about 500.

Is there any consensus about mileage numbers when lubricating the chain? I have come from a belt drive system so I need to make sure I do it often enough I guess. How about cleaning with WD 40 and a rag before each lub?


Thanks for your comments..

 

[rcannon409]

I dont like wd 40, on chains. It has such a high solvent base, I think the solvent sticks around for the new lube. I usually wipe it off, using old socks, then apply new. Brand? I like Maxxima, but there a lot of good ones.

Every few months, I clean the chain really well. I use shout laundry spray. But, for day to day work, adding is sufficient vs stripping it all off and trying again.

 

[cowasockee]

I know it's not a popular answer but, as one who used to be terribly anal about chain maintenance, I rarely lubricate my chain and I only clean it every 2 to 3 hundred miles or so. I just replaced the chain on my Hypermotard and it had the original chain with about 30,000 miles on it. No links were tight and the sprockets were in excellent shape. I really only changed it out because I felt like I should. It easily could have gone another 10,000 miles.

I will clean the heck out of it if I ride in the rain.

I used to break the chain once a year and clean it with kerosene. I would clean it and lubricate it after almost every ride or, at a minimum, once a week. The chain didn't last any longer.

O-ring chains are remarkable devices that do a terrific job of keeping the lubricant inside the o-rings which is where it belongs.

 

[ToNY97]

Not that I would know the difference, but the N1K uses an X ring chain.
Is that better or worse than O ring?

 

[SailorJack]

I use cheap 80-90W gear oil (it's what most manuals call for). In 9 years of riding I'm still on my second bottle. I clean the chain once a week normally (about 400-800 miles a week). I'm at 15500 miles this year and the chain and sprockets look fine. I'm thinking i'll get close to 30000 before they need a change.

 

[cowasockee]

No difference between an x ring and o ring. It's mostly the shape of the ring. They're still round.

 

[ydo]

Not that I would know the difference, but the N1K uses an X ring chain.
Is that better or worse than O ring?

The difference is in the shape and contact surface. X ring has lower friction I believe which means... I don't know since I don't think this robs power.

 

[mrsand]

X-Ring

Nice graphic...looks like 4 small contact points on the X....under stress I imagine it melts against the sides

 

[bigthaw]

never use WD 40 on a chain, use kerosene to clean....

best chain Lube: Dupont Chainsaver in an aerosal can....at Walmart...

 

[Trider]

Chain Wax, when it drys wont fly off and make a mess, I been using it for years.

 

[JohnC]

I clean and lube every 500 miles, usually just wipe it with a rag for cleaning, and then lube with 90W gear oil. Couple times a year I give it a good cleaning with kerosene and re-lube.

 

[ToNY97]

never use WD 40 on a chain, use kerosene to clean....

best chain Lube: Dupont Chainsaver in an aerosal can....at Walmart...

+1 on Dupont Chainsaver. Dupont also makes a chain degreaser.

 

[sprockethead]

Old thread but hey... It's my understanding X-ring has more sealing surface than O-ring and holds lube better.

I use Motul Road chain clean and lube. I lube every 400-500 miles or so depending on if the chain feels dry or not. If it's tacky you're good. I strip and clean with a grunge brush every 3,000 miles or so but if it feels dirty I'll do it sooner.

My chains are lasting about 15,000 miles. They could last longer but I change them out during the big 15k maintenance interval.

 

[ToNY97]

Yes, grunge brush is nice.

How does winter hibernation affect chain?

 

[JohnC]

I imagine it's according to what you're using for lube.

 

[Mikey1000]

I wipe my chain with a rag soaked in WD-40 prior to hibernation. Just to help prevent surface rust.

 

[sprockethead]

No hibernation for me.... just finished a 200 mile ride LOL

 

[ToNY97]

No hibernation for me.... just finished a 200 mile ride LOL

You're this close (my thumb and index finger showing a tiny space in between) to having your non-helping posts banned for winter.

 

[sprockethead]

You're this close (my thumb and index finger showing a tiny space in between) to having your non-helping posts banned for winter.

I'll keep the ride reports to a minimum until May...

 

[cowasockee]

You're this close (my thumb and index finger showing a tiny space in between) to having your non-helping posts banned for winter.

Bwahahaha