Author Topic: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle (Read 3561 times)

b4cruz · « **on:** March 11, 2006, 08:30:26 PM »

I've ridden in rain all weekend
i'm gonna re-lube today
how often do you re-lube your chain when it rains?

solman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2006, 11:09:58 PM »

In my opinion, if you keep your chain properly lubed, the rain shouldn't affect it any. For me on a average week when I am back home with my bike in decent (not freezing) weather, I average lubing my chain once a week.

txbanditrydr · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2006, 11:50:32 PM »

I avoid the rain if at all possible.... the one time I got caught in a heavy (and I do mean heavy) downpour the first thing I did when I got home was.... re-lube the chain.

Well, maybe after changing clothes since I had no rain gear on and was soaked to the bone.

Sven · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2006, 01:29:40 AM »

I voted "never ride in bad weather" since I normally would not choose to ride/commute in rain or high chance of rain...it's not comfortable wearing rainy gear, and it's not comfortable with wet b@lls either. Of course, I've been caught in the rain and just deal with it as a fact of life.

I don't lube after rain, but after riding in rain, I usually wash the bike soon, which leads to lubing the chain...

mike · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2006, 02:31:02 AM »

Quote

after riding in rain, I usually wash the bike soon, which leads to cleaning lubing the chain...

DITTO!

aussiebandit · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2006, 07:33:11 AM »

Well for me I can't remember the last time it really rained. But in the past I've usually lubed the chain at the end of a rainy week, but that also depends on how far I've ridden. As a general rule I lube the chain every 2nd or 3rd tank of fuel depending on what sort of riding I've been doing.

Red01 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2006, 09:58:44 AM »

I don't usually go out riding in the rain either - that's what I have cages for. OTOH, I do get caught in it from time to time and I have left on trips in it - knowing I was heading to sunshine. I normally lube the chain every other tank of gas, so that's ~300-400 miles. If I happen to get caught in the rain in the meanitime, the chain gets fresh lube when I get out of the rain.

You'll never hurt a chain from lubing it too often, but you will certainly hurt one if you don't lube it enough.

LowRyter · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2006, 11:23:21 AM »

I usually won't sray on chain wax unless the chain is fairly clean. I clean it with kerosene (also just got a motorcycle engine degraser that works great). If the chain isn't real dirty I'll give it a hot of wax every 3-500 or so miles. But after riding in the rain, it's bound to be pretty dirty, so I would clean it first.

I probably don' know what I am talking about since I've just put my 5th chain on the B12.

John 98 Red B12
almost 50k miles

oremike · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2006, 11:49:41 AM »

Wow 5 chains in 50,000 miles??? I'm still on my 2nd at 37,000. I lube my chain about every 600 miles. If I'm going to ride over that in a day I lube at the end of the day. As for lubeing after a rain I'd say yes if it needs it.

b4cruz · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2006, 05:50:45 PM »

arggh!
just cleaned mine.
Took lots of scrubbing.
Looks so fantastic now I hate to go get it wet again.

Any of you hardcore tourers know if any lube is better for rain?
My KawaChem does fine, but I haven't used anything else really.

I really don't mind the rain
I like my gear, except for my gloves.

The real problem is the chain & bike parking.
I'm still not confident about getting the chain soaked
and I hate leaving the bike sitting out for too long in rain.

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2006, 09:49:44 AM »

Read the MCN Chain Lube shootout in this thread.
The lubes that rate highest in corrosion protection and sling-off would be your best bet for wet rides.

Swamp Rat · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2006, 01:04:17 PM »

Im a bit remiss in the up keep of my chain. It gets lubed when it starts making clattering noises. I put my dirt bike spray lube on it to help repell the water and other grimies.

pmackie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2006, 01:17:48 AM »

I lube mine every 500 kms or so (300 miles). I clean it with Varsol every month in riding season and then relube. My factory chain is at 21,000 km but will need replacing before 30,000 km.

If you have a regular coating of lube on the chain, the wet ride should not be a big concern. O-ring & X-ring chains should keep any moisture out of the internals.