Always carrying lube...
Discussion
Boring question I'm afraid.
I've got a few longer trips planned and I wonder if there's a portable solution to lubing/waxing the chain.
I've got a few cans of 150ml WD40 (£1.50) to clean, but the smaller chain lube tins are take the piss expensive. It's about £5 a (50ml) tin and 90% of that is probably propellant, so it's just over single use.
Is there a more reasonably priced and portable solution?
I don't think I'm being particularly tight, but a dozen tins over the life of the bike would mean I was better off with Scottoiler. Or I could just carry a bloody big tin of dry lube of course, which is what I'm leaning towards, but a bit of a faff.
(I'm well aware I can leave it, but after doing it with previous bikes several times a year it does seem to make the chain look quite tatty and I'm keen to avoid that).
Cheers.
I've got a few longer trips planned and I wonder if there's a portable solution to lubing/waxing the chain.
I've got a few cans of 150ml WD40 (£1.50) to clean, but the smaller chain lube tins are take the piss expensive. It's about £5 a (50ml) tin and 90% of that is probably propellant, so it's just over single use.
Is there a more reasonably priced and portable solution?
I don't think I'm being particularly tight, but a dozen tins over the life of the bike would mean I was better off with Scottoiler. Or I could just carry a bloody big tin of dry lube of course, which is what I'm leaning towards, but a bit of a faff.
(I'm well aware I can leave it, but after doing it with previous bikes several times a year it does seem to make the chain look quite tatty and I'm keen to avoid that).
Cheers.
I just always have a small tin for those longer trips. Sometimes convenience over price wins with biking I'm sorry to say.
Back in the Blackbird full givi luggage Euro touring days I'd just chuck a large tin in the top box or one of my touring mates would do so.. as long as one of us had a tin for our 3 week tours we were good. Centre stands, one persons foot kicking round the rear wheel and one on spraying duties at the end of a days riding when needed made it easy.
Back in the Blackbird full givi luggage Euro touring days I'd just chuck a large tin in the top box or one of my touring mates would do so.. as long as one of us had a tin for our 3 week tours we were good. Centre stands, one persons foot kicking round the rear wheel and one on spraying duties at the end of a days riding when needed made it easy.
Prof Prolapse said:
a dozen tins over the life of the bike would mean I was better off with Scottoiler.
I had a scottoiler and the best thing about it was not having to get with the oil each day, it was a luxury 'check the level now and again' ownership deal. Chain lasted well too as it never forgot to oil it.Also it could add a little value to the bike so the cost is not so high.
I found temperature variation plays a large part as to whether the chain is oiled enough or the whole back end of the bike gets covered in oil with Scotoilers ... I also think a lot of people over apply wax to their chains far to often.
The wax on modern chains is contained within the links, so there is no need to continually apply lube all the time. The main purpose of the wax is to keep the end of the links and pins lubed, so giving the chain a quick wipe over with a cloth to remove dirt (important!) and then lubing the chain whilst it is hot to help the lube penetrate the end links is sufficient every 700-800+ miles or so ... I do mine once a month depending on the mileage I do and the conditions I ride in.
Doing this means I get 20k + miles from OEM chain and sprockets.
The wax on modern chains is contained within the links, so there is no need to continually apply lube all the time. The main purpose of the wax is to keep the end of the links and pins lubed, so giving the chain a quick wipe over with a cloth to remove dirt (important!) and then lubing the chain whilst it is hot to help the lube penetrate the end links is sufficient every 700-800+ miles or so ... I do mine once a month depending on the mileage I do and the conditions I ride in.
Doing this means I get 20k + miles from OEM chain and sprockets.
http://www.sdoc100.co.uk/products/sdoc100-chain-cl...
I have an empty 75ml can which is refillable if that's any good for you, I don't ever do long trips these days 200 to 400 miles is probably the longest I go
I have an empty 75ml can which is refillable if that's any good for you, I don't ever do long trips these days 200 to 400 miles is probably the longest I go
There's a thought, I don't have a centre stand either... I think that leaves me with an overpriced Scottoiler solution, but I'm going to have to check with Honda about my warranty before I start cutting vacuum pipes.
f
king hell, the amount of crap you have to buy to kit out an adventure bike... I'm up to over a grand already since I bought it in September, and I don't even have fking panniers.
That's in addition to having to rebuild a fking gate to get the fat bd thing out from round the back of the house.
f
king hell, the amount of crap you have to buy to kit out an adventure bike... I'm up to over a grand already since I bought it in September, and I don't even have fking panniers.That's in addition to having to rebuild a f
king gate to get the fat bd thing out from round the back of the house.[quote=Prof Prolapse]There's a thought, I don't have a centre stand either... I think that leaves me with an overpriced Scottoiler solution, but I'm going to have to check with Honda about my warranty before I start cutting vacuum pipes.
fking hell, the amount of crap you have to buy to kit out an adventure bike... I'm up to over a grand already since I bought it in September, and I don't even have fking panniers.
That's in addition to having to rebuild a fking gate to get the fat bd thing out from round the back of the house.
[/quote
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=electronic+scotto...
f
king hell, the amount of crap you have to buy to kit out an adventure bike... I'm up to over a grand already since I bought it in September, and I don't even have fking panniers.That's in addition to having to rebuild a f
king gate to get the fat bd thing out from round the back of the house.[/quote
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=electronic+scotto...
Lee540 said:
Threw a can in my luggage on my Euro trips and was able to lube up everyone's chains.
Be someone else's turn next time.
Same here - I did a trip to Biarritz (from Lancs) last year - lubed when I left home and once more before I set off back. I don't put that much on and I've never had to replace a C&S set on a litrebike yet (ZX10, Blade, 4 R1s, MV F4) - I'd expect 25K minimum from chain and sprockets too.Be someone else's turn next time.
Cheers for the replies chaps.
I'm not neurotic about it or anything, I've happily done 800-1000 mile stints without bothering previously but everything is new, I'm riding on much worse roads now so picking up more st, and I think I'd like to try and look after it, so if I'm to get a Scottoiler i just think I may as well do it now and get the most out of it.
But as a I said, I do still need to look at warranty issues with the vacuum line splicing, and there's no fking way on earth I'm paying £250 for a machine that drips oil even if that's the only approved alternative.
At the moment, in the absence of the centre stand, I use a set of rollers to maintain the chain. On the road my plan would just be roll it backwards and forwards. Even the paddock stand is terrifying on the great lump so no tilting. Once the crashbars arrive I may consider just resting it on those, but we'll see how well that works in reality.
John your kind offer is appreciated, and I am passing your way in March, so I've sent you a PM. If you're not about on those days don't worry about it. Top man though!
I'm not neurotic about it or anything, I've happily done 800-1000 mile stints without bothering previously but everything is new, I'm riding on much worse roads now so picking up more s
t, and I think I'd like to try and look after it, so if I'm to get a Scottoiler i just think I may as well do it now and get the most out of it.But as a I said, I do still need to look at warranty issues with the vacuum line splicing, and there's no f
king way on earth I'm paying £250 for a machine that drips oil even if that's the only approved alternative.At the moment, in the absence of the centre stand, I use a set of rollers to maintain the chain. On the road my plan would just be roll it backwards and forwards. Even the paddock stand is terrifying on the great lump so no tilting. Once the crashbars arrive I may consider just resting it on those, but we'll see how well that works in reality.
John your kind offer is appreciated, and I am passing your way in March, so I've sent you a PM. If you're not about on those days don't worry about it. Top man though!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
This comes up regularly on here, but it's approved (and advocated) for use on rubber seals according to the literature. So if there's any real evidence to the contrary they would have a real case to take it up with the product manufacturers...I tend to use white paraffin these days as it's cheaper, but have used WD40/GT85 for ~4/5 years without issue, and still do on occasion. I believe BN on here uses it too.
The reality is it's cheap and with good for a number of things, so I just plan to stick it in the tool kit anyway.
It doesn't stress me out, I've done lots of big trips on the bikes over many years, just asking the wider community what my options are in case I've missed something.
I used to just spray the available chain, then move the bike a bit and repeat. Takes about three goes to get the whole chain generally.
Or get a mate to follow you spraying the chain while you roll it forward. On big adventure bikes I don't fancy leaning it a lot as they tend to be a bit top heavy and things can go astray pretty quickly.
Shaft drive bikes do really save a load of hassle! To the point that it would influence my buying decisions.
Or get a mate to follow you spraying the chain while you roll it forward. On big adventure bikes I don't fancy leaning it a lot as they tend to be a bit top heavy and things can go astray pretty quickly.
Shaft drive bikes do really save a load of hassle! To the point that it would influence my buying decisions.
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