While lubing your chain does require more maintenance than using wax (you’ll need to reapply it every few rides), it’s worth it if you want a squeaky-clean drivetrain. Just be sure to use quality lube – cheap options can actually damage your chain over time! Bike Chain Wax Vs Lube “/>

ZFC says immersive waxing and re-waxing at 300km intervals, or after every wet ride, can extend a chain’s lifespan to around 15,000km – about three times as long as what is typically achieved with standard drip lubes. This also helps massively extend the lifespan of the other, more expensive drivetrain components such as cassettes and chainrings.

Once you’ve identified what type of chain you have on your bike you can figure out how to clean it, the reason that matters is that these seals are probably the most delicate part of the motorcycle chain. If your chain looks anything like this, it’s costing you watts and wearing out your parts. David Rome / Immediate Media This option can be used with all types of motorcycle chains, including rollers, o-ring, z-ring, and x-rings. Many buyers also found this product to be very easy to use, with one who stated that it “goes on easily and dries in 15-20 minutes. It dries white so you can visibly see when it needs to be reapplied.” We wouldn’t recommend it – it’ll attract way too much road crud which will work its way into your chain and prematurely wear it out.

With the chain cut apart, the centre roller can be removed, showing how it needs to be kept lubricated As mentioned earlier, it helps if the chain is brand new, as factory grease is easier to remove than caked-on grime and dirt. Either way, you need to do this step with the chain off the bike. For watt-conscious racers who don’t fancy themselves as chain cookers, companies such as Ceramicspeed, Watt Shop and Zero Friction Cycling now sell pre-prepared waxed chains. In our experience, the hard part of immersive waxing is usually the initial chain cleaning process.

What is drivetrain efficiency?

While wax lubes work well in all kinds of conditions, they really shine in dry and dusty environments. That’s because the wax creates a barrier that helps keep dirt and grime from building up on your chain. Wax lubes can also help prevent premature wear on your drivetrain components. We hope our review of the best motorcycle chain lubes has been helpful. For more suppliers of related products, including motorcycle chains, motorcycle fenders, tires, fuels, and clutches, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform. Sources You can source the ingredients separately yourself, but ZFC says that commercial blends such as Molten Speed Wax use more highly refined paraffin wax than what is normally available to consumers, for optimum performance and cleanliness.

Unfurl the chain from your J-bend tool and leave to dry for 20 minutes or so, on your pre-prepared hook/nail in the wall. Step 3 – Install chain on bike With no industry standard I can’t tell you if there’s a lower limit to this, but the comparison in no less valuable.

By cleaning and waxing multiple chains from the start, you can simply remove one chain from your bike when it needs re-waxing, and immediately swap on a freshly waxed chain with no delays. The Permatex chain lube is perfect for rollers, gears, and cables. Not only can it lubricate a motorcycle chain, but it can be used for all of the chain-driven machines in the garage. Such as chainsaws, lawnmowers, mopeds, and bikes. You should always apply lube to a clean chain, so it’s good to know how easy it is to get these lubes off. I first tried washing them with plain water, then sprayed them with paraffin, then finally I hosed them off. Of all the current staff members at BikeRadar – a bigger bunch of bike nerds you are unlikely to find anywhere – I’m the only person who goes all-in on immersive waxing. According to ZFC, the difference between a good and bad lubricant can comfortably amount to five to ten watts at a 250-watt load. These losses increase in magnitude as the load increases, too.