Questions About Lubing Bike Chain?

B

blk600cc

New member
For my street bike. It's a 2004 Yamaha R6.

Number one, how often should the chain be lubed? After everytime I wash it, should I lube it then or is there a specific amount of miles or time when it should be lubed?

And also, I just bought a chain lube from my dealer. Basically says to clean dirt and grime and then rotate wheel while spraying. But here is where I am confused.

It says: *IMPORTANT!* - Allow spray to 'set up' for 10 to 15 mins

What does that mean exactly? Spray it and wait 10 to 15 mins and then wipe it or what? Thanks for the help!
 
Good chain lubes are grease that is thinned down with lighter hydrocarbon fractions which make them liquid enough to come out of a spray can and get down into the cracks and crevices of the chain. Giving it time to set up means waiting for the more volatile portion to evaporate and it turn back into grease.

As far as how often to lube, a lot depends upon the lube itself. Ones that are not much more than petroleum distilates are gone in no time while the ones that turn back into grease last much longer. In the days before O ring chains, I'd lube the chain every other time I gassed up with was about every 300 miles or so. Back then Belray was about the best and I could go several thousand miles before adjusting the chain. With the cheap crud, I was adjusting the chain every 500.

If you wash your bike, either wait for the chain to dry or ride it just enough to dry the water off and then lube it. When riding in rain, lubing every 100 miles or so isn't a bad idea.
 
Lube a warm chain after a ride of 100+ miles. Let the bike sit for 10-15 minutes so the oil will soak into the chain and not fly off while riding.
 
im gonna answer as if its a dirtbike but you should still follw most of what i say....after you wash it lube the chain...if its been in a really dusty or muddy condition clean it and lube it...if you ride so far on it and it starts to sqeak lube it... and when it says let it set up or what ever im guessing it means let it sit that amount of time before driving it so that it can soak in and lube the chain properly
 
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