On a street bike there are two issues. One, obviously, the quality of lubrication. The second is how much [censored] do you want flung on your wheel and engine cases? If you don't care about crud on your wheel and bike, lots of stuff will work fine. Thinner stuff needs to be applied more often and more crud flies off. That said....
You have fewer choices if you want to minimize fling off. I have tried several different commercial chain lubes, but my favorite is Maxima Chain wax. Two reason. 1.) I have had several bikes that I used it on and chain adjustments have been minimal. As far as I can tell it works very well. 2.) At the AMA Superbike races at Road America I was talking to the mechanics at the Keith Code Superbike school. These guys have to keep a lot of hard running sport bikes going. Needless to say, they don't want to have to jack with chain adjustments, etc. anymore than necessary; they have enough work to do. They also see a lot of bikes, relative to an individual. They have settled on Maxima Chain wax and (at least then) there was no sponsorship. They bought it because they felt it was the best. Who am I to argue with professional bike mechanics that keep a FLEET of sportbikes running at a track school??!
Like somebody said, you will get as much arguments on Chain lube as motor oil.....and like motor oil, for 95% of the people and in 95% of the applications, using a major brand oil and CHANGING it regularly is by far the most important. Ditto chain lube. The main point is to USE IT REGULARLY !
Because of the foregoing, I mostly use the Maxima Chain Wax, but I also use the Motul Road and Silkolene too....they all seem to do a good job....chain wax seems to be a little cleaner and I know it works, so it is my "favorite".
Dirt bikes are another matter....sticky lubes attract dirt....so the Honda HP lube and the DuPont teflon "stuff" are hard to beat.
Lube your chain when you FINISH riding and the chain is warmer. Also (and this is messy) turn the wheel and hold the side of your hand/fingers to slide the chain over your hand, thus causing the rollers to rotate. This helps work some lube in the roller-to-pin area. Lastly, if you will ride slow for several miles after an application of chain lube, it seems to reduce the [censored] on the wheel.
My experience over many years of bike riding is that a well maintained chain drive is hard to beat. Kind of messy, but the most mechanically efficient drive and extremely reliable. I have had far more problems with BMW shaft drive than I ever have with a chain.
Lastly, to start a Big argument on here: Avoid WD-40. It is NOT a good lubricant. It does "lubricate", but not nearly as effectively as myth has it, and especially for long term lubrication, especially under high loads like a bike chain. Put some in a 3 ball wear test vs. a chain lube and see what happens! WD-40 has its place in the world, but not as an extreme pressure lubricant. Obviously, WD-40 would be much better than a dry chain or no lube.
"....Your results may vary...."
Good luck.....
