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"I'd have to ask why? They formulate perfectly good lubes made specifically for motorcycle o ring chains in easy to apply aerosol cans for very reasonable prices. Most will only lube a chain a few times a year, even if they ride a lot. "
I use the Honda brand rattle can lube with moly. Works great. I lube my chain with a light coat AFTER each ride when the chain is warm. My leftover just turned 6,000 miles and the chain has not needed any adjustment yet.
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After every ride? Wow
This may be news, maybe not, but these are not 1960s chains anymore, but high tech chains, with lube sealed inside the rollers, and protected by modern orings between the links/plates. With today's lubes, what we are doing is preventing rust on the link outside of the plates and applying a small amount of cushion between teeth and sprocket. If you never rode in the rain, and rode 10k miles a year, you'd probably need to lube it once or twice a year and the chain would last about 4 years/40,000 miles, requiring adjustment when it received a new rear tire, and rarely in between.
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I feel the same as Ferret , I hardly ever have to lube my chain , especially after putting the DID ZVM-X nickel plated chain on my bikes. Less lube means cleaner rear wheel .
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Ah, no disrespect to anyone, buy why would you do this? I've been in the equipment business all my life and I just don't understand this. Chain lube is relatively inexpensive, and available. It could also be overnighted to anywhere in the world if a remote location does not have a motorcycle dealer/parts retailer.
I saw a guy that had a bicycle manufacturing plant in So. Cal, (long before all manufacturing was relocated offshore) He was too cheep to buy the correct oil for a piece of equipment vital to his production line. Lubricating oil for this machine was about $10 a quart at the time. He chose to use motor oil instead, because it was .79 Cents a quart and available at the corner auto parts store. Well the machine dieseled and exploded, went through the buildings roof, and landed on three parked cars in the employee parking lot. Luckily no one was injured. He contacted me after, and I had to explain to him about the flashpoint of lubricants. Motor oil has a very low flashpoint and can combust. The proper machine oil was formulated with a very high flashpoint to prevent combustion. All to save about $20. USE THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED PARTS AND MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS for best results.
And for motorcycles, do not use motor oil rated for Automotive use, motorcycles use oil that is common to the engine and transmission for most bikes, nor automotive coolant for water cooled bikes because it has SILICA SAND in it to scour and clean radiators and cooling jackets that will trash a water pump on a bike.
Please be careful, and be safe. Maintaining your bike properly literally has your life depending on it......
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I know what you are saying and yes, I use Mobil 1 Synthetic motorcycle oil for the ENGINE but well documented tests have shown that 80/90 gear oil is just as good to prevent the sides of the chain from rusting. The O/X rings will keep the lubricant inside and if they do not than it is time to change the chain . (and I always buy the best chain available for my bikes )
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Houtman has a point and as long as the bar oil or whatever has nothing in it that will eat away the orings, it really can't hurt the chain as long as it prevents the rust.
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Very much enjoy discussions like this, several things that are mentioned are worth having a look at, we all take away something of value here whilst rolling around idea's and experiences, good stuff guys, thanks.
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If I remember right the test I mentioned was done in Australia , but there are others too.
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(08-01-2020, 07:41 AM)Cormanus_imp Wrote: Canada, Houtman. See post #5 of this discussion. http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid272010
