best motorcycle chain lube reviews

Link Up With The Best Motorcycle Chain Lube

Maybe you’re wondering why it’s important to lubricate chains frequently. Chain-driven bikes have linked rollers that get overheated and abraded and must operate with less friction while clear of corrosion and grit.

You need to maintain the chain whatever type it is. Routine cleaning and lubrication will keep your bike running smoothly for years, and it’s why I’ve devised this guide to the best motorcycle chain lube. For better performance and longer life, it’s best to apply lubricant regularly during service.

Use this shortlist of motorcycle chain lube reviews to find one that matches your riding style and the conditions you typically ride in.

Quick Comparison: Top 4 Best Motorcycle Chain Lubes

Brand

Maxima 74920 Chain Wax

DuPont Teflon Chain-Saver Dry Self-Cleaning Lubricant

PJ1 13oz Blue Label Motorcycle Chain Lube

Motul Factory Line Chain Lube

Image

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best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews
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Type

Molybdenum

Molybdenum Teflon

Molybdenum

Molybdenum Boron

Performance

A

A+

A+

A+

Quality

A

A

A+

A

Price

$

$$

$$

$$

My Rating

Below, you'll find my more detailed reviews about the motorcycle chain lube, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

Read Also:

How To Clean Your Motorcycle Chain In Just 25 Minutes

What Is The Best Motorcycle Chain On The Market?

A Value Guide To Lubricating Chains


What About Chains?


Firstly, to maintain a motorcycle chain well you must figure out what type it is. The simplest is a conventional chain with non-sealing links. This requires the most care as it doesn't provide for constant internal lubrication, unlike newer O-ring designs.

best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews

There are some benefits to non-sealed chains that depend on the kind of riding you’re into doing. Racing pros prefer it for its lesser frictional operation compared to sealed chains, and many older transmissions cannot accommodate the newer designs.

O-ring linked rollers require much less attention and maintenance. These have tiny O-shaped seals emplaced between the link plate and roller parts that both retain internal grease and stop dirt and grime from entering.

Chains tend to gunk up with dirt all along the rollers, leading to increased wear and breakage due to mechanical stress. Lubrication assists in maintaining O-ring-type chains in good order and in protecting metal parts against corrosive effects.

Modern low-maintenance chains don’t need to be replaced too frequently but must still be cared for properly. Their seals will eventually leak lubricant, with the chain drying over time and even jumping off, a process that can be slowed via regular lubrication.

A video on chain lube basics:


What About Lube?


Friction is minimized across the metal surfaces of well-lubricated chains by means of protective coatings on the sliding surfaces of pins, bushings, and rollers.

The lubricating medium that flows between bushing and roller metal surfaces works to reduce operating friction and thus heat. This enhances powertrain efficiency, extending the operating lifespan of chains and sprockets alike.

Without enough lubrication, the surfaces will experience increasing friction that will absorb more and more of the engine’s transmitted motive power. This will inevitably lead to the parts being subject to increasing operating temperatures as well.

Such higher than normal temperatures will readily burn off greater amounts of the lubricant than is normal. This will result in less efficient mechanical operation along with increased wear and tear.

The internal lubricants of O-ring rollers may be retained by their seals, but external lubrication is still required to keep the chains running smoothly. Poorly lubricated chains of all types will give off squeaks in service and will elongate as well as corrode more rapidly over time.


How To Clean


best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews

Before you start lubing things, check the chain first for any accumulated debris that will need to be removed before anything else. If the rollers need to wiped or washed off, the bike should be hung on a stand with its rear raised up for easier access.

With the rear wheel rotating, you can readily examine the chain’s individual rollers. If the chain shows signs of being stretched to its adjustable maximum or else is too worn and rusty, a new replacement might be in order.

It’s good to wash the chain first using mild soaps and then scrubbed with brushes to remove dirt or oil residues. Wire brushes are fine with older non-sealed links, but softer ones are needed for modern ring-type chains.


How To Lube


As you start to lube the rollers, you'll need to have the chemicals penetrate within the pin as well as roller spaces with some care. With the bike mounted and raised, you apply lube on the lower chain run as you spin the wheel, while the chain climbs the sprockets.

With the entire chain covered with a film or foamy mass of lubricant, you should wipe off any excess. This ensures that there will be no build up for grit and grime to cling onto more readily.

best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews

In those few minutes, you should keep on spinning the wheel once in a while to enable the lubricant to spread more evenly into most parts. Tip: It’s easier to apply the lube while the transmission is still warm immediately after a long ride. This will let the lube work its way more readily into the warm metal surfaces.

With regular maintenance schedules, you should be doing inspections every 200-300 miles and be prepared to re-apply lubricant or else a full clean and lube cycle. Look up your motorcycle’s user guide for specifics.

You can read more about cleaning and lubing your motorcycle chain here.

Here Are Top 4 Motorcycle Chain Lube Reviews

Pros

Penetrates deeply into rollers
Protects from corrosion
Does not attract grime or readily fling off
Good for O-, Z- and X-rings

Cons

Needs frequent application

Maxima’s lube is the kind of capable, yet inexpensive lubricant that’s fine for summer rides and for when things get wet on occasion. Its high-performance qualities are good for use off-road and on pavement.

It’s compatible with X, Z, and O-rings and the formulation can be sprayed on. The thinning agent enables the lubricant to penetrate between link surfaces, leaving dried coatings on exposed parts that reduce friction.

The parafilm also works to stop grit and grime from gathering on the coated surfaces as well as to keep the internal lubricant from leaking. Splashing water or mud will have less effect on a fresh coat, and your chain will remain a little cleaner looking for it.

Other wax-based lubes that we’ve used also featured these qualities, but most did not last as long. Lube will still need to be regularly re-applied to maintain these advantages, especially after several long and rough rides under in wet and dry conditions.

Maxima’s 74920 Chain Wax lubricates well enough and also protects against corrosive effects and dirt build up. It’s the best motorcycle chain lube for commuting and carefree rides in wetter climes.

Pros

Applies cleanly and dries quickly
Penetrates well
Does not fling off readily

Cons

Aerosol nozzle tends to overspray a little

DuPont’s Teflon gets you reliable lubrication while keeping your chains mostly free of dirt in almost any kind of weather. Only muds, floods, and the worst off-road conditions can degrade this dry formulation’s protective properties faster than usual.

The older discontinued version had already provided a lubrication benchmark of sorts. To get the benefits of the same Teflon and dry-wax combination on your sprocket and chain assemblies, you can switch to this impressive new product.

It comprises a very similar blend of molybdenum, Teflon fluoropolymers, and waxiness that many owners prefer for its superior wear and dirt/water repelling characteristics. The formulation was further refined to be safer and more effective with O-ring chains.

Like the original formulation, the initial wet coating disappears almost as quickly after spreading and drying, forming a waxy film that repels dirt. However, the spray nozzle does tend to some overspray, which can lead to a little waste.

DuPont’s Teflon Chain-Saver Dry Self-Cleaning Lubricant applies well and provides for smooth operation while stopping corrosion and dirt build up no matter the conditions. It’s a great alternative to PJ1’s lube for riders who are worried about wastage with PJ1’s iffy spraying.

Pros

Applies cleanly and clearly and dries readily
Spreads easily before thickening
Does not fling off readily
Synthetic sperm oil!

Cons

Aerosol nozzle can overspray quite a bit

Maxima’s 74920 Chain Wax lubricates well enough and also protects against corrosive effects and dirt build up. It’s the best motorcycle chain lube for commuting and carefree rides in wetter climes.

PJ1’s advanced formulation seems to feature the cleaning qualities of sperm oil, which should impress your friends if not your bike. This molybdenum disulfide-based lubricant readily lays on and thickens as it spreads, and is formulated to hold onto O-ring-type parts.

It’s meant to be sprayed onto upper surfaces of the chain link’s overlapping side plates as they come off the sprocket at the bike’s rear. It applies cleanly without leaving much greasy slime that attracts the kind of grit that will eventually grind down your chain and sprocket surfaces.

Although a tube is supplied for attaching to the can’s top, it tends to output too much of the contents as fluid instead of as fine spray. Since the lubricant will drop off the rollers before it starts to penetrate or form a protective film, a lot of it tends to get wasted.

This an affordable and very effective product that lubricates cleanly and stays on to protect against corrosion and repel street debris. It’s unfortunate that its spray applicator design leads to so much wastage, for otherwise it outperforms most of the other lubricants.

PJ1’s Blue Label Motorcycle Chain Lube is one of the top chain lubricants along with Dupont’s Teflon lube. It’s the best motorcycle chain lube overall for both rough riders and commuters who want to keep their powertrains lubricated with a minimum of fuss.







Pros

Developed for high-performance racing
Compatible with O-, Z-, and X-rings
Solvent properties
Whitish coloring to signal usage

Cons

Not for off-road and severe conditions
Pricier than the others

Motul’s white colored lubricant is among the more specialized ones that’s designed for racing motorcycles and the express conditions you’d expect on a course. Formulated to provide for whatever high speed and endurance level is required, with regular cleaning this lube will keep rollers running smoothly in milder conditions.

It’s compatible with O-, X, and Z-rings, and has a solvent that penetrates deep into mechanical linkages to clear out earlier residues. After drying, a very sticky coat remains on surfaces that does not fly off at even the highest chain speeds.

This technical lube tends to be recommended for extreme performance bikes that typically run on relatively clean tracks and racecourses. When applied, it starts out as a whitish film that’s easily seen to help you distribute the lube evenly without too much unnecessary extra coatings.

Motul’s Factory Line Chain Lube is great for use on less dusty terrain such as roads and tracks. In less severe terrain and with regular checks and re-applications, this lube will keep your chain and sprockets in smooth shape for thousands of miles.

Good Lube, Good Job

Well-cleaned and lubricated transmissions really influence the smoothness of your motorcycle’s power delivery. Regular lubrication of the chains and other moving parts are basic things that riders can do to maintain their bikes’ powertrain in good running order.

best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews

Maxima’s 74920 Chain Wax is our pick for light-duty use, so long as the chain gets regularly checked and re-applied as necessary.

PJ1’s Blue Label Motorcycle Chain Lube applies neatly with excellent cleaning and lubrication in most conditions and it’s our overall pick for best motorcycle chain lubee.

DuPont’s Teflon Chain-Saver Dry Self-Cleaning Lubricant is a great dry-film lube alternative if PJ1’s lube won’t do it for you.

Brand

Maxima 74920 Chain Wax

DuPont Teflon Chain-Saver Dry Self-Cleaning Lubricant

PJ1 13oz Blue Label Motorcycle Chain Lube

Motul Factory Line Chain Lube

Image

best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews
best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews
best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews
best-motorcycle-chain-lube-reviews

Type

Molybdenum

Molybdenum Teflon

Molybdenum

Molybdenum Boron

Performance

A

A+

A+

A+

Quality

A

A

A+

A

Price

$

$$

$$

$$

My Rating

Lubricating the chains can be easy and inexpensive, replacing chains and fixing transmission components not so much. To keep your bike running great, it makes sense to make the best job of it.

If you liked this guide, feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think of our motorcycle chain lube reviews.

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