Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: b4cruz on March 11, 2006, 08:30:26 PM

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: 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?

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: solman 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.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: txbanditrydr 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. :duh:   Well, maybe after changing clothes since I had no rain gear on and was soaked to the bone. :boohoo:

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: Sven 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...

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: mike 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!

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: aussiebandit 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.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: Red01 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.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: LowRyter 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

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: oremike 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.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: b4cruz 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.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: Red01 on March 13, 2006, 09:49:44 AM

Read the MCN Chain Lube shootout in this thread. (http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=309)
The lubes that rate highest in corrosion protection and sling-off would be your best bet for wet rides.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: Swamp Rat 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.

Title: Re-lubing the chain after heavy rain or heavy puddle
Post by: pmackie 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.