In Search Of The Perfect Chain Lube

I tried PJ1 - not sure if it was the Black Label or Heavy Duty - I got it at CycleGear - anyway, I hate that stuff. It makes a mess coming out of the can. It goes on messy. What a mess. And the can leaked inside my backpack to boot.

After that debacle, I got to thinking that I'll try something else instead of the anti-sling lubes. Then I happened across LiquidWrench Cycle Chain Lube at Lowes & is what I use now. It's readily available & cheap at $3. It goes on wet but kinda dries out (not completely, though, which I like). It doesn't seem to attract road grit. And when I get a hankerin to clean the chain, I simply saturate it till dripping w the stuff, then use a clean cloth to remove the excess - works well.

when these bikes first came out the chain life was about 3500 to 5000 miles that is one of the reasons that the big bikes all came with 630 .the chain quality has improved immensly over the years ans so haven't lubes years ago when ever i had to pull off a counter shaft cover i would just dread it because i knew what i was in for a freakin sticky gooy mess but now day's most people are using lubes that dry after a few minuetes and a very clean to deal with. back years ago chains were so bad thjere were after market companies that made a dual chain and sprocket assembly to try to get more life and prevent breakage. thankfully they are not needed anymore.

I've been using the Teflon chain lube on my bike so far with a brand new o-ring chain. I think it is probably the best for o-ring chains, but maybe not as great for regular chains from what I researched. I just ran out a while back and need to pick up some more.

toadson wrote:

I've been using the Teflon chain lube on my bike so far with a brand new o-ring chain. I think it is probably the best for o-ring chains, but maybe not as great for regular chains from what I researched. I just ran out a while back and need to pick up some more.

I got the DuPont teflon spray at Lowe's for $5.

I've been using the Dupont Teflon from Lowes since last spring, it's great stuff. I can't see myself buying anything else now. It does not attract dirt like oil will and if you spray it on heavy and wipe with a rag it cleans the chain very well. I put 8-9K on the bike last summer and the chain has been adjusted a small bit. I'm still between the first and second swingarm marks with 20K on the chain.

I'm not sure which exact models were good or bad on chain life, but with good care I got 60,000+ miles out of the original chain on a 1977 KZ650 so they can last pretty good if kept up, even with original chain, but it must be oring. Any with standard chain, forget it.

I used to use Chain Wax but have started using DuPont teflon spray. I also love it - Just wish they made a small can for travel that I could store under the seat.

I had a double chain and sprocket on my first Z1...Russ

Doesnt the quality of the chain being used enter in to this at any point ?. I run an RK 630 o-ring chain on my 82 PZ750 with PJ-1 lube and Ive never had to adjust it

I don't use anything. I don't want my purdy rims to get all dirty.

austin3119 wrote:

I don't use anything. I don't want my purdy rims to get all dirty.

If you're serious about this and you have a motorcycle that sees limited use and you don't want chain oil getting all over everything, but still want a little lube, the way I do it is a shot of lithium grease smeared over 10 or 15 rollers sparingly. The little grease will work it's way around the chain and at least lubricate the rollers where they contact the sprocket. My opinion is this is where a lot of wear happens on a dry chain. Do this, very little grease will fling, and what does is light and easy to wipe off with a dry rag, so clean for us clean freaks plus still lubricated to some extent.