Oiling up the ole chain before major rain

[VersysVsWhat]

I don't have a bike stand or the like yet for the bike, so lubing the chain is a bit more of a challenge. I bought a Scotchbrite scrubby dish brush with soap dispenser, and that definitely makes it easier. After I'm done, I take a hose on jet spray and clean off the bristles, and put it in a zip lock bag with the top open so the water can evaporate out. The fill hole on the scrub brush is pretty small, but the green attachment on the container makes it easier to fill (I also used it to squeeze the last .5 or so quarts of ATF into my spouse's Prius C-first 3 quarts I used a gravity/hang method).

I can't take full credit for the idea, as I was inspired by Motul's product (chain paste, has a bristle brush on the end). But unlike Motul's product, I can refill and reuse the brush over and over. And $12/13 for 6 oz for the Motul product vs $29 dollars for 128 oz.

 

[Bonz]

These can be found almost a dime a dozen online, Amazon etc. This is what you need. Been using one for years with my zrx1200. Everybody complains about chains on road trips versus a shaft drive, but this makes the non-issue to me. Unless you're lazy. That brush is a mess waiting to happen.

https://a.co/d/4QByiL7

 

[VersysVsWhat]

These can be found almost a dime a dozen online, Amazon etc...

Thank you Bonz. Yeah, I have briefly looked at these before and definitely have considered getting one. Seems like it would be great for a portable system for long rides. I'm just not sure how good it would be for things like taking off the wheel etc.?
Unfortunately, my bike was designed with the exhaust piping running directly under the center of the bike, so I can't use a traditional, non connected center stand. I've been looking into possibly installing one of those attached foldable ones like which came stock on my old Ninja (not sure why it wasn't added on the Versys, other than maybe cost savings?).

What do you use for lube? If I wasn't using the above lube, I'd be interested in trying the Dupont wax+ceramic stuff. When this chain needs to be replaced (and I get a better one), I'm considering adding an automatic lubing system of some kind.

 

[Bonz]

I'm not sure how it would do for taking off a wheel. You could read up on it on the internet and see if people have used it for that. As long as everything is nice and snug with respect to the side stand on the left and the swing arm lift on the right side I don't know why you couldn't try it carefully. No guarantees.

For lube I use the "Pro Honda" spray lube. 95% of the time I use the white can and red stripe, very clear and uses moly. It leaves no mess as far as fling off. If I know it might be wet I'll use the same stuff with the blue stripe on the can, it says white graphite. It is a bit more substantial as far as it's coating and can leave a bit of fling but not much. Keep in mind even with the stuff with the red stripe can, I'm getting 30,000 miles out of a chain on the ZRX but it's a dedicated road bike. Even with rainy days and hundreds of miles in the rain not had an issue

 

[VersysVsWhat]

30k is pretty impressive. Is that with a moderately priced chain or one of the more high end X ring ones like DID, Regina, etc?

 

[The_Sheriff]

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No muss no fuss no fling. O & X ring safe, I contacted the maker to make sure.

 

[VersysVsWhat]

Thank you for the recommendation Sheriff. Btw, nice bike.

 

[02SE]

For lube I use the "Pro Honda" spray lube. 95% of the time I use the white can and red stripe, very clear and uses moly.

Over 50+ years of riding, I've tried lots of chain lubes, and methods for lubing them. For a quick wipe-down I spray some WD-40 on a rag. For more serious cleaning I use Kerosene and a 1" paint brush to apply it, and a bunch of newspaper underneath to catch the dripping mess. Dry with a clean rag.

Then for lube, I also like and use the Honda HP chain lube. Here's a recent (maybe current) version of how the can looks.

 

[The_Sheriff]

Over 50+ years of riding, I've tried lots of chain lubes, and methods for lubing them. For a quick wipe-down I spray some WD-40 on a rag. For more serious cleaning I use Kerosene and a 1" paint brush to apply it, and a bunch of newspaper underneath to catch the dripping mess. Dry with a clean rag.

Then for lube, I also like and use the Honda HP chain lube. Here's a recent (maybe current) version of how the can looks.


View attachment 283652

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It’s my understanding that kerosene will degrade o-rings.

 

[The_Sheriff]

Thank you for the recommendation Sheriff. Btw, nice bike.

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Thanks, I bought the bike new last year and just turned 7k today. I’ll be leaving for the driftless region of WI in a little over a week. It’ll be about a 2500 mile round trip with several days of riding while there. It’s a spectacularly beautiful part of the country, as is the Ozarks, where I live. Motorcycling paradise.
.

 

[VersysVsWhat]

Sounds like a really epic trip.

Someday, I'd like to visit the Wind River area, but more for backpacking. Hiked the Colorado Trail some years back, but a lot of people on that trail.

 

[The_Sheriff]

Sounds like a really epic trip.

Someday, I'd like to visit the Wind River area, but more for backpacking. Hiked the Colorado Trail some years back, but a lot of people on that trail.

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There’s so many beautiful places to see in the states. It’d take more than one lifetime to see it all. Is your Versys the 300X?
.

 

[VersysVsWhat]

Definitely.

Correct.

 

[The_Sheriff]

Definitely.

Correct.

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I had a 2019 300X from new that I rode for about 18k miles including a trip from the Ozarks to the Drifless area. Fun little bike. It was perfect for all of the dirt/gravel roads where I live. I traded it in for my current ride.
.

 

[VersysVsWhat]

Needed something better for highway?

 

[02SE]

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It’s my understanding that kerosene will degrade o-rings.

I've been using it since the early 80's. No degraded O-rings, or X-ring chains as are used on all of my current bikes.

Various motorcycle publications have also tested and confirmed that repeatedly, over the years.

Most owners manuals, and service manuals suggested using it at one time.

I've noticed that fairly recently, chain and bike manufacturers have suggested not using it. In the cases I have found, they conveniently now sell their own proprietary chain cleaner...

I've personally put O/X rings in a container of kerosene, and let it sit for years. No degradation has been seen, measured, or felt, such as the O/X rings become softer or harder.

 

[Bonz]

30k is pretty impressive. Is that with a moderately priced chain or one of the more high end X ring ones like DID, Regina, etc?

Yeah it's the top end DID chain right now, the EK before it did 30K. Living in Colorado with low humidity, things dry out quick. Keeping it lubed and wiped down regularly does the trick.

With respect to kerosene, I've used a damp cloth or rag for years to clean up a chain. Wipe each link individually, get the accumulated grime off the plates and there's not enough to work its way into anything. Like a dust cloth in the house, you just want it slightly moist, barely damp. Moderation. No need to soak it and slather it on or get aggressive with a soaking wet brush, IME. That drips everywhere and makes a mess of its own that can be avoided by said method above.

 

[Bailey28]

PJ1 super clean or Maxima chain wax is the way to go. It dries clean. Ride the bike and get the chain hot. Yes, hot... as soon as you stop for the day, spray the chain good. Then let it set up overnight without moving the bike. Next day, the wax won't fling off.

Eventually, you will have to clean it but on a street bike it will take a while to get to that point.

 

[The_Sheriff]

Needed something better for highway?

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Yes and no. I’ve had plenty of big and fast bikes in the past but I have no need for that type of bike anymore. I’ve always wanted a RE 650 so I bought it. It is not particularly big or fast but it is character filled and fun as can be. The X300 came as a result of my locale. I live on a gravel road and prior to that I lived in a big city, Chicago. There are thousands of miles of dirt/gravel roads in MO to explore and I did plenty of that with the X300. But at age 71 I said no more. Stick to the tarmac.
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[VersysVsWhat]

Makes sense. I'm in my mid 40's and tbh, I never felt the need to have a big, powerful, and/or very fast bike. I've always been pretty pragmatic and figured that these were more trouble than they were worth as far being more dangerous, getting tickets easier, harder to handle and pick up after dropped, low mpg's, etc. That, and I've never made much money and their typically more out of my price range.

With that said, I wouldn't mind a little more power than the X300, only for when I take my spouse with me on rides. Back when we were young and skinny, we used to ride a couple hours down to the beach on just a baby Ninja, and it was just barely doable. But with extra weight with the both of us, etc the X300 isn't ideal, though it is doable (but again, just barely).