What to use cleaning rear wheel chain grease?

[Papa Weeley_imp]

What are you guys using to clean your rear wheel of the grease thrown off by the chain? I've hardly ridden mine yet, and my rear wheel is covered with a clear-ish, extremely sticky mess. I've never seen anything like it. I've normally just used an old dry bath towel for that job, but this is like dried Petroleum Jelly - it's going to take some kind of cleaner to get it off. I don't want to use something that'll mess up the polished rim of the wheels, so I thought I'd better see what the concensus here was...

[the Ferret]

Wd 40 on a rag

[CIP57_imp]

I always have a gallon of kerosene on hand to clean the heavy grim from the swing-arm, center-stand and rear wheel area. Then i go over it with pluxus (which is for plastic but works great) which adds a shine and protection.

[redbirds_imp]

Both WD-40 and Kerosene work well. Plexus or the Honda Clean & Polish work great for adding a bit of shine. I use Dupont chain lube and never have any trouble with fling. I cleaned off that goop that Honda put on the chain as soon as I got mine home from the dealer.

[HikerToo_imp]

is it the OEM grease still coming off or a chain lube you are using that is coming off?

[Greg_imp]

I removed the chain guard (it’s held on by two screws) and scrubbed the chain with Motul Chain Cleaner and a chain brush. I also cleaned factory lube off the inside of the chain guard, and everywhere else it had been flung, with Pro Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish. Then I sprayed Liquid Performance Racing Chain Lube (molybdenum) on the chain and wiped the excess with a rag. The LP chain lube dries and doesn’t fling. Well, I do find a small amount of gunk inside the chain guard after a while but nowhere else.

I'm happy with the Honda spray. It removes bugs and greasy road grim from everything and leaves chrome, mirrors and clear plastic parts shiny and streak free.

I got everything from Amazon.

[cbfan_imp]

Regular automotive type wheel cleaner works just great.

[Papa Weeley_imp]

Thanks, guys. WD-40 was my first thought, but I didn't want to risk harming the polished/clear coat part of the wheel.

is it the OEM grease still coming off or a chain lube you are using that is coming off?

Just the OEM grease. I've only put a few miles on my new bike so far, nowhere near enough to be doing any re-lubing yet.

[DAC]

I just use a spot of chain cleaner on a rag. I figure it was made to break down chain lube/wax so it'll clear same off the rim. I haven't lubed mine yet since it only has 340 miles. But when I do, I'll do a quick clean and re-lube @ 500 mi. After that, I'll most likely just lube every 500-600 until about mid-way through the season.

[Firstfour_imp]

Simple Green on a rag.