Hey guys. Already put over 400 miles on the new bike. Need to lube the chain. Any advice or recs on good products or ways to do? I don't have a rear or center stand. Frick.

Congrats on getting your first 400 and kudos for understanding how important maintenance is. I use 80-90w gear oil. Chain has 17k miles on it, still damn near like new. I also use an ABBA Super Bike Stand. This stand is a "pivot" stand and quite different from the traditional hoop stands. The great thing about it is the suspension's unloaded front and rear (with the front lift arm add on. Cost is about the same as front/rear pit bulls with a lot more utility.

Some people use a grease system (Hub) and swear by it. Most seem to use some combination of spray on lubes and cleaners. I prefer the quick and simple gear oil, excellent lube, easy to clean up (oil just wipes off with a damp cloth). A few use Scott (or similar) oilers. I'm sure there will be lot's of great comments to come.

Maxima chain wax. Clean with kerosene DON"T risk using WD-40 even though a lot of people will tell you it has no effect on your O-rings I saw it did. You can clean and lube without a stand but it is labor intensive. Just gotta roll the bike about 20 feet to get the whole thing. Clean, ride to fling out kerosene and warm up chain, spray with wax, maybe do a very short 5-10 mph ride to work the lube in, let sit several hours until lube propellant evaporates.

Maxima also makes a non-wax lube. I like but it has a tendency to fling. Get just the right amount on and it's fine. wax is probably all around best for hot weather IMO.

Motul chain cleaner is one of the best chain cleaner I have ever used. I don't know what is in it but it dissolves pretty much everything except the chain itself and is supposed to be safe on o-rings. Motul chain lube is also worth trying.

+1

"Motul chain cleaner is one of the best chain cleaner I have ever used."

I use a spray bottle with kerosene to spray the chain with to get it good and wet. Then I wipe off the crud, spray it good with the Motul cleaner then dry high pressure air. Followed by either Motul or Maximum wax lube.

+1 again OldMan and cruderudy!
I have been using Mogul Chain Cleaner for years. I'm really fastidious with my chain and this product cleans brilliantly to a new finish. Combined with Mogul Factory Lube, it's a great combination.
Expensive but highly recommended...

And VAslim16, do yourself a favour and get a rear race stand at the minimum.
I have both front and rear so I can work on the bike plus clean the chain and rims with ease.
Plus great for storing in non riding periods.
Well worth the expense.

* Last updated by: yannih on 6/24/2016 @ 4:37 PM *

Where can I get some of those fine MoGul products?!

All my interweb searches only turn up MoTul snake oil!

* Last updated by: hagrid on 6/24/2016 @ 8:02 PM *

Fastidious with motorcycle chains.
Not so much with spelling...

Mogul is right up there on my shelf with Seafaom and Marvel mystery oil

I never heard anyone dis Seafoam before. It is definitely a powerful cleaner. Use as directed. Don't know if it does everything else it claims but always is highly recomended.

I know, used seafoam on the 454 Crusaders on my boat and about a week later one engine belched out a load of carbon I could not believe.

ScottOiler! Only had to adjust chain at 600 miles, now 26,000, never had to oil and chair always looks great, just little bits of oil droplets, but washes off easy. It is under seat, little blue line going to chain, got the extra reservoir which tucks in the rear fairing, lasts almost 10,000 before refilling!

Awesome thanks guys for all the advice. I just put an order in for a center stand and will get the chain good to go once I install it.