Chain Cleaning - Methods and Products

[Riko_imp]

I voted for Other -> brake cleaner!

There is a lot of controversy about using this, but when thinking about it, brake cleaner is used too for the rubber parts around the brakes, and I believe the O rings is made of a similar kind of rubber.

I have read experiences where users have applied brake cleaner without issues.
And most of the negative comments about using brake cleaner are comments without actual proof of the stuff eating up the o rings...

I have only used it once and for a fact it cleans up all kinds of dirt in an instant!
Plus you got the extra that its not dripping, it evaporates immediately.
Proven downsides: its expensive and the cans are about the worst types of can for the environment.

For now my chain hasn't been in the wet and I'll wait till the next interval (every 1K) to clean my chain thoroughly, than I will apply brake cleaner.
And I'll update the board once and for all about this stuff being bad or not for Motorcycle chain O rings.
My bike has just over 10.000 km on it, so in the worst case when it does eat my O rings, I can live with the fact I must replace my chain at 10K.

Very important not to use that stuff on painted areas.

edit:

Brake cleaner to clean and Honda Pro Chain Lube for lube. About every 1,000 miles or so. I have over 13k miles on my high-hp CBR's chain and it's still fine.

Anywhere where there's metal-to-metal contact there needs to be lubricant. The chain itself is internally, permanently lubricated, so there's no reason to worry about that, all you need to worry about is the sprocket to chain interface and the outside links/rivets.

Anywhere there is lubricant exposed to the elements, dust and dirt will accumulate and moisture will eventually break-down the lubricant as well as accumulate along with the dust and dirt, so those areas must be periodically cleaned of the dust and dirt, or accelerated wear of the parts will occur (both mechanical and corrosive).