This is probably the best chain maintenance video I've seen so far on UA-cam. You're the first person who didn't spray chain lube all over their tire. Thanks for the video!
I’d also like to add for any new riders- don’t feel obligated to do an intensive cleaning like this each time you lube the chain. Personally I try to apply some chain wax each 3-5 hundred miles with just a quick wipe down, and then save the FULL cleaning for every 2-3 lubes
I pretty much do the same as your video, I use Maxima chain cleaner and Maxima Chain Wax. I live in the US in Alabama with stupid high humidity all year. So I generally clean the chain about every 1000 miles. I use the cardboard as well, cheap and effective. Have not tried a liquid type lube, figured it would be prone to sling off. The chain wax seems to stay in place really well. Got 19,000 miles out of my factory chain, I'm about to change it again, a little over 18,000 this time. Great video, very straightforward, and informative. 👍👍
I'm a hobby detailer my self (mainly cars) so kinda obsessed with cleaning things, the chain is my most hated job, the gunk gets every where, never got the rear wheel a 100% clean, and in general I just hated lol. That product you're using seems to be doing the job far more better than all the spray cans I used, there all based on a oil derivative which repels water so rinsing it with water doesn't do much. Thanx for making the vid really opened my eyes!!
i never heard of paraffin, so i looked it up. -paraffin. noun. par·af·fin ˈpar-ə-fən. : a flammable waxy substance obtained from wood, coal, or petroleum and used chiefly in coating and sealing, in candles, and in drugs and cosmetics. it’s used for costing and sealing, does it clean your chain ?
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Actually gear oil is even better to use on the newer chains than the older ones because it's all they need. Just something to keep the o-rings moist, rollers free, and prevent rust. The non-sealed chains are the ones that might benefit from a thicker lube...though they also all called for 90W gear oil on the package also...
Thanks for the helpful video. I know nothing in terms of mechanically but jumping in to better understand and your video helped demistify things. Subscribed!
I have to admit that I have changed my chain maintenance practice after seeing an experiment done my Watt-Man with his KLR 650 (same bike I own also). He tried cleaning his chain with WD40 and a rag and then letting it dry and adding no lubrication at all. If memory serves, his chain lasted something like 38,000 miles, longer than any previous chain he had maintained using lube. The theory is that most chain wear comes from the grinding compound formed by the chain lube and dirt rather than from metal to metal friction. I think there is something to this theory as bulldozers and other tracked vehicles run their tracks dry and they are basically chains going around sprockets. Sure, there is metal to metal wear, but that may well be less wear than that caused by grit mixed with gear oil or your favorite chain lube.
I hate to admit it but yes there is some thing in that theory….. which is why I encourage people to add little chain lube as a protection against rust more than anything else
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I find the best way to prevent rust is to ride often. Seriously, the only time I see rust is if I ride home in the rain and the bike goes from rain to garage without any riding to dry the chain. Even then a quick spritze with WD40 will prevent rust and once it dries the chain is ready to roll again.
I agree. I clean the chain with paraffin and paper towel, and lube with Wurth dry chain lube: it dries fast, isn't sticky, and therefore doesn't attract grit. My chain almost never needs adjustment.
Thank you very much, we aimed to create something easy to follow, but with enough information to explain why Please feel free to subscribe, and of course share this with others
Great video, thanks. What kind of product would you use to clean "under" the bike, the area with the dogbone, coolant tank, etc that you're touching at 11:52 here - best to use a general motorbike cleaner, or just the same drivechain cleaner? Also wondering what you do with the yellow microfibre that you used to dry the chain - once it's that dirty, do you find you can wash it out, or does that cloth get relegated to dirty jobs after this? :D
Great question and comments so thank you! We use MotoVerde products for all the bike cleaning needs. The Bike Wash is amazing and will work great on all bike surfaces. As for the cloths, once I use them - they are discarded as we never want any contamination on other areas of the bike. They are washable but we don’t take chances
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Thanks again. I'm also hesitant to use a dirty cloth as a "clean" cloth again, but wasn't sure if I was being paranoid and burning through too many cloths that way! Guess it's not just me. On the cleaners, one thing I'm still a bit unsure about is whether to be using the Bike Wash or the Drivechain cleaner on the dirtier areas under the bike which aren't technically the drivechain, but which do get more grimey then e.g. the sides of the bike. The MV Drivechain cleaner says it's safe on engine cases, rubber and plastics (and the chain and sprocket obviously).. but I'm always a bit unsure whether there's anything it's *not* safe on! No worries if you don't either, I might pop them an email to clarify, but let me know if I'm missing anything obvious please :)
Nice detailed video. I like my Ryobi electric washer, it says it is 2,300 PSI but whatever, it is the first electric I've had that is built like a gas unit, have had it for 5 years now and still going strong. I like the Ryobi as it is powerful enough, but not overly so like a good gas unit can be. I also ride dirt bikes, on those I just hit the chain with the power washer as they get so filthy. I like hitting the entire bike with a leaf blower after washing. I also find less is more with the chain lube as it attracts dirt. Got a foam cannon attachment for my washer recently, dunno how I made it this far in life without it! So many scrubbing bubbles! 😆
Chain lube is great stuff, it endures and lubes where lighter oils wash off. I've been using it for years and only just got a chain driven bike recently. Nice video
great video! some great tips in there that I didn't do myself, like drying the chain before applying lube, and also a new product for me, far better and longer lasting than the aerosol cans I used to use, thanks!
proper job mate, clean chain last a long time. light coat of lube and your golden. true nice gixxer, your misses gets happy with cleaning too , yes i heard her gigling. save ride.
Cleaned my ducati yesterday, using this procedure, works a treat, I have a question about chain lube, where do get the squeeze bottle from, as I can only find spray can versions ?? Thanks Gary.
We use either paraffin oil, diesel or kerosene to dissolve grease and chain oil, then clean with a chain brush just like you do. Then, use a water jet to clean the chain. Repeat 2 times to get maximum results. Dry using high pressure air. We use ep90 or ep140 GL4 gear oil. Make sure to wipe flat and thin so as not to splash on the rim of your motorcycle. We will re-oil every 400-600km. The chain is normally cleaned again at 4000-5000km intervals. It can maintain 2 times the lifespan of the chain.
Bloody hell mate! What a bloody complicated job. After 6 decades on dirt in outback South Australia, if I did this every ride, I would never go anywhere. Obviously you are going to a show and shine, not for a ride haha
Hello and thank you for your comment and yes, you are right. This is an extreme method for deep cleaning your motorbike change specifically for road use. However, with this practice and the right care, you will find your chains lasting longer and less interim cleaning needed
WD40 is a penetrating solution so will go past the orings and dry the factory grease and seals out - personally I wouldn’t use it as it will deteriorate your chain quicker
Kerosene is what I still use as it says even in service manuals. It does not dry out o-rings like gasoline would, and it is a lot more bang for your buck. Personally I'm sick and tired of all these speciality products that you have to pay premium for. The only thing that matters is if you got something that works or not, and just so you know you can use kerosene to clean any other similar items, where you have to be a bit careful. For any other non painted pure metal items I use gasoline to clean with. Of course a little caution is good before you throw gasoline at just about anything, so just be mindful and that washing off excess with a biodegradable cleaner after it may be a good thing. Another thing is these overpriced brake cleaning cans that I still see people buy when you can just purchase Isopropyl alcohol and pour it onto a leftover household spray bottle. Often times it is advertised as something else, so just read the contents on the label. Isopropyl alcohol is what it is regardless of what label a manufacturer slap on the bottle. Btw, I use gasoline to clean bicycle chains because it's only metal. It does a very good job at that.
Best and easiest. Kerosine is also the key to get the fresh lube inside the chain. Personally I didn't think much about this video. Brushing you are just pushing all the shit inside and degreaser takes all the lubrication from the chain. Not good.
I managed 53k's from my OEM chain using kerosene to clean, wipe dry and Castrol chain spray O-R to oil. When I finally decided to replace my sprockets and chain with a replacement OEM for a CBR600RR - I couldn't see any wear on the old sprockets compared to the new.. Clean the chain every month or 500-1000ks or so. Regular cleaning is so much easier than a dirty chain which hasn't been touched for ages. I've seen references not to use chain brushes - as they can damage the O-Rings - so I don't use mine..
Hi Dave,I know it’s a late question but I’ve recently bought 1999 600 Bandit and I desperately want to clean the chain but there’s so much contradictory advise on the internet it’s doing my head in. In the manual it recommends using Kerosene to clean then gear oil,10w40 to lube but I keep seeing comments about the kerosene damaging the seals and letting the internal grease out so Ime not sure what to use,so would you recommend what it says in the manual only I don’t have a clue if it’s an X,Y,O type of chain.
Compared to other videos that seem too short, I loved that you thoroughly showed the process. Silly question, but how do you wash that yellow microfiber towel? Wondering if it can be reused for future cleanings or best to throw away.
@@HalfdeadRider avoid to wash any white laundry after and make sure your wife's not around when you do that . I hand wash the micro fiber with warm water (not hot) and dish washing liquide. It does not bring back to new , but it does the job
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I put mine in the washing machine when I have a full load of them to wash and give them two wash cycles using new detergent for each wash cycle obviously. I am a motorcycle detailer so go through quite a lot of cloths. They will never look like new but are quite clean and safe to use.
Anyone old enough (like me) to remember removing the chain, soaking and brushing the muck off in petrol followed by placing in melted solid grease. From memory was it called Linklite or something like that.
Thank you👏👏👏 What you think about using diesel instead of a cleaner liquid? And The motorcycle chain lubes are sticky for obstruckting the splash around while riding. But some riders says that those sticky lubes are damaging the o-rings. Instead of those sticky chain lubes what you thing about using engine oil?
I would refrain from using diesel as it can eat away the o-rings over time. Kerosene (or paraffin if you live across the pond) is what's recommended by most manufacturers, but it takes a bit more elbow grease. Engine or gear oil is good too, and is actually what's recommended, but honestly I prefer my spray on lubes just because a) oil flings off the chain like crazy and b) it attracts a lot of dirt and grime which I'm not fond of. I would check out Bennetts BikeSocial as well he did a HUGELY comprehensive test of lubes.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Harsh detergents or petrol can damage the O-rings (as well as high pressure cleaner or steam jets) The well-loved cleaning spray with residual lubricating effect can also attack the O-rings or infiltrate them and destroy the grease packs inside the chain.
Hi Sean, firstly my professional opinion and in the main interest of safety. If it is badly maintained my first suggestions is to “restart” by replacing the chain and even sprockets The Drivechain cleaner is fantastic at removing grease, lubricant from the chain but won’t remove rust.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers thanks for that, i think its best to get new chain and sprockets like you say start afresh. i have cleaned it with a kettenmax and white spirit and lube with WD40 chain wax, doesnt look to bad but i think ill get new anyway
I have been unable to ride for 6 months and live at the beach. Surface rust has developed. What would you recommend to correct this issue? W800 cafe, no centerstand and 3 inches of area to clean at a time.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I am back riding thankfully, but not up to where I was pre injury. Bike has rust and I have excepted it. Thanks for asking. I hope to get in clean over the fall time frame as I continue to make progress month by month. Been a long journey and glad I am able to walk and able to ride. As far as bending down and getting on my knees and back up continues to take some work. But maybe in another 2 years it will be easier.
Im still trying to find the right "pace" when I want to wash my bike.. clean, lube chain and then wash bike? Gets Water on chain again.. clean, wash bike, and then lube chain seems the best? Get everything dry at the same time... ?
Great comment and good question…. The chain is part of the bike clean so I clean the bike and degrease the chain…. When the bike is full clean and dry, that’s when I relube the chain
@@MidlandsMotorbikers problem is then I get chain lube on my back wheel and have to clean it again, guess im going "overkill" like you said, will try to wipe the sides of the chain like you did to avoid splatter. Thanks, great video!
Good question - this chain cleaning process can be used individually or as part of your motorbike cleaning routine. I would say use this process: - Rinse entire bike - Apply chain cleaner and clean chain - Apply bike wash / Snowfoam to the bike and use this as a secondary way to cleanse the chain - Final rinse - DRY CHAIN and bike - Apply chain lube
I have totally dismissed degreasing and cleaning the chain as shown in this elaborate video. What I do instead on my BMW S1000XR with M Endurance chain is to drown the chain in BMW Kettenspray (chain lube) and thoroughly wipe off the excess lube immediately using a microfibre cloth. This will clean AND lube the chain in one swift move. No fancy and lengthy chain cleaning required any longer. Important point here is, the original chain lube applied at the factory is not destroyed by any cleaning agent, however mild they are supposed to be. I intend to do this at least every 5.000 km, or less, if I've been riding in the rain. This is my second M Endurance chain on this motorcycle and was mounted with new sprockets at the 30.000 km service interval done by my BMW dealership.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I believe that we should leave the original nitty-gritty factory lubrication of a chain intact, there is something magic about this, but any degreasing of the chain would destroy this.
I read somewhere that a short ride between cleaning and oiling the chain, will heat the chain up and thus improve adhesion of the new oil to the chain. Any truth to this?
Yes it can help as long as it is a short ride….. another tip would be to simply submerse the chain lube container in some warm water for a few minutes to have the same effect
I use compressed air to get rid of the loose water on the chain - and the bike generally and then give it a 10 - 15 minute blast of my air heater in the garage. Once you lube the cain though its best to leave it overnight for the lube to gel properly - otherwise all your cleaning effort will be wasted when the fresh lube flies off on everything.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Well, I was somewhat joking as I also own a chain drive bike. I have a K1200LT and a KLR650 so I get to see the advantages and disadvantages on a regular basis. I don’t mind the chain so much since I stopped using chain lube and just do a quick clean occasionally with WD40 and a rag. Without chain lube, the rear of the KLR stays nice and clean and the chain seems surprisingly happy to run dry.
Hi, yep clean chain there’s no denying that, but if you whatch Neevesy from motorcycle news an Fortnine who tests about 8 different chain lubes in a controled environment on the Tube, you could save yourself a shed load a money buying all these cleaners an lubes. So you could be ridin instead of cleaning. Just my 2 bobs worth. 👍😎
@@lotusedelmann4030 I thought he was saying he heard a cute fart! BTW @Midlands Motorbikers Google translate is great to talk to foreign speaking viewers.
That’s good you are checking your manual, it’s always good to check it before you do anything You can use pressure washer if you know and are confident with it - if in doubt stay away from it to be safe
me and chain clean: disassemble bike, take chain off and drop it in bottle with gasoline or diesel, shake shake shale....check, repeat shake shake shake! voila! me after rain ride: go to self-service car wash station... pay for 3 minutes and wash chain with maximum pressure (oh, yes! get it b...ch!) until water stops...check... pay more and repeat! me and chain lube: drop to paraffin+oil+xylene mixture and boil!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
This is probably the best chain maintenance video I've seen so far on UA-cam. You're the first person who didn't spray chain lube all over their tire. Thanks for the video!
Wow, thanks! Really appreciate the feedback!
Best chain maintenance video I’ve seen
Thank you for your feedback - please feel free to share it to anyone who will benefit from it
I’d also like to add for any new riders- don’t feel obligated to do an intensive cleaning like this each time you lube the chain. Personally I try to apply some chain wax each 3-5 hundred miles with just a quick wipe down, and then save the FULL cleaning for every 2-3 lubes
by far!
I pretty much do the same as your video, I use Maxima chain cleaner and Maxima Chain Wax. I live in the US in Alabama with stupid high humidity all year. So I generally clean the chain about every 1000 miles. I use the cardboard as well, cheap and effective. Have not tried a liquid type lube, figured it would be prone to sling off. The chain wax seems to stay in place really well. Got 19,000 miles out of my factory chain, I'm about to change it again, a little over 18,000 this time. Great video, very straightforward, and informative. 👍👍
Thank you for the feedback and it’s great to see we are reaching across the pond!
Very nice chain maintenance👍
Fantastic, thanks for watching and commenting
I’m watching this and I have shaft drive
Is that a good or bad thing?
@@MidlandsMotorbikers it’s because you made a good video
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Good if you know how to look after it. Bad if you do nothing until teeth start falling off the crown gear.
Me too!
😂😂😂😂😂😂lol
Great video. Thanks for helping me to not get lube all over my bike!
Glad to help!
I'm a hobby detailer my self (mainly cars) so kinda obsessed with cleaning things, the chain is my most hated job, the gunk gets every where, never got the rear wheel a 100% clean, and in general I just hated lol. That product you're using seems to be doing the job far more better than all the spray cans I used, there all based on a oil derivative which repels water so rinsing it with water doesn't do much. Thanx for making the vid really opened my eyes!!
Very welcome and thank you for the comment :-)
You're a hero man. You motivated me, intrinsically. Thank you Sir.
Glad to help
Cracking video! Nice and simple easy steps. I personally needed a heads up on the step through. Cheers! ✨👍
Glad it helped!
Loved this video. Straightforward, no bullshit, well explained. First one of yours that I`ve seen. Subscription added.
Great feedback thank you - welcome aboard!
James is the man best bike cleaner ever
lol thank you Paul!
Cracking Video! Cracking Job! Very Professional! Cheers, Graham.
Glad you enjoyed it
Have always used paraffin to clean the chain then a light coating of 80/90 gear oil applied with a small paint brush. Cheap, easy and very effective.
Great for older style chains without rubber seals….. not so much for the latest chains……
i never heard of paraffin, so i looked it up.
-paraffin. noun. par·af·fin ˈpar-ə-fən. : a flammable waxy substance obtained from wood, coal, or petroleum and used chiefly in coating and sealing, in candles, and in drugs and cosmetics.
it’s used for costing and sealing, does it clean your chain ?
Yes on my 420 kawasaki z125pro chain absolutely
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Actually gear oil is even better to use on the newer chains than the older ones because it's all they need. Just something to keep the o-rings moist, rollers free, and prevent rust. The non-sealed chains are the ones that might benefit from a thicker lube...though they also all called for 90W gear oil on the package also...
Spot on video. Looks like you get a good “workout” from it 👍😉
Yes I do indeed lol thank you for watching and commenting
Thanks for the helpful video. I know nothing in terms of mechanically but jumping in to better understand and your video helped demistify things. Subscribed!
Glad it helped! And thank you for subscribing!
I got over the issue of chain maintenance by buying a shaft drive…😂😂
Seriously though, this is a good instructional video…
Thank you
Very much enjoyed your video. Great presentation. I have now subscribed and thanks for sharing.
Awesome, thank you! Welcome aboard!
I have to admit that I have changed my chain maintenance practice after seeing an experiment done my Watt-Man with his KLR 650 (same bike I own also). He tried cleaning his chain with WD40 and a rag and then letting it dry and adding no lubrication at all. If memory serves, his chain lasted something like 38,000 miles, longer than any previous chain he had maintained using lube. The theory is that most chain wear comes from the grinding compound formed by the chain lube and dirt rather than from metal to metal friction. I think there is something to this theory as bulldozers and other tracked vehicles run their tracks dry and they are basically chains going around sprockets. Sure, there is metal to metal wear, but that may well be less wear than that caused by grit mixed with gear oil or your favorite chain lube.
I hate to admit it but yes there is some thing in that theory….. which is why I encourage people to add little chain lube as a protection against rust more than anything else
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I find the best way to prevent rust is to ride often. Seriously, the only time I see rust is if I ride home in the rain and the bike goes from rain to garage without any riding to dry the chain. Even then a quick spritze with WD40 will prevent rust and once it dries the chain is ready to roll again.
WD40 is a degreaser. I call it BULLSHIT.
@@LTVoyager Agreed. I use GT85 on mine - does a great job.
I agree. I clean the chain with paraffin and paper towel, and lube with Wurth dry chain lube: it dries fast, isn't sticky, and therefore doesn't attract grit. My chain almost never needs adjustment.
Nobody else says to wipe it off! Thank you for a REAL how to video.
Very welcome
Thanks for the tip. Will give try for the drivechain cleaner.
Fantastic - let us know how you get on?
Sound advise massive. Straight forward spot on
Glad we could help
Very helpful video, thanks for sharing 🙏🏼
I'll be in touch for the cleaner, brush and lube 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
No problem! Get in touch with
It's Guy from Anything Automotive btw 😉
Best way I’ve seen a chain cleaned.God bless and thanks for the video.👍🏽
Glad it helped - please share and let’s help as many as possible
Great video Sir! Thanks alot!
Very welcome glad it could help!
James this is the best chain maintenance demo I have seen on youtube. Good Job.
Thank you very much, we aimed to create something easy to follow, but with enough information to explain why
Please feel free to subscribe, and of course share this with others
Great video, thanks. What kind of product would you use to clean "under" the bike, the area with the dogbone, coolant tank, etc that you're touching at 11:52 here - best to use a general motorbike cleaner, or just the same drivechain cleaner? Also wondering what you do with the yellow microfibre that you used to dry the chain - once it's that dirty, do you find you can wash it out, or does that cloth get relegated to dirty jobs after this? :D
Great question and comments so thank you! We use MotoVerde products for all the bike cleaning needs. The Bike Wash is amazing and will work great on all bike surfaces. As for the cloths, once I use them - they are discarded as we never want any contamination on other areas of the bike. They are washable but we don’t take chances
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Thanks again. I'm also hesitant to use a dirty cloth as a "clean" cloth again, but wasn't sure if I was being paranoid and burning through too many cloths that way! Guess it's not just me.
On the cleaners, one thing I'm still a bit unsure about is whether to be using the Bike Wash or the Drivechain cleaner on the dirtier areas under the bike which aren't technically the drivechain, but which do get more grimey then e.g. the sides of the bike. The MV Drivechain cleaner says it's safe on engine cases, rubber and plastics (and the chain and sprocket obviously).. but I'm always a bit unsure whether there's anything it's *not* safe on! No worries if you don't either, I might pop them an email to clarify, but let me know if I'm missing anything obvious please :)
Got to hand it to you that chain looked new by the time you finished...top bloke
Thank you matey, top products combined with best practise helps
Handy tips, nice1 tah! 👍👊
Glad you liked it!
Great Work. Thanks for sharing Mate!
Thanks for watching!
Nice detailed video.
I like my Ryobi electric washer, it says it is 2,300 PSI but whatever, it is the first electric I've had that is built like a gas unit, have had it for 5 years now and still going strong. I like the Ryobi as it is powerful enough, but not overly so like a good gas unit can be.
I also ride dirt bikes, on those I just hit the chain with the power washer as they get so filthy. I like hitting the entire bike with a leaf blower after washing. I also find less is more with the chain lube as it attracts dirt. Got a foam cannon attachment for my washer recently, dunno how I made it this far in life without it! So many scrubbing bubbles! 😆
It’s great to hear you as passionate about cleaning your bike too!
Check out @shinysideupvalet on facebook
Never thought I needed to know that, but I did. Useful video well presented, nice 👍
Glad it was helpful! Please feel free to share and of course subscribe
Chain lube is great stuff, it endures and lubes where lighter oils wash off. I've been using it for years and only just got a chain driven bike recently. Nice video
Thank you drew - don’t forget to subscribe
You've been using it for years but just got a chain drive bike recently - LOL
great video! some great tips in there that I didn't do myself, like drying the chain before applying lube, and also a new product for me, far better and longer lasting than the aerosol cans I used to use, thanks!
Glad we could help
You should continue lubing wet chain because it's not good to change the procedure untill you change sprockets. Phenomena is called a metal memory.
@@geniuspackardbell369 can you explain?
@@charlesludwig9173 this is called humor. Hard to explain. 😊
Great video mate,thanks!
Glad we could help
Your video is so helpful! Thank you so much!!!!
Glad it was helpful! Please be sure to like and subscribe to our channel to help support us
I do basically the same, but I use heavy duty oil to lube the thing.
Do you not find it flings off?
proper job mate, clean chain last a long time. light coat of lube and your golden. true
nice gixxer, your misses gets happy with cleaning too , yes i heard her gigling.
save ride.
Thank you mate
Cleaned my ducati yesterday, using this procedure, works a treat, I have a question about chain lube, where do get the squeeze bottle from, as I can only find spray can versions ?? Thanks Gary.
Hi Gary, thanks for the feedback and glad it works for you! Contact Shiny Side Up Motorcycle Valet and they can advise (and offer discount)
Great video!
Thank you sir
Brilliant video on an important issue. Many thanks. God I love UA-cam.
Glad it was helpful!
That was very helpful 👍
Glad we could help :-)
It seems to work pretty well on a chain that is already spotless.
Hardly spotless but well maintained
Now I really miss having my old bikes 😂
Sometimes the older bikes are the best
nice job, but you cleaned the chain over that nice block patio.
the person handling the camera is awesome!
Thanks 👍
Excellent video. Thank you. 👍🏻
Glad you liked it!
We use either paraffin oil, diesel or kerosene to dissolve grease and chain oil, then clean with a chain brush just like you do. Then, use a water jet to clean the chain. Repeat 2 times to get maximum results. Dry using high pressure air. We use ep90 or ep140 GL4 gear oil. Make sure to wipe flat and thin so as not to splash on the rim of your motorcycle. We will re-oil every 400-600km. The chain is normally cleaned again at 4000-5000km intervals. It can maintain 2 times the lifespan of the chain.
Great technique, just watch for Kerosene and similar products seeping past the O-Rings and removing factory grease
Kinda fun watching someone else on youtube clean a chain
Thank you for watching
Hands down best chain maintenance video on here!
Thank you Hamish - don’t forget to subscribe
Bloody hell mate! What a bloody complicated job. After 6 decades on dirt in outback South Australia, if I did this every ride, I would never go anywhere. Obviously you are going to a show and shine, not for a ride haha
Hello and thank you for your comment and yes, you are right. This is an extreme method for deep cleaning your motorbike change specifically for road use.
However, with this practice and the right care, you will find your chains lasting longer and less interim cleaning needed
Great video thanks from rainy Ireland so need this info 😁.. what you think of WD40 for the cleaning?
WD40 is a penetrating solution so will go past the orings and dry the factory grease and seals out - personally I wouldn’t use it as it will deteriorate your chain quicker
Great video!!Thank you!!!!
Very welcome I hope it helps - don’t forget to hit subscribe and share it on
Excellent advice well done
👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Would you advise regularly removing the chain cover and front sprocke cover for cleaning?
Once a year would be more than enough for you
I use parraffin as a cleaner so that it does'nt dry out the 'O' rings, then use chain lube.
Parrafin is a great chemical at removing chain lube/wax but be careful as it can seep past the rings and remove the standard chain grease
Máxima chain cleaner. Best chain cleaner you can get.
I’ll have to check it out
Kerosene is what I still use as it says even in service manuals. It does not dry out o-rings like gasoline would, and it is a lot more bang for your buck.
Personally I'm sick and tired of all these speciality products that you have to pay premium for. The only thing that matters is if you got something that works or not, and just so you know you can use kerosene to clean any other similar items, where you have to be a bit careful.
For any other non painted pure metal items I use gasoline to clean with. Of course a little caution is good before you throw gasoline at just about anything, so just be mindful and that washing off excess with a biodegradable cleaner after it may be a good thing.
Another thing is these overpriced brake cleaning cans that I still see people buy when you can just purchase Isopropyl alcohol and pour it onto a leftover household spray bottle. Often times it is advertised as something else, so just read the contents on the label. Isopropyl alcohol is what it is regardless of what label a manufacturer slap on the bottle.
Btw, I use gasoline to clean bicycle chains because it's only metal. It does a very good job at that.
Thanks for your comments
Best and easiest. Kerosine is also the key to get the fresh lube inside the chain. Personally I didn't think much about this video. Brushing you are just pushing all the shit inside and degreaser takes all the lubrication from the chain. Not good.
Good choice. Kerosene is what's used in parts washers, after all. I personally use diesel, just because it's cheaper than kerosene and easy to find.
I managed 53k's from my OEM chain using kerosene to clean, wipe dry and Castrol chain spray O-R to oil. When I finally decided to replace my sprockets and chain with a replacement OEM for a CBR600RR - I couldn't see any wear on the old sprockets compared to the new..
Clean the chain every month or 500-1000ks or so. Regular cleaning is so much easier than a dirty chain which hasn't been touched for ages.
I've seen references not to use chain brushes - as they can damage the O-Rings - so I don't use mine..
Hi Dave,I know it’s a late question but I’ve recently bought 1999 600 Bandit and I desperately want to clean the chain but there’s so much contradictory advise on the internet it’s doing my head in.
In the manual it recommends using Kerosene to clean then gear oil,10w40 to lube but I keep seeing comments about the kerosene damaging the seals and letting the internal grease out so Ime not sure what to use,so would you recommend what it says in the manual only I don’t have a clue if it’s an X,Y,O type of chain.
top video mate, please please please keep em coming. Fasty-Rides
Thank you buddy, will be making a few more soon!
Found it just using the title 🙏🏼
Great find!
Excellent thanks 😊
Very welcome - don’t forget to subscribe
Hello. It was a good video. What do you think about using WD40 White Lithium Grease for lubricating purpose?
Don’t do it :-)
Compared to other videos that seem too short, I loved that you thoroughly showed the process. Silly question, but how do you wash that yellow microfiber towel? Wondering if it can be reused for future cleanings or best to throw away.
I throw these away after use to avoid contamination or worse…. Scratches…..
Thank you for the comments mate
Put them in the washing machine, reuse those ones only on the chain though!
@@HalfdeadRider avoid to wash any white laundry after and make sure your wife's not around when you do that .
I hand wash the micro fiber with warm water (not hot) and dish washing liquide.
It does not bring back to new , but it does the job
@@jeanpaulcomeau8131 Yea lol, they will never be like new again but good to be used on the chain, engine or somewhere you can't cause any damage.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I put mine in the washing machine when I have a full load of them to wash and give them two wash cycles using new detergent for each wash cycle obviously. I am a motorcycle detailer so go through quite a lot of cloths. They will never look like new but are quite clean and safe to use.
Anyone old enough (like me) to remember removing the chain, soaking and brushing the muck off in petrol followed by placing in melted solid grease. From memory was it called Linklite or something like that.
top job on the chain do you sell the cleaner for the chain
Hello yes we do
I too would like my chain as tight as a gituar string, please advise!
That would probable be a bit too tight then lol
Really good video and looks like a good product. Can you send me the link, please, as I can't find it for sale on Google
Richard contact us as we sell It for you
@@MidlandsMotorbikers will do mate 👍
Thank , very helpful. But I don't have drivetrain cleaner and going to use brake cleaner instead
Please don’t use brake cleaner on modern chains, it’s an aggressive solvent and will damage your seals in the chain
Cleanest chain I have ever seen.
Thank you
How to you wash the cloth after using? Or do you have to buy new cloths every time?
Completely up to you - we prefer not to wash them - but keep them as rags after
Thanks for sharing
My pleasure
Do you need to spray the lube onto the rivot links on the outside?
It is only for surface level protection to stop oxidisation
Thank you👏👏👏
What you think about using diesel instead of a cleaner liquid?
And
The motorcycle chain lubes are sticky for obstruckting the splash around while riding. But some riders says that those sticky lubes are damaging the o-rings.
Instead of those sticky chain lubes what you thing about using engine oil?
There are plenty of pro’s for using that and gearbox oil….. if it works for you the use it
75-90wt synthetic
I would refrain from using diesel as it can eat away the o-rings over time. Kerosene (or paraffin if you live across the pond) is what's recommended by most manufacturers, but it takes a bit more elbow grease.
Engine or gear oil is good too, and is actually what's recommended, but honestly I prefer my spray on lubes just because a) oil flings off the chain like crazy and b) it attracts a lot of dirt and grime which I'm not fond of.
I would check out Bennetts BikeSocial as well he did a HUGELY comprehensive test of lubes.
@@JMLueckeA7X Use non- O- ring chain. Or power wash an O-ring chain.
At what point during cleaning the whole bike are you doing the chain? Im cleaning the chain, then the bike, drying, then lube. That sound about right?
There is no set / correct way or order however as long as you dry and the lube the chain last you are about right :-)
...and it also removes the rubber seals from the o-ring chain.
What does?
@@MidlandsMotorbikers
Harsh detergents or petrol can damage the O-rings (as well as high pressure cleaner or steam jets)
The well-loved cleaning spray with residual lubricating effect can also attack the O-rings or infiltrate them and destroy the grease packs inside the chain.
Great video is that chain cleaner any good for very badly maintained chains or do i need to use paraffin or gear oil. any help would be appreciated
Hi Sean, firstly my professional opinion and in the main interest of safety. If it is badly maintained my first suggestions is to “restart” by replacing the chain and even sprockets
The Drivechain cleaner is fantastic at removing grease, lubricant from the chain but won’t remove rust.
@@MidlandsMotorbikers thanks for that, i think its best to get new chain and sprockets like you say start afresh.
i have cleaned it with a kettenmax and white spirit and lube with WD40 chain wax, doesnt look to bad but i think ill get new anyway
I have been unable to ride for 6 months and live at the beach. Surface rust has developed. What would you recommend to correct this issue? W800 cafe, no centerstand and 3 inches of area to clean at a time.
We would need to see it to help properly but I would get it up on a ramp and do it that way
Hope you managed to get it sorted?
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I am back riding thankfully, but not up to where I was pre injury. Bike has rust and I have excepted it. Thanks for asking. I hope to get in clean over the fall time frame as I continue to make progress month by month. Been a long journey and glad I am able to walk and able to ride. As far as bending down and getting on my knees and back up continues to take some work. But maybe in another 2 years it will be easier.
top job fella
Thank you buddy - hope it helps
...don't forget the front sprocket! Usually messy as hell!
Oh yes, but that would take a whole new video
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Would it though?
Seems lazy iffin you ask me.
@@michaeltrivette1728 ok
Is using wd-40 safe to clean if you lube it again after the cleaning with proper chain lube?
We don’t recommend it mate
Im still trying to find the right "pace" when I want to wash my bike.. clean, lube chain and then wash bike? Gets Water on chain again.. clean, wash bike, and then lube chain seems the best? Get everything dry at the same time... ?
Great comment and good question….
The chain is part of the bike clean so I clean the bike and degrease the chain…. When the bike is full clean and dry, that’s when I relube the chain
@@MidlandsMotorbikers problem is then I get chain lube on my back wheel and have to clean it again, guess im going "overkill" like you said, will try to wipe the sides of the chain like you did to avoid splatter. Thanks, great video!
@@brunopombo8579 glad I could help
So afterwards you can just proceed with giving the bike a normal wash ?
Good question - this chain cleaning process can be used individually or as part of your motorbike cleaning routine.
I would say use this process:
- Rinse entire bike
- Apply chain cleaner and clean chain
- Apply bike wash / Snowfoam to the bike and use this as a secondary way to cleanse the chain
- Final rinse
- DRY CHAIN and bike
- Apply chain lube
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Ok thanks for the quick reply, as a detailer that just got a motorcycle this helps alot !
I have totally dismissed degreasing and cleaning the chain as shown in this elaborate video.
What I do instead on my BMW S1000XR with M Endurance chain is to drown the chain in BMW Kettenspray (chain lube) and thoroughly wipe off the excess lube immediately using a microfibre cloth.
This will clean AND lube the chain in one swift move.
No fancy and lengthy chain cleaning required any longer.
Important point here is, the original chain lube applied at the factory is not destroyed by any cleaning agent, however mild they are supposed to be.
I intend to do this at least every 5.000 km, or less, if I've been riding in the rain.
This is my second M Endurance chain on this motorcycle and was mounted with new sprockets at the 30.000 km service interval done by my BMW dealership.
Thank you and glad this works for you :-)
@@MidlandsMotorbikers I believe that we should leave the original nitty-gritty factory lubrication of a chain intact, there is something magic about this, but any degreasing of the chain would destroy this.
for a road bike a dry chain is good or a oily..???
It should be lubricated but not oily - wipe off the excess for best results
Is this a sealed link chain?
Most modern chains are yes
I read somewhere that a short ride between cleaning and oiling the chain, will heat the chain up and thus improve adhesion of the new oil to the chain. Any truth to this?
Yes it can help as long as it is a short ride….. another tip would be to simply submerse the chain lube container in some warm water for a few minutes to have the same effect
Hi guys, wonder if anybody can help, what I should use to clean chain brush? It is black after first use, bought it blue lol
If you use a chain cleaner solution and leave your brush in it over night
Then rinse with warm/hot water
You wash the bike after lubricate the chain ?
No the chain is usually washed as part of a bike clean. This was just rinsed after the video lol
any reason you have neglected the front sprocket
This is a basic video for the standard chain clean - we can do another video on that
I use compressed air to get rid of the loose water on the chain - and the bike generally and then give it a 10 - 15 minute blast of my air heater in the garage. Once you lube the cain though its best to leave it overnight for the lube to gel properly - otherwise all your cleaning effort will be wasted when the fresh lube flies off on everything.
Compressed air is dangerous on a bike and you can sometimes cause more damage than good…. Better off using a lower powered dryer
Is that chain cleaner ok on your rear disc brake?
Yes 100%
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Great!...And thanks for the response😊
What’s your thoughts on using kerosene to clean the chain?
It certainly will remove all the oil/lube but my concern is what it does to your o-rings
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Nothing, kerosine and diesel are oily. Don't use gasoline.
yes but the chain wasn't exactly in a bad shape was it?
That’s because he’s well looked after
OMG, when I've spent an hour cleaning my chain as best I can it looks like his "dirty" one at the start... and I'm really pleased with myself 🤣
Follow this video and you will be suprised
Makes me like my shaft drive bike even better. 😂
I’ll admit I am glad I have a shaft drive too….. but this is my daily job
@@MidlandsMotorbikers Well, I was somewhat joking as I also own a chain drive bike. I have a K1200LT and a KLR650 so I get to see the advantages and disadvantages on a regular basis. I don’t mind the chain so much since I stopped using chain lube and just do a quick clean occasionally with WD40 and a rag. Without chain lube, the rear of the KLR stays nice and clean and the chain seems surprisingly happy to run dry.
Hi, yep clean chain there’s no denying that, but if you whatch Neevesy from motorcycle news an Fortnine who tests about 8 different chain lubes in a controled environment on the Tube, you could save yourself a shed load a money buying all these cleaners an lubes. So you could be ridin instead of cleaning. Just my 2 bobs worth. 👍😎
Thank you for the bobs
Gut gemacht. Aber kann es sein, dass die Kette zuviel Spannung hat?
Immer eine gute Fahrt!
Sorry I don’t speak German
@@MidlandsMotorbikers he thinks the chain is under too much tension
@@lotusedelmann4030 I thought he was saying he heard a cute fart!
BTW @Midlands Motorbikers Google translate is great to talk to foreign speaking viewers.
Thank you for that!
The literature with my chain says clean with kerosene, lube with gear oil.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it :-)
I usually take the sprocket to spanking new conditions
Yes we usually do but this was chain clean
My Honda Manual says no pressure washer.
That’s good you are checking your manual, it’s always good to check it before you do anything
You can use pressure washer if you know and are confident with it - if in doubt stay away from it to be safe
Bit of gear oil works for me.
It does work well yes
me and chain clean: disassemble bike, take chain off and drop it in bottle with gasoline or diesel, shake shake shale....check, repeat shake shake shake! voila!
me after rain ride: go to self-service car wash station... pay for 3 minutes and wash chain with maximum pressure (oh, yes! get it b...ch!) until water stops...check... pay more and repeat!
me and chain lube: drop to paraffin+oil+xylene mixture and boil!
Interesting techniques love the commentary