Frequency of chain oiling?

[Cormanus]

My Honda manual says every 1,000 kms (600 miles) or earlier if the chain appears dry.

[VOZZA_imp]

With our unpredictable weather, I check the chain after each ride, if it looks a bit dry I give it a lube but only enough to dampen the links. If it looks dirty it gets a clean and lube. Simple as that.

[Novice_imp]

I read you're supposed to clean and lube it every 300 miles not just spray lube on a dirty chain. So I've been doing that religiously +/- 500 miles . Saw a sportbike today with a rusted chain and it still moved. I'm not recommending that level of neglect, but I try not to be too obsessive.

[davidantoniocostarica_imp]

since it almost never rains in california, I lube my chain with WD40 whenever i clean my wheels .... every 1K or so ....
if you live in area with lots of rain , then yes, I would lube it every 300-400 miles or so ...
BTW, lubrication for the links is not the issue ... for that you have the grease and the various design of O-Rings ( X- whatever ) , it's for the roller balls to better glide on the sprocket ..... and in racing to actually cool the chain to reduce tear and wear ....

It's all right use only wd40 for cleaning and lubricating?I don't use another lubricant...
Every 500km (in my country rains 4days per week, and one active volcano ejected ash

[ride4now_imp]

My Honda manual says every 1,000 kms (600 miles) or earlier if the chain appears dry.

Duh... why didn't I think of that... checking the manual. You guys from down under are smart!!!

[Cormanus]

My Honda manual says every 1,000 kms (600 miles) or earlier if the chain appears dry.

Duh... why didn't I think of that... checking the manual. You guys from down under are smart!!!

Duh... why didn't I think of that... checking the manual. You guys from down under are smart!!!
Not much else to do down here but read manuals.

[ClassicVW_imp]

WD-40 is not a lubricant! You may see a little lubricating evidence in the very short term due to some of its other ingredients, but WD-40 is meant to dry things out. It is also very thin and runs off very quickly.

It's OK for cleaning, but it's very important to follow up with an actual lubricant.

My chain looked very good at my 600 mile service that I did, still very waxy. I still added some Chain Wax that's sold at the Honda dealer and what the Honda service guy said to use. Now, at 1500 miles, it still looks like it's brand new, still very waxy. I mostly ride in clean, dry conditions. That chain wax is some great stuff.

[GoldOxide_imp]

You will eventually miss the convenience of the shaft drive. Honda did put shafts on some of their 80's Nighthawk 650/700/750 CB models and for the most part I thought they did an okay job. In terms of chains, I don't particularly like them, but the CB1100 is a glorious ride. I used to have a routine lube regime, but now I just execute on demand (did I mentioned I don't like chains). It seems if the O-rings are in good shape (and no crusty rusted links), I just try mitigating crud build-up - I quickly clean with WD-40, or sometimes kerosene. I let dry, and in the kerosene case I re-lube with a DuPont teflon chain lubrication that goes on clear and dries. I've been doing this for too long and never lost a sprocket or chain. My last ride had a chain with more than 32000 kms on it and is still going. I used several exotic motorcycle lubes, and they work too, but behave messy for me.

FYI: If you happen to ride in -25C winters (unlikely in LA), you will need to clean/lube the chain more often as road salt dust tends to wreak havoc on bare metal.

Enjoy the ride!

[Cormanus]

My chain has done 37,000 kms and is going strong. I am not particularly diligent at looking after it, either.

Pterodactyl's has, I think, done more than 50,000 kms.

[veech_imp]

WD-40 is not a lubricant! You may see a little lubricating evidence in the very short term due to some of its other ingredients, but WD-40 is meant to dry things out. It is also very thin and runs off very quickly.

It's OK for cleaning, but it's very important to follow up with an actual lubricant.

My chain looked very good at my 600 mile service that I did, still very waxy. I still added some Chain Wax that's sold at the Honda dealer and what the Honda service guy said to use. Now, at 1500 miles, it still looks like it's brand new, still very waxy. I mostly ride in clean, dry conditions. That chain wax is some great stuff.

I completely agree, WD40 is a cleaner but not a chain lubricant. I also use Chain Wax, as do my buddies. It works really well and stays on the chain pretty well. I generally lube 3-4 times a season.