Chain Grease on Wheels

[amcloud]

My last bike was the 696, so the chain grease wasn't much of a problem on the black wheels, but it really shows up on the gold wheels of my 1100s.  What is the best way to remove the grease the chain slings on these pretty wheels?  Soap doesn't work so well....requires a lot of scrubbing.

[Triple J]

I've found that bug and tar remover works well. I think Turtle Wax makes it.

Also, if you lube AND clean your chain with a chain wax type of product, you'll get less thrown on your rims. Just be sure to apply the chain wax onto a warm chain so it soaks in...then wipe clean. Clean the chain with the wax, not WD-40. WD-40 residue will cause the wax to fling off.

I've used Maxima Chain Wax and the Dupont Teflon chain lube stuff. They both work well, but the Dupont stuff is cheaper and easier to find...so I prefer that.

[brimo]

My last bike was the 696, so the chain grease wasn't much of a problem on the black wheels, but it really shows up on the gold wheels of my 1100s.  What is the best way to remove the grease the chain slings on these pretty wheels?  Soap doesn't work so well....requires a lot of scrubbing.

Wd-40 on a rag works ok, but a bit of diesel fuel on a rag will do it and is a lot cheaper, just don't get any on your tires.

[fastwin]

I like Simple Green eco degreaser. Paper towels and Simple Green is a nice fix to extra chain goo slung off on wheels and bike body parts. You can find it anywhere... grocery store, Lowes, Home Depot, Pep Boys. Everywhere. I also like hitting my rims with Honda's spray cleaner and polish. That stuff is awesome!! After the Simple Green clean up I'll hit the rims with the Honda magic. It makes future wheel cleans easier.

No way around it, any good chain clean and lube will always produce nasty sling off. Oh, just one of the joys of riding!!! Like bugs on face shields and fairings!! Always a constant. [moto]

[Spidey]

I like Simple Green eco degreaser. Paper towels and Simple Green is a nice fix to extra chain goo slung off on wheels and bike body parts. You can find it anywhere... grocery store, Lowes, Home Depot, Pep Boys. Everywhere. I also like hitting my rims with Honda's spray cleaner and polish. That stuff is awesome!! After the Simple Green clean up I'll hit the rims with the Honda magic. It makes future wheel cleans easier.

No way around it, any good chain clean and lube will always produce nasty sling off. Oh, just one of the joys of riding!!! Like bugs on face shields and fairings!! Always a constant. [moto]

Simple Green, if not washed off properly, eats up aluminum.  Personally, I stay away from it. 

I'm w/ Triple J.  Clean the chain, while warm, with Chain Wax.  Then lube with chain wax.

When I need to clean my wheels, I use Honda Polish.  If for some reason there is really bad fling, I first hit use wd40, then the Honda polish.  Keep WD40 out of your wheel bearings. 

[RichD]

Go to an automotive paint supply store.
Tell them you want to buy a quart of... "wax and grease remover"!

It is amazing,
it removes chain wax,
and grease.

It leaves NO residue.

And wear gloves, because it'll pull the oils out of your skin and turn your hands WHITE.

Use it once and you'll never look back.
The only problem is you'll be buying it in the gallon cans once you find out how easy/quick it cleans rims, engine cases, chains, sprockets... etc, etc...

[DuciD03]

wd40 sprayed on paper towel for initial cleanup (as noted don't get it on tires;) then a damp rag with warm water & detergent to get off the residue; I've waxed my rims also to make it easier to clean up  .... no problem-o's!

I'll have to try the paint store "wax & grease remover"; any brand specifics?

[Sleeper_I]

I use Meguiars Quik Detailer to wipe down almost everything on the bike, works great. Chain wax will come off easily with no harm.

Kerosene to clean the chain and Dupont Teflon to lube the chain and never look back. The Dupont stuff stays on the chain and a very minute amount gets sprayed off. You can read the review on http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

I should convince my dealer to start using it so I wont have to relube my chain after every service

[Big Troubled Bear]

I have found that with Motul chain wax if I apply the wax after cleaning and waxing I then wait at least 12 hours before riding the fling off is a lot less than when riding immediatly

[sfarchie]

My last bike was the 696, so the chain grease wasn't much of a problem on the black wheels, but it really shows up on the gold wheels of my 1100s.  What is the best way to remove the grease the chain slings on these pretty wheels?  Soap doesn't work so well....requires a lot of scrubbing.

Thanks for posting this, I had a hellava time cleaning my wheels last weekend.

[the_Journeyman]

Wd-40 on a rag works ok, but a bit of diesel fuel on a rag will do it and is a lot cheaper, just don't get any on your tires.

I've had good luck with this method.  Spray the WD on a rag while turned AWAY from the bike.  WD-40 + tires + lean angle can't end well.  I also try to get a coat of wax on my wheels whenever possible.  It makes it easier to get stuff off them it seems. I usually wax them after I've gotten new tires before I put the wheels back on the bike ~

JM

[Norm]

Or, stop using chain grease and hose each link with WD-40 and wipe of any excess.

[amcloud]

Thanks for all the feedback...I'll be giving some of it a try today.

[brimo]

Go to an automotive paint supply store.
Tell them you want to buy a quart of... "wax and grease remover"!

It is amazing,
it removes chain wax,
and grease.

It leaves NO residue.

And wear gloves, because it'll pull the oils out of your skin and turn your hands WHITE.

Use it once and you'll never look back.
The only problem is you'll be buying it in the gallon cans once you find out how easy/quick it cleans rims, engine cases, chains, sprockets... etc, etc...

The problem with this stuff is it removes wax, so if you are using a wax wash to keep your bike shiny and clean you lose the wax off of wherever you use it, hence the dirt and crud actually sticks better and doesn't hose off as easily.

[Slide Panda]

The folks at Web Bike World like a product called 'Bean Clean'  for chain cleaning

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-chain-cleaner/bean-clean/

They also found this cool gizmo 'The Chain Drain' which seem like it could make chain cleaning and lube jobs a lot less messy
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/chain-drain/