Ducati Monster Forum

OK, we all know how old school I am... it's a given. I have been oiling chains the same way since the mid 60s... Taco and Rupp mini bikes, Bridgestone 175s. Enough with memory lane. Dealing with all the excess sling off has been part of my riding for 45 years as much as bug guts on face shields and trying not to crash. I thought cleaning chain oil sling off was a prerequisite and a mandatory act to justify you riding your bike. It was just part of it all like adding gas and checking tire pressures and balance.

Anyway, I take the Monster into High Five Cycle recently to get a fresh inspection sticker. The chain was bone dry so I juiced it up with Maxima Chain Guard lube before I went. I've used a million others but have stuck with this for several years. Of course by the time I get to the shop excess s#@t has been slung all over the rear wheel, swingarm and assorted rear bodywork. The usual mess.

The inspector at the shop prepares to take her for the post look over inspection ride and I warn him to be careful of all the chain lube sling off. After the ride, while he's slapping on the new sticker, he asks "why don't you use chain wax instead, no mess". We talk about it for a while, of course I have heard of it but have never used it. He and another mechanic swear by it and say they enjoy the no fuss/no mess benefit over spray on chain lube.

My question is how many folks use old school spray on chain lube like me and how many use the spray on chain wax. I know Maxima makes a spray on chain wax in the same line up as the spray lube I use. Feedback people!! How's the wax over the standard chain lube? Opinions are welcome. [thumbsup] Just curious. I'd like to try the wax, sounds like sloppy clean up could be a thing of the past. That sure would be nice. [clap]

I use maxima wax on both bikes. I get some fling but it's minimal and mainly on the inside chain guard.

I use the maxima chain wax lube and seems to be just fine.  I usually just spray it on wipe with a rag.  I like to run spin the wheel and grip the chain slightly with a rag as it works around the sprocket.  About every other lube I do the same thing with wd40 to clean all excess gunk off before applying wax.

The last time I started using Kerosene instead of WD before the Maxima.  [thumbsup]

well, according to Randy- oh, nevermind...

I used WD40 on my 620 to clean and lube the chain.  Of course I found out later this was WRONG  :o  Ended up getting about 12,000 miles on the original chain doing it that way before it got rusty and had a kink or two.  Go figure  [cheeky]

Replaced that chain and have since used only Maxima chain wax.  I don't like it as much as WD40 because it doesn't clean the links very well... but there is no mess (wasn't much of a mess with WD40 either  :-X  ).

On a related tack; how often are y'all replacing chains?  My '04 999 is still on its original chain at 19,000 miles.  Sad, I know...  [laugh]

At the risk of bucking the trend:

(http://www2.dupont.com/Products_and_Services/en_AU/assets/images/dcse/multiuse_new.jpg)

Du Pont Teflon Multi-Use Dry, Wax Lubricant. (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=213197-39963-D00110101&lpage=none)

$5/can from Lowe's or Home Depot.

O-ring safe.

Dries clear with almost no fling.

Smells like pina coladas. No, seriously.

Also, umm, I'm sure you know this already, but if you wax/lube your chain after you ride, it flings less. Just sayin'.

I do the same thing but with the Maxima chain lube. And yes, I do lube the chain after rides when it's hot. Not on the Monster as described in this instance but 99% of the time I do it after rides. May try the wax just for a change. I googled it and found several motorcycle sites that loved it. A negative comment here or there but a big majority approved. Even found a mountain bike site that liked it but said it was probably better for motorcycles. Sounds like a winner. Couldn't hurt.

maxima wax for both cleaning and lube.  it costs more.  sometimes i use the wd40 when i feel ghetto, but then dry it all off and soak it down with maxima wax after it sits overnite and drips.

she does look like a horse.....

ghetto-T

Uh-oh!  :o

Maxima Chain Wax here too, for a long time.  Every 500 miles, after a ride when it's warm, clean up afterwards with WD-40 on a rag.  I have very little problem with goo-fling.  So I got that going for me, which is nice.

[popcorn]

"there's something about Mary" in that one  ;D

You are one sick puppy.  [evil]

Just want to note that it helps to do the 5-min or so "warm the chain up ride" before you wax (or after a real ride), and then you apply the lube (I use the max wax that's been noted above, but wouldn't mind using the dupont dry stuff) to the inside of the chain, the side that contacts the gears, and wipe it in good. i got tons of fling when I over-lubed and didn't wipe, and my purty gold chain would be a nasty color to boot. So, I think the wipe-in is kind of key.

My method:

Every 300 miles: Apply lubricant

Every 600 miles: Clean and apply lubricant

Lubricant: Dupont Teflon
Cleaner: Kerosene

Almost no fling.  And yes I can confirm the Dupont smells like Pina Coladas.  That smell keeps me comin back for more.

maxima chain wax on a regular basis

periodic kerosene spray down to really clean it up and the reapp the chain wax

All good folks, thanks for the replies. I agree with the "wipe in" technique. It helps a little (sling off wise) with standard lube but I believe it helps even more in getting the lube/wax into the rollers where it needs to be. I'll pick up a can of the Maxima wax, sounds good. [thumbsup] Never too old to try new things! [bacon]

This is what I've started using for chain lube... it works just as well as the more expensive options and doesnt collect dirt like the stickier ones do.
it does kinda small like pina coladas too.. lol


I always go for a little ride to warm the chain up, then i clean it with simple green, hose it off... let it air dry for a little bit, wd40 it to displace any water that may be in the seals... then I'll  wipe off any wd40 slop on the chain and hit it with the lube.

also for those that may not know... wd40 is GREAT for cleaning black wheels...

i would not use simple green on the chain unless it is diluted like 50:1 .. it is too strong of a solvent for greases/wax.  you only need enough solvent to float off the dirt, which is why several chain manufacturers recommended WD40, which is a very weak solvent. 

i know that everyone has different results, but that's based on a huge number of variables, which we can't all kepp track of (or even know about)...

http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/videos/ (http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/videos/)

There's a video there for reminder on good technique.

HA... forgot to mention that.. yes... make sure the SG is diluted. once in a while though i'll dilute it a little less and do a good thorough cleaning of it to get any grit or grime out.. immediately followed by the wd to displace water. between track days and random acts of hooligan-ness I abuse my chain pretty well... only got 10k on the bike.. but no excessive wear, stretching, no tight spots etc... so i guess i'm doin somethin right