Which do you prefer and how many miles between lube jobs? I've been running lube for years, finally got tired of the mess all over the back rim and belly pan, switched over to Maxima chain wax. I go 500 between lubes, have over 15,000 on my 14's original chain with only one adjustment so it must be working.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/3/2011 @ 4:25 PM *

Yepper...Chain Wax...best out there.Clean my chain about every 500 miles with the kerosine and camel shoe brush...blow dry with a hairdryer,relube w/Chain wax,then every 250 or so miles...right after a ride.Next day...perfecto..no mess.Rear lower fairing removal make it very simple.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/3/2011 @ 5:12 PM *

Chain wax is great. I think a pertol lube is better for cold weather because wax is basically solid at low temps. I have used only a stiff, high temp gear lube this year but as you know, I haven't been riding the last 2.5 months. The grease works fine in hot weather but I wouldn't wait 500 miles between applications. 500 is about as long as I would go with wax.
Grease is very easy to clean off with kerosene. It does make a mess on the rims and everywhere pretty quickly. I'm sure it melts out from around the front sprocket a lot more readily than wax.

So right.Any lube that slows down the metal to metal friction wear is fine.Protecting the 0-rings is the other.I use the wax cause to me it does protect the rings IMO really well,and the fling properties are the best I've seen with any lube out there...but ya have to apply it just as they say.Trying to get a 'no fling' situation is possible,very,with the chain wax.All the others I tried flew all over everywhere.Warm chain,sit overnight.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/4/2011 @ 1:14 AM *

the fling properties are the best I've seen with any lube out there

That is the main difference between lubes. Motor oil would work as well as anything else but it would fling off dry in 40 miles. If it flings, noticably, it must need to be reapplied more often.......or else you are putting on more than needed to start.

I not sure if there is a scientific real answer for chain life. My be that the chains these days are very durable. The only thing I know for sure is over tightening kills the chain the quickest. I have 30K om my original chain and sprockets. Just last week I used the manual procedure and hung 20lb weight from the chain and measured the links. The manual says 12.5~ with the limit being 12.7~. Mine is still at 12.53 or so. I have always left the chain at 1.5" sometimes a little more of slack. I use 75-90W gear oil. Sure it gets messy but easy to clean off after couple hundred miles with simple green spray on wheel etc. Also realize that any o-ring or link failure and the chain is toast. I also think most people can't stand to see slack in a chain tbey can't leave it alone gets in their brain. Something loose has to be tightened. Plus you must adjust chain at tightest point not at loosest point.

Chain wax here too. I'm one of the worlds worst on chain maintainence. Clean it once in a while, lube it when I think of it. 20,000 on the OEM chain and sprockets, had to adjust it once, sprockets still like new.

I always keep mine a bit on the loose side, tight chains kill countershaft bearings. I used the wax yesterday on all four of my sportbikes, no fling off mess on the garage floor and I soaked it. So wax every 250 miles or a bit longer? I never ride in the rain and avoid the car wash, that seems to dry out the chain quick.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/4/2011 @ 4:19 PM *

So wax every 250 miles or a bit longer?

You could put a 1 in front of that for a lot of my lube intervals. Like I said, 20,000 miles, and no wear showing.

Kruz ya just got me browzing this subject mate as I want to know myself, so after hours of searching i,ve learnt that Maxima Chain wax That I use is better than Lubes Hands down, anyway this opinion is from many other forums & sites on this topic! since I found Maxima Wax seems to be far superier it seems that Dupoint Teflon is even better still compared to Wax ! This is the new for me product im just about to go out & buy for myself to try ! Kruz anyway as I had to get a new supply of lube to replace the Maxima Wax I was happy with in regaurds to the Fling & Mess factor

I used the wax yesterday on all four of my sportbikes, no fling off mess

Lol, I put it on a cold chain and made a F..king Messsssss. Works best on Warm chain. Won't do that again. I know better but,,, got lazy. Black rims are now sticky. Fun cleaning time ahead. Hot water ?

Very little residue on my back wheel after riding the 14 this evening so I guess it's true. I always lube right after a ride so the chain is hot. I'm with Hillbilly Tom, the grease is already in the o-rings, the lube just keeps the o-rings from drying out and cracking. Anyway, I like the Maxima wax, won't be going back to oil based lube.

Romans, I keep a roll of paper towels and Simple Green in a spray bottle in the garage. I clean the wheels after every ride, takes about two minutes and they always look sharp. Also clear water in a spray bottle for windshield cleaning. With those two items looking good the bike rarely needs a bath.

Thanks Bean, I'll try maybe 400 miles between waxing the chain and see how that works.

Neither.

Fit a Scottoiler, and forget about chain maintenance. I have used one on my last three bikes and cannot be more satisfied with the result. It is definitely the best bike accessory I have ever bought.

You will at least double the life of your chain and sprocket, so it practically pays for itself. And anyone who says that it is messy, just don't know how to correctly adjust the flow.

* Last updated by: bgordon on 9/6/2011 @ 4:37 PM *

I'm a fan of Maxima chain wax... but... last time I needed some, I bought a can of their synthetic... Hate It!... lotsa fling.

I bought a can of Maxima but no fling, back wheels are clean. Don't know when to reapply though cause you can't see the stuff on the chain. With lube spray if it looked dry it was time to reapply. Also when the back wheel no longer had black greasy film residue after a ride, time to reapply . With chain wax IDK???

I've tried them all and they all suck and fling IMO. Maybe if I went slow like some of you I wouldn't have a problem. hehe

Yours won't matter...it's BELT DRIVE!!!! Tell ya a little secret though....IF yer drivin down the road and SUDDENLY!....you hear a GodAweful Screech coming from the rear end....DON'T panic.You'll need to clean that belt is all.They do get dry and dusty...and when they do....LOOK OUT!Really...it'll scare the %$#@ outta ya first time it does it!

As for the chain wax reapply...I reapply about every 300 miles or so.Clean with kerosine about every 700 miles,maybe a tad more.

One thing I did notice,which I hadn't payed much attention to in the past...cleaning with kerosine then reapplying the chain wax..there was(is) a DEFINITE difference in the smoothness of the driveline.Along with a chain adjustment.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/7/2011 @ 4:20 PM *

Edge has a belt drive....no kiddin?

Well,yeah....he's got a Harley now.You can still wheelie with a belt drive .
Here ya go Kruz...these are AFTER a full day's riding.Night before,I kerosine cleaned my chain well,then allowed it to dry,and applied the Maxima Wax as directed.This stuff is AWESOME for keeping the rings and rollers free-moving and has virtually ZERO fling.There's not ONE spot on that rim that's got any fling.That back sprocket...same deal.Clean as it was the night before.And it'll stay like this until my next application...whenever that is.I started keeping 'miles' records for kerosining and chain waxing.I also checked my link play at the rear sprocket as per Hub...nothing,MAYBE a millimeter or two.That's all.And this chain has got at least a full season of riding on it(actually,two seasons)...that's a bunch of miles.Fast miles,using plenty of torque.(and some 'not so fast')I've changed my sprockets(front and rear) at least once with this same chain...I'm seeing NO strange wear from any of the parts.I try to maintain around an inch or so of slack.She touches the bottom of the swingarm,only if I force it.You can see she's got some road dirt on there..a bug or two...but no wax.I LOVE this stuff!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/9/2011 @ 6:44 PM *