Drive Chain upkeep

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

I had to make 1/4 turn adjustment to my chain slack today (on my 2014 Standard) to bring it back into spec. This is the first adjustment I've had to make in 27,000 miles (~43,450 km). Pretty impressive. I've been cleaning and lubing every 500mi, per the schedule, with Honda Chain Cleaner & Honda Chain Lube, then wiping the excess off.

It will be interesting to see how how long it lasts from here.

[peterbaron]

Very impressive maintenance and distance driven prior your first adjustment ...I think, I did my first at 36000 kms, during tire set replacement.

[Cormanus]

That's extraordinary. My first chain lasted ~50,000 kms.

[jimgl3_imp]

it is scary how clean that is in the photo

looks more like a museum piece than a ridden bike

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

The bike has taken me through nearly every state in the US via two lane roads. I'm fortunate to be able to keep her in a large garage.

[jimgl3_imp]

I would like to see a video of your cleaning process. I imagine others would too.

[Cormanus]

Ferret and me particularly!

[Gone in 60]

And I though I kept a clean chain... Wow.

[the Ferret]

Ferret and me particularly!

Yea!

Mine didn't look that good new if I remember right

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

Here's short rundown on how it's done. It may not be the best method, but it works for me and it's fairly quick. My last VFR went 36,000mi before I had to adjust the chain tension. I'll try to get a video together the next time I do the job (500mi from now).

Items you'll need: chain cleaner, Honda chain lube (not the white lithium garbage), a piece of scrap cardboard (a section of cereal box does nicely), and a scrap piece of terry cloth. I've cut up old beach towels and gotten about 8 nicely-sized segments, or WalMart sells inexpensive terry cloth shop towels in large rolls.

Put the bike on the centerstand and lower the side stand, too, in order to create a little more working area.

With the chain cleaner aerosol can (nozzle attached), work on cleaning up the chain in segments about a foot (30cm) long on the lower run between the sprockets. I hold the rag behind the chain to catch all the overspray, then use it to wipe the grime off. Once a segment is clean, I roll the rear wheel to expose the next segment. I'm able to do the whole thing in 3-5min, because there is little grime to begin with. Even so, the rag is mostly black by the time I'm done.

Next I hit the segments , one at a time as above, with the lube (nozzle attached), using the cardboard to catch all the overspray. Once all the links are foamy, I use the remaining clean areas of the rag to wipe the excess off the side links. You can hold the rag around the chain and roll the wheel--the excess comes right off.

I suspect the lube penetrates into the working surfaces of the chain if it's hot when you apply the lube, but I may be wrong. i let the stuff sit for at least 10min or so before riding off.

I toss the rags and cardboard when done. I've had to buy maybe three or four cans of chain cleaner in 5 years and I think I'm still on the original can of lube. When on long road trips, I pack a few rags and sheets of cardboard so I can do the job when it's time.

Anyway, If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.