Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Exactly Supafrog. You would need to keep as many things constant as possible, even down to riding style, to get an exact result. Either way I am running without lube and have a brand new chain and sprockets.

I used chain gel once and it acted like a dirt magnet,I couldn't believe the build up of crap that stuck to my chain. I now use Motul clear, just lightly every 3 or 4 hundred K's. I clean the chain first with water base degreaser and then spray with Motul chain cleaner every 2000 K's, generaly I get 30 thou out of my chains. 1set of sprokets for every 2 chains.

I'm pretty fussy about keeping my chain clean and lubed....... I usually sell my bikes before they get too many k's on them, so I rarely need to replace chains or sprockets........

Only one I've done in the past 15 years was on my ZZR1100 in 2007 at 63,000 klms

OH......... and I never use Degreaser only kero to clean the chain and sprockets

When i did my trip through SA , NT and QLD deserts I used WD-40 for this reason. Sure we were applying it everyday but better that than all the bull dust and sand that would stick to the chain lube. Chain was fine after the 13500km trip

I managed >45000km with the OEM chain on the MFP12 - and it was lubed whenever I remembered to , not religiously every 500km or once a week....

Best bet is to lube the chain after a ride while the chain is hot, the lube/wax gets right in and does the job.

Dirt riding ? Should be cleaning and lubing the chain after every ride, no exceptions.

i lube the chain once a week and every time i service the 12r (around 3000km)the chain and sprockets get a good wash,,,,,,to clean the chain i use wurth hhs clean/a bit pricy but you don't have to brush or scrub,,,,,chain lube motul factory line /extra power ,,,,,,mind you i did get 58,000km out of the oem chain and sprockets

Gosling1 wrote: Best bet is to lube the chain after a ride while the chain is hot, the lube/wax gets right in and does the job.
Dirt riding ? Should be cleaning and lubing the chain after every ride, no exceptions.

1000 million % right Gos. I havent had the ZRX for that long, but I found that if I went more that a few hundred Ks without a lube, it would start wherring like a chainsaw, & gear changes became crunchy.
I do like you do. After a long ride while the chain & sprockets are still hot. Apply the lube, & then leave it untill the next ride. Cuts down on flinging crap everywere, & the chain stays happy. Everyone will have their favorite lube, Im trying Repsol ATM & Im pretty happy with the results.

I sold my ZZR600D with a brand new chain and sprockets - to a guy who didn't have a clue what chainlube is. 3000km later they were stuffed. Nice and clean, but completely Roo Ted.
I'm also guilty of only using it when I remember, or get reminded by clunky gearshifts, but the worst I've had is 12000km (from a $50 chain) and if I treat it nicely I can double that. Current chain is a DID Xring with 30k and looks like new - so I'm happy with the BelRay.


Might try WD40 on the next one ...

Lubing your chain and not wiping it down after is like taking a shit and not wiping your stinky arse. A rear stand as well as Jim Beam helps.

One other little thing (from my "If you can't be a good example be a horrible warning" file of personal mistakes); kero is really good for cleaning O-ring chains. It is also very slippery if too much gets onto the tyre

It is also useful for washing more grit into the rollers, then sticking it there with the lube.

since you're so anti lube, just keep not using it Matt.
You're the one paying for chains and sprockets

Supafrog wrote:Hoffy... but what bike is your chain off ?


ie: it could be the same as comparing the chain off my *unspeakable brand* .,... with say a 250cc bike's chain..

my chain is heaps thicker,designed for less maintanence etc etc etc.

ZX12R with 165 rwhp and 130kg's of man-love on board...

hoffy V2.0 wrote:

Supafrog wrote:Hoffy... but what bike is your chain off ?


ie: it could be the same as comparing the chain off my *unspeakable brand* .,... with say a 250cc bike's chain..

my chain is heaps thicker,designed for less maintanence etc etc etc.

ZX12R with 165 rwhp and 130kg's of man-love on board...

When Hoff cracks the throttle you can hear the strained cries of his chain as it screams in tortured agony

Chain Lube - Friend or Enemy ?

Frenemy